Nosebleeds

[Birky]

I have a question to anyone who might have experienced a nosebleed while on coumadin. I was just walking today and my nose started gushing. Was at the hospital to vist my Mom and her Dr. was there who told me how to stop the bleeding. I had 2 surgeries in October and are on Darvocet. Would this affect the INR? I am going for a protime even though it hasn't been 4 weeks. This has happend twice in the last week and is getting kind of scary. Haven't posted since I couldn't use my hand to type. Thanks,

 

[JimChicago]

From Al's site:
http://www.warfarinfo.com/propoxyphene.htm

Does your med contain aspirin or acetaminophen?

From Al's site on tylenol - etc at:
http://www.warfarinfo.com/warfarinfo.acetaminophen.htm

 

[Perrster]

King of Nosebleeds!?

King of Nosebleeds!?

Greetings Marcia,

I think I'm the undisputed "king of nosebleeds" since this past January when I went to the ER 3 times on the same day for a nose bleed! They tried sending me to the moon with a nose-rocket (real medical name) on the first visit, then I went back a few hours later to collect 6 feet of gauze up one nostril. I had 3 ER docs climbing all over me while I bled all over the place. I even lent a helping hand and took over suction for them. (Surprisingly, my INR was in the normal range at the time). I had somehow irritated my nasal lining and the dry weather was no help. One tiny little vessel was the culprit. After the ER experience came a couple of vists to an ENT specialist who did a cauterization number on me more than once. I can't describe what I was feeling when he slowly removed the 6 feet of gauze, but he was so gentle it didn't really hurt.

Totally gross!!! Sorry.

This "season" I am fully prepared with 3 extra humidifiers (one right next to my bed, one in my office, plus the furnace unit) and a case of Vaseline to keep my nostrils in moist condition.

I'm really curious what your mom's doc's suggestion was to help you stop it?

In spite of my near normal INR's, I can't help but think that being on Coumadin is a factor. Now that my nose is so sensitive, I bleed even easier and still get them. I also think my allergies and mucous has something to do with it, so I started taking Zertec. Can't tell if it's helping yet.

Regards,

 

[Guest]

One of the valve patients at my clinic had to have 6 units of blood when his nose would not stop bleeding. He evidently did not keep his follow-up appointment after he was discharged from the hospital and the six feet of gauze was in his nose until it started smelling like dead meat. When it started to gag him he finally went back to the doctor. By then it was part of the scab in his nose and it couldn't be pulled out. They had to take him off warfarin, put him on Lovenox and do surgery to get it out.

Soooo Perry, you are only the Prince of Nosebleeds, not the King!!!

 

[McCln]

Just be sure that if you are in a dry heat situation, that you use a cool mist humidifier.It puts the moiture back in the air you lose in dry heat. That is what I use due to the drying heat of steam heat in my apartment building. I have little bleeding, nothing major in three years since surgery, but I am prepared. Take care all.

 

[Ross]

You just had to bring this up didn't you. I've been fine all these years until last night! I had my first gusher since I was a child. I did what any fine nose bleeder does and packed that puppy myself. It took a long time to stop and my INR is 2.9. The combo of air in the house, oxygen shooting up my nose and the weather, have just combined to be a bad mix.

 

[Guest]

We are seeing a lot of nosebleeds this week. Last Saturday it was 78 degrees and the dew point was 2 degrees. This is a relative humidity of 5%. (Comparatively speaking, Phoenix with 10% humidity is a swamp.)
Needless to say that many noses are cracked inside.

 

[Ross]

Question - what the heck is this "6 feet of gauze" thing? Should I go home tonight, get a flashlight and go prospectin' or something?

It's amazing the amount of packing they stuff into you. It doesn't feel good either!

 

[Birky]

nosebleeds revisited

nosebleeds revisited

Thanks to all that replied. The Dr. had me put my head down and pinch the top of my nose. It did stop. I went for an INR and it was 1.9- too low to be a problem. Going to get my humidifier out and start running it. I really detest the winter with having the heat on. This year I think is going to be pretty expensive too. Boy that 6 ft. of packing doesn't sound too pleasant. Hope this doesn't happen again. Has anyone had an arthroplasty of the thumb. I had this along with carpal tunnel and the arthroplasty has been very painful and from what they tell me, for another month or so. The Dr. will not let me go back to work fulltime until the middle of December. This is workers compenstation but they are basing my benfits on last year wages and I was off last year with the OHS. Can't seem to cut a break. 5 surgeries in 18 months. Guess I shouldn't complain, a lot worse off then me. Have a good weekend.