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KackyK Forum All-Star
Joined: May 22 2007 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Aug 15 2007 at 7:32pm | IP Logged
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My 7yo ds is beginning to have frequent nosebleeds. Probably about 3 times a week or more he'll have a series of them during the day. I think it's odd because he can go a whole day without one, but when he gets one...you know he'll have at least 2 more later.
They last sometimes about 15 minutes or more and this is gross but some clots, some pretty large ones (like I said...gross), come out too...ugh! He does the pinch your nose (not too too tight) right below the bridge and leans forward thing.
Any other suggestions? When would you guys think it's a problem to be seen by a doctor???
When I was kid, I loved watching Little House, and remember Albert...all I remember is he died from something or another and his first symptoms were nosebleeds. Obviously, I know ds is not Albert but that memory always makes me get tense by the third nosebleed of the day And obviously, it begins to upset ds by the 2nd or 3rd nosebleed of the day. I know it's a phase we have to ride through...but if I can make it smoother...that'd be great!
Any suggestions will be much appreciated!!!
__________________ KackyK
Mom to 8 - 3 dd, 5ds & 4 babes in heaven
Beginning With the Assumption
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mavmama Forum All-Star
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Posted: Aug 15 2007 at 8:31pm | IP Logged
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We also use a coldpack to the bridge of the nose, and it helps slow the bleeding. Ours are worse with allergy season, or bad air quality days. Good luck--they are no fun!
__________________ Liz
Blessed by 4 wonders
dd11, dd911, ds9, ds8
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Paula in MN Forum All-Star
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Posted: Aug 15 2007 at 8:53pm | IP Logged
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I went through a bout of this when I was 19 or 20. I had to have the vessels in my nose cauterized. I don't remember it hurting (although it was 20+ years ago!), but I have not had a problem since.
__________________ Paula
A Catholic Harvest
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Red Cardigan Forum Pro
Joined: June 16 2007 Location: N/A
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Posted: Aug 16 2007 at 12:43am | IP Logged
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My youngest dd went through something like this. She'll still occasionally get a nosebleed but nothing like when she was seven! From the reading I did online back when she was going through that phase I found out a few warning signs for when to take things seriously:
-if you pinch the nose completely (at or near the bottom) and the bleeding is still continuing after 10 minutes.
-if both nostrils bleed at the same time.
-if the child has been injured.
-if the child has NOT inserted fingers etc. into the nose (a pretty common problem at that age, especially fingers), OR if the child doesn't show some signs of nasal symptoms due to allergies, cold recovery, etc. In other words, if the child goes from breathing clearly through the nose to a nosebleed, and this happens frequently.
For us, once I actually sat and pinched her nose gently closed it didn't even take five minutes for the nosebleed to stop, and she learned how to do that herself. I also found out that she was getting the second or third nosebleed that day or the next because she would try to blow or clean her nose and would end up removing the clot which had formed over the 'wound' inside--also a common occurrence, and we learned to tell her to try NOT to blow her nose after a nosebleed (and some serious conversation about not inserting fingers or tissues inside the nostril helped, too).
I don't know if this sounds like what your ds has been going through, but it can be a scary problem. The things that kept me from worrying too much were knowing other moms whose kids had had similar problems, and knowing that I had also experienced a lot of allergy-related nosebleeds as a child.
Hope this helps!
__________________ http://www.redcardigan.blogspot.com
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aussieannie Forum All-Star
Joined: May 21 2006 Location: Australia
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Posted: Aug 16 2007 at 1:32am | IP Logged
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Nettles are good for nosebleeds. It is an excellent tonic when made into a tea from dried nettles (usually bought from a healthfood shop) and is very safe. Maybe you could trial your son with drinking a cup per day?
Also when he is experiencing a nosebleed place a small swab of cotton wool, soaked in nettle tea, in the nostril. Boiled nettle leaves, applied externally, are said to stop bleeding almost instantly.
__________________ Under Her Starry Mantle
Spiritual Motherhood for Priests
Blessed with 3 boys & 3 girls!
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MaryM Board Moderator
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Posted: Aug 16 2007 at 3:07am | IP Logged
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It's funny about Little House's Albert. I didn't remember that specifically but must have in the back of my mind, since I was always concerned when my kids had frequent nosebleeds. Googled and it looks like Albert had leukemia which is what I always worried about when the two middle children went through periods of a couple years where they had frequent nosebleeds. There are a some conditions that would be of concern, but most often it is allergy, irritation, injury, or dryness related. Red Cardigan did a good job of listing some symptoms to consider for being seen by a doctor. In serious illnesses there are many other symptoms to look for that would be in addition to the nosebleeds.
Allergy could have been a factor here, but a lot was likely due to the high altitude and dry climate (combined with irritation and blood vessels close to the surface). When they are having them (dd 11 still does) I try to make sure she is drinking enough and also using a saline spray to keep the nose moistened. I appreciated hearing your suggestion about the nettles, Anne. Will have to try that.
__________________ Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
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stefoodie Forum Moderator
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Posted: Aug 16 2007 at 7:07am | IP Logged
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For some reason our dc have had a lot of this this year! I don't know if it's the weather/pollution/allergens in Ohio. My dd-16 finally had a vessel cauterized. She still gets nosebleeds, but not as often as she was getting. Then dd-5 started getting them too. And just the past 2 days the 8-yo. I'll wait a while to see if they'll need cauterizing, though.
Thank you for posting, because it was starting to bother me too (Little House fan too, but I didn't remember Albert's nosebleeds -- just that he was cute ); Red, thanks for that list!
__________________ stef
mom to five
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Rachel May Forum All-Star
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Posted: Aug 16 2007 at 7:27am | IP Logged
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Paula in MN wrote:
I went through a bout of this when I was 19 or 20. I had to have the vessels in my nose cauterized. I don't remember it hurting (although it was 20+ years ago!), but I have not had a problem since. |
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Charles has the nosebleed problem and this is what I'm plannng to do. My friend the doctor says it really doesn't hurt.
__________________ Rachel
Thomas and Anthony (10), Maria (8), Charles (6), Cecilia (5), James (3), and Joseph (1)
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stacykay Forum All-Star
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Posted: Aug 16 2007 at 8:01am | IP Logged
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Our 12 yods just started this, about 5 months ago. After a visit to the doc, and no other problems noted, he suggested ds use a saline nasal spray each day, to help moisten the passages. It has been a month and a half since the visit, and it is working well.
God Bless,
Stacy in MI
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KackyK Forum All-Star
Joined: May 22 2007 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Aug 16 2007 at 8:26am | IP Logged
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Thanks everyone.
The nettles sound really interesting Annie. I don't know if I could get him to drink something...how does it taste??
I was thinking I might start keeping a log too. My older ds had and still sometimes gets nosebleeds...but usually it would happen after a small bump to the nose and then it would sort of set him off on a couple during that day.
This ds doesn't usually have allergy stuff...but who knows. I guess I'll give it another week or so and see what happens before I call the dr. You know how that is...go in with one thing...come out with another thing in another kiddo
And I have to add about Albert...I loved Albert...totally first crush! How hilarious is it that you can find out with a quick google how a little known tv character from (let's not count!) years ago died off a show.
Ahhh...the memories!
__________________ KackyK
Mom to 8 - 3 dd, 5ds & 4 babes in heaven
Beginning With the Assumption
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aussieannie Forum All-Star
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Posted: Aug 16 2007 at 8:41am | IP Logged
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Nettles are definately one of the 'milder' tasting herbs and I can get my children to drink nettle tea. I was only thinking tonight as I was drinking some nettle tea that you could almost add some honey and milk and get away with it, considering the subtlety of it's taste...
__________________ Under Her Starry Mantle
Spiritual Motherhood for Priests
Blessed with 3 boys & 3 girls!
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Barbara C. Forum All-Star
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Posted: Aug 16 2007 at 12:05pm | IP Logged
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My nephew had this problem starting when he was about four or five. You'd go to wake him up in the morning and his entire pillow case would be covered with blood.
He had his nose cauterized and they started him on allergy shots, like my sister and mother. As far as I know, other than to his baby formula, he never showed any other allergy symptoms.
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Marybeth Forum All-Star
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Posted: Aug 21 2007 at 11:42pm | IP Logged
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My friend's ds had this problem from ages 4-7. No rhyme or reason to why,when or how they started. I happened to mention them (who knows why?) to my MD. She suggested increasing his Vitamin C intake. They have completely stopped.
I would probably call my doctor b/c I worry!
God bless! Keep us updated..please..
Mb
__________________ Marybeth (Mb)
http://held-together.blogspot.com
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LisaR Forum All-Star
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Posted: Aug 22 2007 at 11:10am | IP Logged
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get him tested for Von Willebrand's Disease! this is a genetic bleeding disorder, that is grossly undiagnosed, up to 3% of the population has it. I, too suffered through nosebleeds as a child, cauterizations (that only last so long!) and it really got unbearable when I entered puberty and menstration. obviously it is much worse for a girl/woman to have this disease, but it would be worth it for him to be tested. often for boys/men only a simple nose spray is needed.
it IS important for any child who has frequent nosebleeds to be tested, to have that information in case they ever need surgery is invaluable and can be a lifesaver. I sure wish that I knew i had this before the age of 35!!
praying for him,
__________________ Lisa
dh Tim '92
Joseph 17
Paul 14
Thomas 11
Dominic 8
Maria Gianna 5
Isaac Vincent 9/21/10! and...
many little saints in heaven!
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KackyK Forum All-Star
Joined: May 22 2007 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Aug 23 2007 at 3:35pm | IP Logged
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This past week has been great...nothing! So we'll see if they start to come back. I'm keeping a collection of all of your responses!
Thanks!
__________________ KackyK
Mom to 8 - 3 dd, 5ds & 4 babes in heaven
Beginning With the Assumption
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Maryan Forum All-Star
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Posted: Aug 23 2007 at 3:58pm | IP Logged
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Glad to hear Kacky.
__________________ Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
A Lee in the Woudes
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TracyFD Forum Pro
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Posted: Aug 27 2007 at 10:15pm | IP Logged
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Our daughter had frequent nosebleeds - we went to an ENT who did a cauterization surgery. Seemed to do the trick.
__________________ Tracy
Mom to 3 girly girls,
1 absent-minded professor, and one adorable toddling terrorist.
Pinewood Castle
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Mama Moon Forum Pro
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Posted: Sept 09 2007 at 6:07am | IP Logged
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I had nosebleeds (everyday) since about 7 years old up until my early teens. Then they suddenly stopped. I was so used to it. It was especially when I was hot or in dry air conditions. Now I very rarely get them. My dd has started to get them too. I think I'll try the nettle tea.
__________________ Mama Moon
blessed with 2 precious ones
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