ENT treatment for nosebleeds

[cliffdiver]

DD2 saw GP today (up to 5 nosebleeds a day) and we have a referral to ENT.

GP mentioned they 'stick a sort of long matchstick up the nose with a lemon juice substance on the end'

Does anyone have any actual experience of the procedure and what to expect?

Dn had this done - it seals the blood vessel there to stop it bleeding

He said it was a bit hot and smelled a bit

Not much else!

Thank you @happytimesarecoming.

I'm assuming it's done in a quick outpatients appointment? Was there any discomfort?

They are cauterising the blood vessels. When dd got it done they used an anaesthetic spray I think before using the cauterising stick. She got given nasoseptin cream to put on afterwards

I had my nose cauterised when I was 13. It did smell a bit, and I remember it stinging a very lot! (I was a bit of a drama queen though!)

Or naseptin

My son had this...that's a decent explanation of what happens... ENT appointment took about 15 minutes from walking in the door. He just said felt odd. They are very used to dealing with nervous children. Also given cream to use afterwards.

Very effective in long term despite the fact he went back to school and had a big nose bleed 'dripping blood from his elbow' was the teachers description... But that was the last one-2 years ago 😊

Yes I had this. It was very tickly so made me sneeze like mad

No major pain

How old is DD?

Thank you.

I'll be ringing to make the initial consultation tomorrow, so will hopefully find out some more information / timeframes etc.

@happytoday73 so glad it worked for your DS

@managedmis she's 5

They cauterize blood vessels but that’s only providing there are damaged ones to cauterize. There are other reasons for frequent nosebleeds. I was always told I would grow out of them but continued having loads as an adult until I was finally diagnosed and treated for chronic, allergic sinusitis.

I had this done, it was fine, no pain.

That's good to know @Auldspinster. How old were you when you had it done?

Made an appointment today, DD has a consultation next Monday but the secretary was unsure whether they would be able to carry out a procedure then or if it would be at a later appointment.

Fingers crossed it'll be this side of Christmas.

I was 31.

My 4 yr old had his nose cauterized the week before last. The used anaesthetic on the area first (via some cotton wool taped inside his nostril) then used the cauterizing stick. It was all over very quickly, DS didn't cry and said it didn't hurt. He did a huge sneeze afterwards! He
has to have Mupirocin gel on the nostril twice a day now, for two weeks after the cauterization.

It was done during our initial ENT appointment, which I'd assumed was just a consultation. I was worried about it being done as like you I wasn't sure what to expect, but the procedure was nowhere near as bad as I'd imagined.