Dis Docs: Nose bleeds?

[paintnolish]

In the past few weeks, dd has had several nose bleeds. They only last a few mniutes, but they really upset her. She does not have any other medical issues/complaints. We got a humidifier for her room and have been using a saline nasal spray. Any experiences? I know, it's probably nothing, but they freak me out a little. Her most recent one occured during a road trip where I had to lead my blood covered dd through a gas station to the bathroom!

 

[dolphinrescuegirl]

I started a nasal spray, not sure what kind. I had to stop as it made my nose hurt, itchy, and bloody. I had to stop and will tell my dr at the next appt. Hope you can figure something out for your DD.

 

[RNMOM]

My DH and DS both had problems with these. You are doing the right thing keeping her room moist. Try also putting a small amount of vaseline on a q-tip and swirl it around in each nostril. This will soften any scabs and keep her from needing to manually remove them. Most often repeat bleedings are from them picking at the scabs.

She may need to have it cauterized by an ENT doctor. Both my guys had this in the office with no discomforts...just a little anxiety but it is really simple. Both have had great results. Sometimes we have blood vessels very close to the surface inside our noses and they bleed rather easily. Your child's doctor should take a look and help you decide.

Caution: If you can't get it to stop bleeding after 20 minutes of continuous pressure to the bridge of the nose, go to the ER. Don't take chances.

 

[paintnolish]

Thanks for the responses. They don't last long, but I am sure it doesn't help that she is crying during them! She is not a picker, so it's not that. My youngest sister also had nosebleeds, starting around dd's age and finally had her nose cauterized when she was a teen.
Is vaseline better than a saline spray? I about poked her eye out the first time I did the spray- she chickened out and flinched, but I thought I could quickly get her. Nope. Now she has a scrape near her eye!

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

My boyfriend gets those a lot, particularly when it is cold and dry outside. I believe it is mostly allergy related and will go away after a few minutes of pressure. It's definitely a family trait. His sister has had the same problem, but I think it has pretty much stopped for her. For him, it's more of a nuisance and something that he has just come to accept. He treats it as no big deal. But I don't think I've ever seen it to the point that he was "covered in blood" as you described. If that is happening on a routine basis, I would consider talking to her doctor. Most offices will let you call in and ask to talk to a nurse. You can certainly inquire (enquire?) as to whether or not you should be worried.

 

[RNMOM]

Yes, vaseline will remain in the nostril and help soften and protect the membranes. Not something to do for a long period every day but for a few days after an episode it will help heal things up.

Saline spray is pretty short lived. I fined it useful at the end of a cold when the mucus is thick and won't move...helps liquify it. Get some suggestions from the doc's office on that.

 

[AnnaS]

My son - (22 this month) had them for years and mostly at night time. We did and tried everything also.

A few years ago though he was getting them while he was eating, showering and working. We finally went to an ENT doctor where he had it cauterized. No more nosebleeds since then.

Everyone has made great suggestions.

 

[PollyannaMom]

DS gets them, too - not all the time, but if he gets one, it tends to happen again a few times over the next couple of days until it completely heals. I asked his ped, and she says he just has thin mucus membranes in there, so the dryness gets to him. He's pretty tough and matter-of-fact about them, though, unless he's very tired. I do use a humidifier when he gets one or he has a cold, and have done a little vaseline around the edges of his nostrils. - He doesn't like it, but it helps.

 

[lovemygoofy]

You can also use saline gel instead of the spray or vaseline.

I get nosebleeds alot during the winter and run a cool mist humidifer every night. I need to go get my nose cauterized again also.

Dolphingirl, I had the same bad luck with nasal sprays until VeraMyst. I had tried them all and all made my nose bleed until this spray. I can't say enough good things about it but its not on the cheaper list and the pharmacy on post doesn't even carry it. I have it filled in an outside pharmacy.

 

[SDFgirl]

I get several nosebleeds each winter, and have ever since I was a little girl. My doctor told my mom that I just had a blood vessel close to the surface of my nose. When the air gets dry, the skin above it cracks.

I get a q-tip and slather some A&D Ointment way up inside my nose every few days. That really helps retain the moisture.

 

[lukenick1]

My 8yr ds get them frequently. He bleeds alot then blows out a big clot...sorry if TMI. Anyway, his doctor said to put some KY jelly on a q-tip and lubricate the inside. Thank God he is not anxious about the bleeding. It would have been a nightmare if he was.
Good luck!

 

[paintnolish]

Thanks for the suggestions! She was "covered in blood" because it was dark out and she was leaning forward, watching a dvd in the car, and didn't realize her nose was bleeding. She thought it was runny. Thanks for the suggestions. I will call the dr. just to see what they say. I did not realize nosebleeds were so common!

 

[Robmom]

You know, it's weird that this is posted. I have been having this problem for a couple of weeks now myself. It's not frequent bleeding, but a little bit here and there. I figured it was because the air is so dry in my house during this time of year. I'm going to try the vaseline tonight and see if things improve.

 

[rszdtrvl]

My son had the same issues when he was younger.

The doctor said to make sure he takes allergy medication every day to keep his sinuses a bit more dried up (he takes Zyrtec - the generic from Costco - you save a bundle!!), and also said to use a q-tip with petroleum jelly on it to go around the inside of the nose to lubricate.

My son is now 13 and has not had a nosebleed in years. The Zyrtec helped a lot, plus I think him getting a bit older helped as well.

Those were some scary days! I remember needing to take a fem product out of my purse to absorb the blood that was pouring out of his nose while on a road trip. Not cool.

 

[missypie]

My childhood in Illinois was full of lengthy (one hour +) nosebleeds. When your D is older, have her move to Texas. Problem solved.

 

[paintnolish]

My childhood in Illinois was full of lengthy (one hour +) nosebleeds. When your D is older, have her move to Texas. Problem solved.

Hmm...I was thinking FL!

 

[terri01p]

 

[tasha99]

In the past few weeks, dd has had several nose bleeds. They only last a few mniutes, but they really upset her. She does not have any other medical issues/complaints. We got a humidifier for her room and have been using a saline nasal spray. Any experiences? I know, it's probably nothing, but they freak me out a little. Her most recent one occured during a road trip where I had to lead my blood covered dd through a gas station to the bathroom!

DD had frequent nosebleeds several years ago. Her doctor looked up there and found a protruding artery/vein and referred her to an ENT who cauterized it. No more nosebleeds.

 

[brockash]

In the past few weeks, dd has had several nose bleeds. They only last a few mniutes, but they really upset her. She does not have any other medical issues/complaints. We got a humidifier for her room and have been using a saline nasal spray. Any experiences? I know, it's probably nothing, but they freak me out a little. Her most recent one occured during a road trip where I had to lead my blood covered dd through a gas station to the bathroom!

My DS has gotten nose bleeds his whole life, and we've lived in very humid places and very dry, and there's never been any difference. The Dr. told me to put vaseline in his nose with a q-tip. We've done it for a few years now, and it's really helped. He'll still get them occassionaly, but it's usually when we haven't remembered to put vaseline in his nose in a while.