Fao Sqad

[maggiebee]

Any advice welcome. Friend has frequent nose bleeds - not for a couple of minutes but can go on for 2/3 hours. GP not interested so she has an "open" appointment at ENT. She must swallow a lot of blood which comes up as "clots". Nose been cauterized 4 times but no change. 15 bleeds in the last three weeks. Any ideas? She seems to get conflicting info each time she goes to hospital.

[jno]

I'd have thought a clotting problem or high BP but the hospital must have investigated these. Better wait for Sqad.

[barry1010]

Is she in an air-conditioned environment? Has she been prescribed Naseptin?
If she has been told her nasal lining is very dry she could try using a very small amount of vaseline to keep it moist. Might be worth a try in any case, won't cause any harm, if she is not using Naseptin.

[Sqad]

This can be quite a problem especially for the which I assume that your friend fits.
Normally bleeding blood vessels can be seen and cauterised but not uncommonly they are unseen hiding at the back of the nose.

Also blood vessels tend to be fixed and non retractile and the blood keeps coming.

In severe cases hospitalisation is needed and the nose packed and in the more resistant cases, a blood vessel in the neck or skull needs to be located and tied.

His blood pressure and haemoglobin needs checking and transfusion required.

jno is correct.

In the case of your friend it is a case of monitoring the situation.

[Sqad]

barry, this sounds far more serious than nasal vestibulitis.

[maggiebee]

Thanks folks. Will pass this on to my friend's daughter and no doubt she will pursue this. Friend is on medication for HBP. She now thinks she has broken blood vessels in her eyes. Feel helpless, but something needs to be done.

[Sqad]

Something does need to be done.

My advice, next nose bleed, get to A&E.

[maggiebee]

Thanks Sqad