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Original poster

Can I ask for a handhold- nosebleed that isn’t stopping

35 replies

Summergarden · 04/04/2019 10:29

I know it’s not a big deal really, I’ve always been a bit prone to nosebleeds. And they all stop eventually- usually after a couple of minutes. But I’m not great with the sight of blood.

This one has been going on for over an hour and huge clots have been coming out of my nose and mouth. It feels and tastes horrible!

I know I’m being pathetic but am alone with little DS and feeling a bit sorry for myself. Please tell me it will stop soon!

OP posts:
KnifeAngel · 04/04/2019 10:31

See your GP or go to A&E if it doesn't stop soon. My neighbour had to have hers cauterised. It went on for 24 hours.

sunshinestanley · 04/04/2019 10:31

This happened to me once and it wasn't pleasant. Could you perhaps put a bag of frozen peas on the bridge of your nose to see if that helps. You poor thing Flowers

sunshinestanley · 04/04/2019 10:34

How old is DS? Could you ring a friend or neighbourhood some company and help?

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General health
AlunWynsKnee · 04/04/2019 10:35

Is there anyone who can keep an eye on you or check in with you by phone text to reassure you about ds?

GrandmaSharksDentures · 04/04/2019 10:38

Do you have a clothes peg? You could put the clothes peg on the soft bit of your nose (as high up as possible but not on the bone). It is very difficult to keep applying pressure with your fingers - especially with a little one to look after. Constant pressure is much better than 5 mins on / off.
An ice pack on the forehead / back of the neck can also help - but I guess you know that already

Original poster
Summergarden · 04/04/2019 10:40

Thanks all. DS is ok, he’s in the room next door watching TV and he thinks I’m just busy doing stuff in 5e kitchen. I don’t want him to see all the blood!

OP posts:
NorthEndGal · 04/04/2019 10:41

If it doesn't stop after 90 minutes, you should get it cauterized. It is a super quick think and makes a huge difference

Original poster
Summergarden · 04/04/2019 10:42

Great idea grandma. I’ve just put a peg on my nose. Yes exactly it gets so uncomfortable after a while.

OP posts:
Original poster
Summergarden · 04/04/2019 10:43

Has anyone had it cauterised before? It sounds a bit unpleasant 😕

OP posts:
Babdoc · 04/04/2019 10:44

The bit that bleeds is usually Little’s area, just inside the nostril, where some arteries loosely meet up. It’s under the soft, cartilaginous part of your nose, so press this part of your nose firmly shut and hold it compressed for at least 5 mins while you breathe via your mouth.
If you’ve had repeated bleeds and certainly if they go on as long as this one, then you need treatment. Cautery should solve the problem.
I’d also recommend getting your blood pressure checked, as hypertension is sometimes an underlying cause, although more usually in older people.

Original poster
Summergarden · 04/04/2019 10:50

Thanks all.

I’m at the tail end of a bad cold and have been blowing my nose a lot, which has probably caused it this time.

Babdoc- does cautery hurt?

OP posts:
TheMightyToosh · 04/04/2019 10:54

I think you're supposed to go to hospital if it goes on longer than 45 mins.

I've had mine cauterized and so has my DD and it doesn't hurt, just made me sneeze and nose run a lot for a day or so. Did the trick though!

Letseatgrandma · 04/04/2019 10:59

I had this and it was the sign of a serious platelet (blood) disorder. Get it checked out.

Have you got a rash or any bruising?

Original poster
Summergarden · 04/04/2019 11:05

Gosh that must have been scary Letseatgrandma. Glad you got it sorted.

No I don’t have any rash or bruises. Think I’ve just gone a bit overboard on blowing my nose during the cold I’m just getting over...

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 04/04/2019 11:09

www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/ears-nose-and-throat/nosebleed this says to go to a&e if it doesn't stop after 20 minutes

Dd had hers cauterised. They sprayed numbing spray first and then I think it's silver nitrate sticks they use. She says it didn't hurt

Original poster
Summergarden · 04/04/2019 19:49

TL; DR: if you ever get a severe nosebleed that lasts more than an hour despite doing the usual pinching for 10 mins continuously and applying cold pack to it do see a doctor!

Long version:
Thank you to those of you who advised I seek treatment. I’m usually one of those people who avoids wasting medical time if at all possible. But when I rang 111 and went through my symptoms they said I needed to be seen within an hour.

They were great at the hospital and I saw an ENT doctor pretty quickly. It was still bleeding at that point and I was bringing up lots of big clots through my mouth as well as the ones I’d already passed through mouth and nose at home. He attempted to cauterise it several times but it just didn’t work, continued to bleed steadily. So he put a tube and nose bolster (?) in to stem the bleeding. He said I have to stay overnight for observations as it was bleeding from 3 different points in my nose, including the septum (?) and wall (?) and estimated I’d probably lost 2-3 times the amount of blood I’d estimated....

He wouldn’t even let me pop home with FIL 5 mins away from hospital to grab some overnight bits myself. He scared the life out of me by saying severe nosebleeds an be catastrophic and people can even die as a result from them sometimes!

I’m shattered so going to try to get some sleep now. Thanks again for the support earlier.

OP posts:
spugzbunny · 04/04/2019 19:51

Confused crikey! I'm glad you are ok and that you got the treatment you needed! Hope you get some sleep tonight

DonPablo · 04/04/2019 19:51

Good god, what an update. Hope you're sorted soon.

SouthernComforts · 04/04/2019 19:53

Oh heck, glad you got seen!

smartiecake · 04/04/2019 19:57

I know someone who has a serious life threatening platelet disorder and i think she was told a significant nose bleed that doesn't stop after 12 mins requires medical help.
So glad you are being treated OP and hope you feel better soon.

MrsMozartMkII · 04/04/2019 21:03

Blinking heck. So glad you sought help.

Hope all is better in the morning.

listsandbudgets · 04/04/2019 21:12

Oh blimey you poor thing. I'm so glad you got medical treatment.

This happened to my neighbour and she ended up in hospital for a few days. She texted asking me to feed cat while she was gone. I cleaned her kitchen - honestly if I'd only had a text asking me to feed cat with no explanation, I would have been calling the police it was a blood bath - floor, surfaces, crockery and the sink was a sight to behold.

Good news - she's not had any recurrence ever since and most likely you won't either. Glad you're getting the treatment you need a bleed like that is very frightening.

Sleep well

Whoopstheregomyinsides · 04/04/2019 21:16

Take car lovely. Glad you got seen

EleanorLavish · 04/04/2019 21:19

My DM suffered with extreme nosebleeds for years, and no one paid her the slightest bit of attention. I mean they would have lasted all night, for hours at a time.
Her iron levels must have been so low.
She tried every quack remedy to stop the bleeding but noting ever worked.
They attempted to cauterise once but stopped as her heart went a bit funny (turned out she had a serious genetic heart defect!).
She hasn’t had one for years, touch wood.
I do one remember one weird thing she did was pop a cork in her mouth.Grin How that was supppsed to help I’ll never know. Maybe give it a try??Wink

EleanorLavish · 04/04/2019 21:21

Just seen update. Hope you get sorted and home soon. Flowers