nosebleeds

[Sean]

Hi again. I got such a greeat response here with my shingles that I thought I'd try it again.

For the past couple of years I've been having chronic nosebleeds. They come and stay for about a month and then inexplicably just stop. The nose bleeds usually in the mornings, almost every day, always from the left nostril. I have been on coumadine since 2001, but I've gotten nosebleeds before that and after that I haven't had a problem that's this chronic. I just noticed it last winter and this year again, it started about a month ago. I went to an ENT specialist today and he told me just what I expected to hear, that once the vessels in my nose get damaged they need 1 to 2 weeks to heal, but something I do or something out there is stopping them from healing. He suggested I use an oitment like bacitracin to protect the area and if that doesn't help heal it, he'll cautarize it. I've read most of what there's to read about nosebleeds as far as stopping and causes. I guess I need prevention methods and maybe healing suggestions. Thanks for any advice/help.

 

[epstns]

Hi Sean,
I'm not on coumadin, but have had nosebleeds from time to time. My EENT says that some of us are prone to them, but there may be environmental factors that make it more likely.

The one that gets me is the heating season. As soon as all the buildings (home, work, etc.) have their heating systems cranked up, the humidity in the air goes way down. Add this to the fact that (at lease in Chicago) the humidity is lower in the winter months, and you have some very dry nasal membranes. This, combined with my natural tendency toward nosebleeds, can lead to a string of them until I get home humidifier all adjusted and working.

You might check the humididy out. Especially could be a partial cause for you if you have made any changes to work location or home in the past couple of years.