CICU stay because of a nose bleed!

[alicia]

Hello all. I just came home today from a 3 day stay in ICU. I went in because my nose was bleeding profusely and I was spitting up large clumps of blood and I was having trpuble breathing. My cardiologists partner was on call and he urged me to got the ER thinking I may have CHF again (for about the 1oth time). The cardiologist came in and examined me and said my lungs sounded clear but the bleeding was a big concern so he admitted me immediately to the hospital. My INR was fine (3.1) and I had no visible signs fo heart failure. All of a sudden in front of several doctors, my nose started gushing blood at an alarming rate and amout so they cauterized my nose and the bleeding stopped after about an hour. They sent me to CICU on heart monitors and watched me continusly. They withheld Coumadin for 2 nights and tonight I take 5mg and tomorrow I will have my INR/PT checked at my cardios office. My question is, does this happen alot while on Coumadin? The ENT Dr said its more common in cold winters and said the Coumadin just simpky made the bleeding worse. He said a blood vessel in my nose had apparently burst. Please give me feedback. Sorry for the long dramatic post.

Thanks friends, alicia

 

[Ross]

No it's not typical. Our noses are so dried out with this winter weather and those of us with vessels lying close to the surface, sometimes have this problem, but it's not all that common. I had to have mine cauterized as a child. I've only had two nosebleeds since then. One will on Coumadin, took a bit but stopped, and another off of Coumadin.

 

[geebee]

Alicia,
Sorry to hear of your misfortune. I cannot address the situation much because, although I have had an occasional nose bleed, it's never been that bad. It does sound like you had a blood vessel burst and that can happen to those not on coumadin. I am sure the coumadin made it worse and it must have been frightening.
Dry winter weather can cause nasal problems and, of course, there are more colds and thus nose blowing in the winter. The pressure could cause a vessel to burst. The nose drains into the throat which may be why you were coughing up blood as well.
It sounds like you have an ER that pays attention to problems instead of patting you on the back and sending you on your way. Be grateful for that.
I am glad you are back home.

 

[hensylee]

Brother, who is in assisted living, recently had a nose bleed that wouldn't stop. He is on coumadin. I took him to er where it eventually stopped - they kept him in ICU but turned out he had a-fib pretty bad and that's why they kept him in hosp. No further bleeding incidents, tho his gums bleed quite a bit.

I had a nose vessel rupture when I was 11. It bled so much and couldn't be stopped - they thought I had lukemia at first (remember, this is 50 yrs ago in Miami when drs would come to the house). I couldn't go back to school for a month - couldn't walk because of loss of blood. They stuck some sort of sticks up my nose to finally get it stopped. Those were the bad old days!

 

[Guest]

It is not common, but I wouldn't say that it was rare either. We live in one of the driest climates in the US. Our humidity is frequently 10%. When you warm this up to room temperature, the humidity is virtually 0. I tell people that when their lips chap then they are also set up for a bloody nose. One of the best ways to prevent it is to at least sleep with a humidifier in the bedroom.

 

[JimChicago]

I got up this morning, blew my nose, and had a little nosebleeding situation but thankfully it stopped after a while. I'll have to take Al's advice - I wonder if those tubes of nose moisturizing gel would help too or would they just make it worse?

Incidently my INR tested at 2.8 yesterday so it's not because of being out of range.

 

[Guest]

If it is not actively bleeding, it should help.

 

[Hank]

Nose Gushers

Nose Gushers

I have nosebleeds about 3 times a week. At odd times. Ususally when I bend over and pick up something heavy.

It's like the pressure just causes my nose to explode. It's really cool because it usually gets me out of any further heavy lifting for the next several minutes.

I have never asked medical advice about it, I just figured it's a fact of life.

The only effect coumadin should have on a bloody nose is to cause the bleeding to take longer to clot.

Coumadin doesn't make your blood, or your veins or any vessels any thinner or more fragile. It just makes cuts and nosebleeds and stuff more bothersome because it takes the coumadin user longer to clog the holes

 

[Guest]

There is a new product out called Nosebleed QR. It is supposed to stop most of them rapidly. They have sent me samples that I have given out in my clinic, but nobody has given me a report on how effective it is.

It should be near the Band Aids in first aid departments in pharmacies.

 

[Ross]

There is a new product out called Nosebleed QR. It is supposed to stop most of them rapidly. They have sent me samples that I have given out in my clinic, but nobody has given me a report on how effective it is.

It should be near the Band Aids in first aid departments in pharmacies.

Vitamin K nose plug?

 

[Perrster]

Welcome to the (nose bleed) section!

Welcome to the (nose bleed) section!

Hello Alicia,

I thought I held the vr.com record for a nosebleed experience requiring an Emergency Room visit. teeheehee! I would have to vote for yours as this year's winner!

Having been through this terrible experience, I think I have solutions that work.

Last January I went to the ER with an unstoppable nosebleed and subsequently went back two more times the same day. It all started about 2:00 AM and continued until about noon that day. Luckily, I didn't need to be admitted, nor did they want to stop my Warfarin.

Funny thing too, my INR was fine, but I was a mess until my last visit when I got 6 feet of gauze shoved into my nostril. A "nose rocket" the first visit (that's exactly the product name) didn't work and initial cauterization didn't help either. My last trek in (with tissue box and tupperware tray in hand) was messy. I think I sat in the ER waiting room leaking like a broken pipe for a good 20 minutes! Once I got taken back to the same exam room for the third time, I became a part of a 3-doctor team and administered suction to myself while they climbed all over me trying to correct my problem. They were great and I was finally relieved with the gauze. I met an ENT specialist and followed up with him about three or four times over the next few days. I missed three days of work!

Advice of my ENT was lots of Vaseline and humidifiers. Now I keep tubes and jars of Vaseline in my desk drawer, my coat pocket, my car, and around the house. In the winter I'm snorting Vaseline about once an hour it seems. Our whole house humidifier is not strong enough, so I have portable humidifiers at my bedside, under my desk at work and at home.

Little bleeder episodes still come back, but they are not the gushers as I had had.

Sorry for the drama too. I hope this was helpful.

Regards,

 

[Guest]

Did I tell you about the valver I see who got a nose rocket but for some reason didn't get it removed. He started smelling like dead meat. By then it had become part of his nose. He had to go off warfarin and start Lovenox and have surgery to get it out.

 

[Perrster]

PeeeeYooooooooooo!!!

PeeeeYooooooooooo!!!

Al,

That's a winner for a gross-out!

 

[Mary]

Our school nurse is using the Nosebleed QR in her office. I sent a student down last week, and it stopped the nose bleed immediately.

 

[Guest]

Carrots are only moderate sources of vitamin K. I guess the HMO can't even get the best source of vitamin K.

Did you hear about the CEO of the HMO who died. When he got to the Pearly Gates, St. Peter asked him what he had done in life. "He said I was the CEO of an HMO and I helped keep health-care costs low." St. Peter said, "Welcome come right in." Several people standing nearby called St. Peter into question. "We died because of poor care provided by his HMO, why did you let him in so easliy." St. Peter replied, "Not to worry after 3 days he is outta here."

 

[alicia]

Good one Al