My husband {84} has small frequent nose bleeds. He has been cortorised twice. It will happen at any time?

Question

What can we do to stop this embarrassing problem not to mention the constant spot cleaning of carpets and bedding

Answer 1

Check with his Dr before using the answers for medical advice. Nobody here really knows your husbands condition

Answer 2

Is your husband on any medications? Has he been checked for high blood pressure? Do you have a humidifier in your home? These are all questions that need to be answered first before an good response answer can be given.

Have your husband see an Ears, Nose / Throat specialist. It could be diagnosed that your husband has high blood pressure and this in itself could trigger these contant pesty nose bleeds. Cauterizing the inside of the nostrils is just a temporary fix. The Dr. could possible prescribe different nasal moisturizing sprays include a salt mist spray to help with the healing of your husbands nostril insides. The humidifier will keep the air moist so that your husbands nose doesn't dry out.

Yes, this is embarrassing to maybe YOU...but this is a serious enough problem that you should seek out medical help for your husband!

Answer 3

Lots of ideas here. But it sounds like you need a practical solution. The absolute fastest way to stop a nose bleed is to put a cotton ball under your upper lip between the lip and the gum on the same side as the bleed. Hold it down. That's where the vein runs. That should save you some stains. Don't forget, human saliva dissolves blood- so spit on the stains.

Answer 4

I have the exact same problem. I, too, have been cauterized twice, and it did not help one bit.

In my case, the problem is caused by a deviated nasal septum, which causes the air to hit the inside of my nostril in one particular spot, again and again. The spot gets dry, cracks, and bleeds.

My ENT doctor said that cauterizing again is not a good idea, but he could fix the problem through surgery to straighten the septum. (I'm not going to do it, becuase I'm a chicken.)

In the meantime, I apply a little bit of Vaselline to the inside of the nostril from time to time to keep it moist, so it doesn't crack.

Answer 5

I am not sure about your hubby, but, I had about 4 cortorisations and then they finnaly just had to make me have surgery before the nose bleeds would stop. But, now I'm okay I have only had about 3 nose bleeds since and that was about 3 years ago.

Answer 6

Lay off of PAP... let his nose be his concern.. and you will be better off keeping your nose out of his personal dilemma.

Honestly, having the condition in itself is humiliating enough..but, to have to endure the petty bickering associated with spot cleaning is the real challenge. Get over your obsessive compulsive disorder or seek treatment thereof.

The fact that he has lived this long is a testament of God's further use of him in his lifetime. Maybe it is so that you may have your personal standards scrutinized for practicality.

We may provide him with a soft cloth (dry or moistened -- his choice -- not yours) to use whenever he feels a drop land on his chin or notices it on his clothing. Hydrogen peroxide is an effective product to use on blood stains..follow with a mild detergent and rinse. Also, placing a mirror on the wall near his 'favorite place to sit' may enable him to 'see' that his nose needs attention. Our ability to feel 'tactile' pressure changes as we age. He probably is unaware of it when it happens. Also, you could check the ventiliation system to ensure that it is properly filtering the air pollutants from the home. In addition, adding moisture to the air to prevent a 'dryness induced bleed' could be affected by purchase of a 'humidifier'. See the link below for information on humidifiers:

Cherish the time that you have with the old man...you will be old one day, too. You need to be considerate of others and treat them as you would want to be treated...eventually, if not now.

Answer 7

Get your fair share of vitamin c. vitamin c is necessary for the formation of collagen, a substance essential to the heath of your body tissue, The collagen in the tissue of your upper respiratory tract helps mucus stick where it's suppose to, creating a moist, protective lining for your sinuses and nose.

Answer 8

Sounds like he needs cauterising again. It's normally a dilated traumatised blood vessel on the nasal septum (middle wall). Bleeding restarts either due to inflammation (colds etc...), rubbing, sneezing, drying out of the mucosa or elevations in blood pressure either long term (medical causes or stress), or transient elevations (straining with constipation or due to prostate problems causing difficulties urinating).
Go to his GP, get his blood pressure checked, ask to be referred to ENT again. If they cauterise him again, keep that nostril moisturised for a week (just inside, against the middle wall) and get him to take it easy for a week and avoid picking or blowing his nose.

Answer 9

He may be at risk for stroke, possibly from my experience working w elderly for 15 years. Nasal capillary bleeding occurs at times to relieve pressure from backed up blood in poor circulation. If he is on Oxygen, it may be just dry nose, saline helps.. My Uncle had similar conditon. See your Doctor, immediately.

Answer 10

I used to have a condition that dealt with freguent nose bleeds, get him to a doctor or if you feel like trying a home remidy, just tell him to stick vasoline up his nose. I had to do that for 10 year (11-16). My doctor told me to do that and it worked.