Nose bleeds....

[Natanni]

As I have been researching this w/e about Coumadin, I see that alot is mentioned about 'nosebleeds' and reporting them to your doctor. Husband is now 10 days post op, but at around day 3,4 and 5 he blew small clots from his nose a few times, ususally dried up ones. Never any bright red blood. I found that slightly unusual but his nose was incredibly dry from the 02, and I figured at some point in the surgery they dropped a naso-gastric tube down and just attributed it to that. This problem has resolved now but is it something more we should look into?

 

[Bionic Valve Tim]

You'll probably get some more enlightened responses than this, but just thought I'd share my experiences.

I live in Arizona and have a history of occasional (but long-lasting!) nosebleeds. I have not noticed my nosebleeds being either more frequent or longer lasting since I began taking coumadin. This is of course anecdotal.

I have always found that the liberal use of saline nose spray (OTC from any pharmacy) helps.

Tim

 

[Ross]

Nothing to worry over and your right, the O2 and nasogastric tube does cause the tissues to inflame and one thing leads to another. Saline works if he's still dried out, but there shouldn't be any further problems.

 

[JohnnyV_46]

Yep, don't sweat it, I had the same thing for the first few days, maybe a week even.! All better now...

 

[Guest]

In my clinic records I do not call anything that does not interrupt your desired activities a bleed. So, small clots from the nose that you get when blowing it is not a bleed. If you wake up with blood on the pillowcase, that is a bleed because you have to stop what you intended to do to clean it.

 

[jeffp]

Husband is now 10 days post op, but at around day 3,4 and 5 he blew small clots from his nose a few times, ususally dried up ones.

I was blowing and coughing up bloody snot and phlegm (ooo...that's makes a pretty picture, doesn't it?) for the first 2 weeks after surgery. Got less over that time frame. I chalked it up to the mucus and blood from the pneumothorax and all the chest tubes I had in. Just the body getting rid of all the crap that's was inside I assumed. Usually got more after doing the incentive respirometer breathing exercises.

 

[denverman1]

Bad bleed

Bad bleed

Had a really bad nose bleed about three months after surgery. Couldn't get it stopped by usual methods (I have a previous history of nose bleeds) and finally broke down and went to the hostpital ER. They checked my INR and it was acceptable. They packed the nose with this inflateable plug. Had to leave it in for three days and then was removed and checked by my ENT doctor. Have not had a nose bleed since (over a year).