I just spent the past half hour cleaning up Lance's blood -- sheets, floor (trail to the door), clothes, himself...he woke up choking and I was already making my way to him when he opened his door, and I almost passed out at the sight of him. I am *not* squeamish about blood, mine or other people's, but there was so much on his face, in his hair, down his clothes, even dripping onto his feet!
This is the 2nd time in 2 or 3 months that he's woken up with a major nosebleed (both nostrils, hard to slow), and this one was worse than the last. I've seen nosebleeds and I know that sometimes it looks a lot worse than it is, but when could it be a cause for concern? I feel like a FTM all over again but after what I just witnessed, I don't know what to think.
He's in good spirits and falling asleep again, and I *think* the blood has stopped. There was so much that it was turning my stomach just with the smell in his room.
I have to take Holly for her kindergarten physical (yeah, we're behind and her pedi books way, way in advance) in the morning and was thinking about asking about it. Wdyt? Dr. G. is Lance's pedi too, but there's nothing in his history to really add up with this stuff.
I turn the a/c off at night when at all possible, so I don't know that it could be dry air...thoughts?
Absolutely bring it up today or make his own appointment. It could be nothing, but from what you described, I would just feel more comfortable consulting the doctor. This way, if it continues then you will have history established. It might be that his nose just gets way too dry, but it's good to make sure he isn't having something else going on.
Let us know how it goess for Lance and hugs and prayers to both of you.
I would bring it up. I would think it might be the dryness. Do you have a humidifier you could run in his room?
I second the humidifier. That should totally help to keep his mucous membranes moist and prevent the nose bleeds. If it keeps up or happens again at all, I would definitely call your doctor.
I know this is stupid, but do you think he could have been picking his nose while he was asleep? Little ones have sharp fingernails, so its a thought.
Kyle gets nosebleeds, too, as did I when I was little. There was one time I considered taking Kyle in because the bleeding wouldn't stop and he'd been bleeding for a good 20 minutes. Then I remembered that cayenne will stop a nosebleed. I gave some to him and it stopped within a minute. Since then we've given him cayenne as soon as it starts. It always stops it fast and doesn't take more than a tiny bit of cayenne.
I'm not sure what could be causing a nosebleed. Maybe dry air, maybe nosepicking, maybe something else. I know it's hard at that age, but getting him to eat things with vitamin K in it will help prevent nosebleeds or stop them from being so bad when they do happen.
I'm sorry Mel-that sounds awful! I would mention it to the pedi as well. It won't hurt.
I was very prone to nosebleeds as a kid as well, and would have huge clots and tons of blood. There was nothing really wrong with me-I just got nosebleeds a lot. Humidifiers didn't really help me, but it is not a bad idea, all the same. I know I would aggravate things by trying to pick out boogies as a kid, lol.
Alaina, do you put the cayenne in the nose? Maybe that is a silly question, lol, but I would hate to shove it up their nose if that weren't what you were supposed to do!
Mel that sounds so terrifying. I would absolutely mention it to the pediatrician, and I second Tracy's question, does he bleed a lot in any other instances? If not then he might just have the dryness everyone is talking about but if he does seem to bleed heavier then you think normal I would really talk to the pedi.
I'm sorry Mel-that sounds awful! I would mention it to the pedi as well. It won't hurt.
I was very prone to nosebleeds as a kid as well, and would have huge clots and tons of blood. There was nothing really wrong with me-I just got nosebleeds a lot. Humidifiers didn't really help me, but it is not a bad idea, all the same. I know I would aggravate things by trying to pick out boogies as a kid, lol.
Alaina, do you put the cayenne in the nose? Maybe that is a silly question, lol, but I would hate to shove it up their nose if that weren't what you were supposed to do!
I suppose you could put it up their nose, but on the tongue works just fine. I just have Kyle dip his finger in and lick it off his finger. That's all it takes for a small nosebleed. I have him take about twice that if it's bad.
I'm sorry Mel-that sounds awful! I would mention it to the pedi as well. It won't hurt.
I was very prone to nosebleeds as a kid as well, and would have huge clots and tons of blood. There was nothing really wrong with me-I just got nosebleeds a lot. Humidifiers didn't really help me, but it is not a bad idea, all the same. I know I would aggravate things by trying to pick out boogies as a kid, lol.
Alaina, do you put the cayenne in the nose? Maybe that is a silly question, lol, but I would hate to shove it up their nose if that weren't what you were supposed to do!
I suppose you could put it up their nose, but on the tongue works just fine. I just have Kyle dip his finger in and lick it off his finger. That's all it takes for a small nosebleed. I have him take about twice that if it's bad.
Does he complain about it because of the spiciness? I would think it would burn their tongues!! (but definitely a trick I will store away for future use-thank you!)
I'm so sorry Mel! I know it's absolutely terrifying.
I just wanted to say Ryan used to get nosebleeds all of the time. Like constantly he'd wake up just gushing from his nose.
It was so scary... And all due to dry air and allergies. We tried the humidifier and everything. Sometimes it worked sometimes not. We also used to put a small amount of Vaseline or neosporin inside his nostrils (like a tiny bit) and that helped.
I'd def mention it and see what suggestions he might have or if lance needs to be checked out.
I'm sorry Mel-that sounds awful! I would mention it to the pedi as well. It won't hurt.
I was very prone to nosebleeds as a kid as well, and would have huge clots and tons of blood. There was nothing really wrong with me-I just got nosebleeds a lot. Humidifiers didn't really help me, but it is not a bad idea, all the same. I know I would aggravate things by trying to pick out boogies as a kid, lol.
Alaina, do you put the cayenne in the nose? Maybe that is a silly question, lol, but I would hate to shove it up their nose if that weren't what you were supposed to do!
I suppose you could put it up their nose, but on the tongue works just fine. I just have Kyle dip his finger in and lick it off his finger. That's all it takes for a small nosebleed. I have him take about twice that if it's bad.
Does he complain about it because of the spiciness? I would think it would burn their tongues!! (but definitely a trick I will store away for future use-thank you!)
He used to complain a little, but I'd give him a drink of milk or a piece of bread when he was done which made him happy. Now it doesn't bother him. He likes spicy now.
It happened again last night, almost as bad, so I called this morning and they wanted me to bring him in. I did, and Dr. G. doesn't think there's anything seriously wrong (though to those of you who asked, he does tend to be more of a 'free-bleeder' -- I am too).
She recommended saline spray (to help clean it out and keep it clean) followed by a bit of Neosporin applied with a q-tip to coat the inside of his nostrils, to help heal and also to help keep the blood vessels in there moist, for about a week until he should be good to go. She also seconded the advice about using a humidifier, which I was going to start using anyway after your suggestions. (Alaina, I'd never heard that about cayenne -- I think I'll try that next time too!)
He's not anemic so the blood loss hasn't been too much...he's just so little, and it's so easy to worry, kwim? Hearing that many of you either experienced it as a child or have gone through this with your kid(s) made me feel better -- not that I'd wish it on anyone, just that other people understand and know from their own experiences that it's not anything to stress over.
I know our lives take us in different directions at times these days, but I still don't know what in the world I'd do without every one of you. Thank you!
-- Edited by Sunshine on Friday 28th of May 2010 01:49:37 PM
