[doozer22boys]

Our girls are both very prone to bloody noses. We just can't get them to stop with the typical pressure on the bridge of the nose thing. Am I doing something wrong? I need some tips, please! Our boys never had many bloody noses so this is kind of new to me.

As a sidenote, I have 4 sick children and I am sick myself. We've been home for the past 4 1/2 days and it is really wearing me thin. This was one of my worst fears...everyone sick at once. It's high fevers, chills, cough, ear pressure, runny nose, etc.. so at least I don't have puke and poop happening from everyone. That is a blessing. But please tell me this ends at some point when you have a larger family. Oh my goodness....it feels like we'll be home forever.

[Amysue1112]

HI Nancy!
Oh how miserable! Let's hope you all will go through the "healing" together...I am sure it is awful but I suppose it would be worse if everyone was at different stages and passing it back and forth...UGH!!

As far as bloody noses...have you talked to your pediatrician?? It is worth a call if they happen a lot...some saline spray could help....or some lubricant..dry, cracked mucous membranes are fairly common in kids...also, you want to squeeze the bottom of the nose...if you squeeze too high, you may be higher than the bleeding area and causing it to bleed more. Do you get your child to lie down? That can help too...if they keep moving around it will keep their blood pumping more and can make the bleeding hard to control. I have also heard of some using ice packs as ice causes the blood vessels to constrict...although it might be tough to make a kiddo keep still to put ice on their nose...eekk!

But again, I would just let the pediatrician know if they don't already...it is worth them keeping a note of it to make sure there are no bleeding issues...not to worrythough...not likely, just worth keeping an eye on..

HOpe you feel better soon!!!!!!

BTW..how have you guys been doing other than feeling sick?? I have thought of you often and hope things are getting easier each day!

Praying for quick healing!
Amy

[Annabell]

Oh my! Sounds just awful. Are you relatively certain you don't all have the flu?

As to bloody noses, you might ask your pediatrician about these thingys that go into the nose and stop things up, although with little ones, they have to be old enough, I suppose, to explain that they must breath through their mouth.

(OK, how do I know this? I was on blood thinners -- long story, broke an ankle having fun and chasing DD and developed blood clots, and was hospitalized and went on thinners and awoke one morning with blood running down my throat and out everywhere).

But there are these balloon-like things that go in the nostril and stop the bleeding. ER's have them, but your ped might too, and they're not difficult to work with.

Bless your HEARTS! Wish I could send you all my special turkey soup (a natural soporific guaranteed to make you sleep for 24 hours)!

[aimeemk]

humidification will help prevent nose bleeds if it is due to their illness. Changing climates are a huge cause for nose bleeds.

The child should be placed in an upright position or leaning slightly forward. This will prevent blood from dripping down the throat. You should pinch the outer sides of the nostrils gently between your thumb and index finger for at least 5 minutes. If your child is upset or crying this can increase blood flow. You can also try packing the bleeding nostril with a wad of absorbent cotton and pinch for 10 minutes. We have used Jr sized (non-scented ) tampons in the ER before. and pinche for 10 minutes. Cold compresses to help constrict blood flow.

You need to probably call your doctor if these techniques do not control bleeding.

AGAIN HUMIDIFIER the are cheap and can significantly reduce the number of nosebleeds.

hope this helps.

[randloar]

Having moved from sealevel to 6000 feet.......and to a VERY dry climate, I second the humidifier effort. Both DH and I get bloody noses all the time as the weather changes still (4 years living here now), and having a humidifier running year round (practically) has really helped!!

I know thats not a solution, but can say (at least in the Moscow region), its a much more 'humid' climate, and the change can really affect some people more than others!!

Otherwise, the doc would be the way to go!
Good luck, and hope you find a solution soon!!!

[Abdulina]

Oh Nancy I can SO relate to everyone being sick at once! It's a nightmare. Do whatever you can to survive at this point. Don't worry about the mess int he house (that used to be my biggest worry when everyone was down and out). It will eventually get back to normal. Survival. Movies work wonders w/ kids when sick. Let them veg out. First order of business is to take care of you and get yo uwell FIRST. You can't get them well if you are not functioning at normal capacity. That's just a fact. 4 days seems like forever when you are sick. But as they say, this too shall pass. Making everyone comfortable and getting fevers down is priortiy one. Wish I could come help you out Nancy. know that weel wishes are coming your way.


Get better soon!!!

[votemom]

sorry for all you are going thru. it DOES get better as your kids get older. we hardly ever have illness around here anymore.

hang in.


p.s. humidifiers DO help with the dry sinus passages. just have to make sure you keep them clean.

[VinSue99]

I can really relate to this subject. Our son was prone to MASSIVE nose bleeds - the first one occuring on our flight home from Moscow! The bleeds came from the RIGHT nostril only, and they continued throughout last winter, but as soon as Spring arrived, they were gone. On the advice of an ENT, I did use a humidifier, and the nasal saline spray, but he still had them.

All throughout last summer, he was fine......and then Fall arrived, and so did his nose bleeds. I took him back to the ENT, same office, different ENT, and he wanted us to use the humidifier, saline spray and the saline gel for 10 days.....if they continued he would cauterize his right nostril.

They continued, and his nostril was cauterized.....and wouldnt you know it? He then started getting nose bleeds from the LEFT nostril. He cauterized that nostril on another visit.

We still use the humidifier, but we havent had a MASSIVE nose bleed in about a month now. He did have a trickle the other day, but NOTHING like it was previously.

We are so glad we saw the ENT......there was so much blood from his nose bleeds that he was getting scared to even blow his nose. Its been a big relief getting this taken care of.

[kimber413]

The bleeding is probably caused by heating your home and drying out the air. A humidifier is good. Also the saline spray. Also, this sounds gross, but using a Q-tip to put vaseline up the nostril will help.

To stop the bleeding once it starts, fold up a small square of paper towel and wedge it up between the gums and upper lip, in the center, as far as it will go. It sounds strange, but it always worked when I had nose bleeds as a kid.

[GCS]

I agree - humidifiers make such a huge difference! Also - the saline drops are wonderful. I even use them myself now - I never thought they would work so well.

I hope you guys are feeling well soon!

Christina

[cindyc]

I swear by vaseline for nosebleeds. My daughter is prone to them, too. Even as a kindergartner, we kept vaseline and q-tips in her room so that she could apply the stuff herself. It worked every time.

We also send the stuff to camp and school with her; that has saved me many a trip to school and calmed numerous panicked school officials.

Hope you all feel better soon,
CindyC

[sak9645]

1. To PREVENT frequent nosebleeds, especially in cold weather, put a drop of Bacitracin ointment into each nostril at bedtime and in the morning. Your child can do it with his/her (clean) finger, or you can use a Q-tip. You can also use Vaseline, though the Bacitracin helps prevent bacteria from entering. The nosebleeds happen, mainly, because the nasal passages are too dry, and the Bacitracin or Vaseline lubricates them. It won't hurt to get a safe humidifier to moisturize the air of your home, if it is quite dry, but you should still use the Bacitracin.

2. The traditional cure for a nosebleed is having the child sit still and keep his/her head UPRIGHT or tilted slightly forward (so he/she doesn't swallow blood) and then pinch the nostrils shut for 5-10 minutes. Some people recommend a cold washcloth on the back of the neck, as well.

3. Unfortunately, if your child has a real gusher, especially at 2 a.m., this approach doesn't work well, since your child is screaming (which makes the blood flow more), doesn't want to sit still, and hates having his/her nostrils pinched closed, and you are exhausted. If all else fails, squirt in some saline (non-medicated) nasal spray and suction out the blood with a nasal aspirator. Then administer ONE spray of Afrin (medicated) nasal spray or the generic equivalent to each affected nostril. You can give one extra spray if the bleeding doesn't stop in five minutes. The medicine in Afrin constricts blood vessels, and is basically what an emergency room doctor would use for a long-lasting nosebleed. Don't use Afrin except during those rare wee-hours emergencies, and don't give more than one or possibly two sprays, as the medicine can cause rebound congestion.

4. Nosebleeds often happen when the inside of the nose "feels funny" because it is dry, and the child starts picking it. Some doctors may prescribe a steroid nasal spray, like Nasacort, to prevent the inside of the nose from getting scabby and rough and tempting to pick.

Sharon

[doozer22boys]

Thank you so much for all the great advice. I really appreciate it.

[skling69]

I have had nose bleeds my entire life and my bio son inherited the tendency from me. First off, do not hold the head back, it does not stop the bleeding, it just drains down the throat into the stomach. I woke up one morning vomiting blood after a nose bleed in the night, the ER Doctor explained about the nose bleeds and the stomach deal. My ENT suggested to only use Tylenol products because asprin or Motrin or Advil type medicines are blood thinners and it cause the blood to take longer to clot. The other ideas about pinching the bridge of the nose and the cold compresses help, as does lubricating the nose in cold weather. As for my son, when he was in surgery to have tubes put in his ears, the ENT saw the large vein that was responsible for his nose bleeds and cauterized it during the procedure. He has only had three or four small nose bleeds in the last three years. Good Luck