Well it’s been about five days now… I know the first post everyone will jump on will be the “see a doctor” one. If it doesn’t go away in the next day or two, I will… here’s my situation…
I woke up one morning stuffy. I went to the bathroom and blew my nose and saw blood on the kleenex. I live in IL so there is some humidity and the air isn’t too dry. I have never had a problem with a bloody nose before…
this has happened five consecutive days now and I’m getting worried.
The problem subsides as I’m up and moving around. The stuffyness typically goes away but does not completely disappear. when I blow my nose after I’ve been awake for awhile it seems the blood goes away. However, the horrible bastard comes at night and the same thing happens the next day it seems.
I just blew my nose… and blood. I’m starting to get worried but not jump to conclusions.
I can’t think of anything different in my routine. I don’t do drugs or anything like that so that isn’t a possibility as the catalyst. The only thing I can think of differently is when I helped a buddy on home improvement and I was around lots of dust and sawdust and the like as well as insulation. I’m afraid I may have breathed something in. Maybe I’m just freaking myself out.
So, what could this be? How serious? Please share all thoughts.
As you have anticipated, the following comments are NOT to be taken as definitive medical advice; I’m NOT a doctor. However, it sounds very much to me as if your nasal tissues are drying out overnight. While Illinois is not exactly the desert, any heated indoor air is going to have a much lower humidity than the outside air, and some of us are more sensitive to that than others. Try getting a saline nasal mist thingy and using it before you go to bed for a few days. That will certainly do no harm; it’s just a moisturizer. Couldn’t hurt, cheap, might help.
Your post suggests that the nosebleed consists of a bit of blood on a tissue in the morning. That by itself, in my humble opinion as a Mom only, is not generally cause for alarm. If you were dripping significant amounts at various times of the day, I’d be more concerned.
I have seen a situation with a person who got frequent nosebleeds that were related to having to take anticoagulants because of a cardiac problem, but that was an entirely different situation. I’ve also heard of high blood pressure causing nosebleeds, but in those cases it happened when the person was engaging in some activity that raised the pressure.
Of course, I also don’t know what other health problems you may have, what medications you’re on, etc., etc.
I am not a doctor, but since you are seem to be clotting and not bleeding constantly I wouldn’t be worried. You probably have scab in your nose, and each time you blow you dislodge it and bleed a little. I know it’s hard, but try not to blow your nose or pick at it or anything for a while. This will give your nasal passage time to heal. Try a saline spray like chefIL11 suggested. If your nose is really dry, you could try swirling some petroleum jelly up there before you go to bed.
Trust me, you are fine. I have bled up to 1/2 of a cup of blood at time through my nose. However, it seems once you have a nose bleed, it is easier to get them in the future. I’m not sure why.
I am a doctor who treats nose bleeds. Causes include high blood pressure, trauma, drug use, dry air, liver problems (clotting factors), blood problems (platelets, hemophilia), overdosing on aspirin or warfarin, etc.
Most nose bleeds are anterior, occuring at Little’s group of blood vessels on the wall of the nose, close to the nostril. Squeezing the nose stops the bleeding within fifteen minutes. Once you ave had one bleed, though, rebleeding is common – manipulation removes the scab, or the cause of the first bleed is still there.
Up to 5% of nosebleeds are in the posterior throat. These cannot be stopped by squeezing your body, keep bleeding, and require medical intervention. Posterior bleeds can be a real PITA to deal with.
You should be wary of internet advice. If you have not had recent bloodwork, take aspirin or coumadin, have not had your blood pressure checked recently, etc. you definitely need to see a doctor. If the bleeding stops quickly, you could try putting a humidifier in your room and keeping your finger out of your nose. If it is a recurrent problem, the doctor can solve it by cauterizing the blood vessels. In drastic cases, we need to use nasal tampons, cocaine and surgery.
Cocaine constricts the vessles. Otrivin does too, cheaper and less effectively. Cocaine can also make a hole in your septum and cause bleeds, of course.