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Is this a normal amount of blood from nose? Over a week now
Over a week ago, started seeing small specks of blood in right nostril nucus and in phlegm of post-nasal drip (PND) leakage to throat. Presumably contributed to by the dry winter weather in NY. Started using Xlear nasal spray 2+ times a day a bit over a week ago, and often have a humidifier on which brings the room to 35%+ humidity. Improvement in blood amount seen to almost nothing for 1 or 2 days, so one night several nights ago I didn't use the spray or humidifer. Noticed a slight burning sensation in my left nostril that night. Since then, periodic congestion in subsequent days, and when I blow my nose there is blood from my left nostril almost without fail. PND has mostly subsided (particularly drier overnight leakage, and also fresh/wet leakage unless I point the nasal spray wrong i.e. toward septum and/or with head back) in which case I also now see a larger amount of blood in the leakage. No blood recently seen from right nostril, but larger globs of blood from left nostril when blowing nose. Attached pic shows left nasal secretions after blowing nose (first 2 images), and fresh PND (right image) within the last few days and this morning respectively.
Wish I would have seen signs of healing by now. Is this a normal amount of blood for a dry winter even when regularly using nasal spray and sometimes a humidifier? Ever since this started I try to avoid blowing my nose if I can as I realize this could potentially irritate it; only sometimes when there is noticeable congestion. Any tips to optimize or speed up healing?
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cmx, When I do this, I normally have a sinus infection. That would be my guess for you. I would go see my primary or ENT. Praying for you.
Ok. Did you usually have other symptoms when you had a sinus infection? I don't currently have fever, fatigue, pain, headache, etc.
Yes, I do get burning in my nostrils. I'm wondering if this is also allergy related? Air being too dry can cause your nose to bleed. This doesn't look like just blood though. From what I see it looks like infection with it. I could be so wrong. We are all different.
Palpate your forhead, is it tender?
Are the maxillary sinus on your cheeks tender?
Do your teeth hurt?
Pressure in your face at all?
Sneezing a lot?
Is your nose really stuffy?
Do you feel pressure in your face when you lean over?
Have you tried running a humidifer again?
Do you feel bad?
Have you ever had sinus issues in the past?
Our winter has been terribly dry and I run a cool mist humidifer every night.
Only a primary physican or ENT can diagnose a sinus infection by looking up in your nose and seeing if you are swollen and inflamed.
I wish you the very best with this and praying for you.
Thanks for your help. When you say it looks like infection with it is it due to the yellow mucus? From my understanding dark brown bits might be dried blood? Humidifier is off sometimes and I'll to try to run it more regularly. No to all those symptoms questions, except not sure about the sinus one, probably have, based on a full-body MRI last year which reported the below for the sinus area. If it continues to this extent for more than a few weeks or after the dry winter is up I'll plan to make a trip to the doc.
Full-body MRI early last year had findings for the sinuses and mastoids (although I recall also having temporary heavy nasal congestion at the time so not sure if I'd get the same results now): "(1) We detected multiple lesions which are consistent with mucous retention cysts. The cysts are located in the right maxillary sinus. Most commonly these are of no concern, unless they become large at which point they cause discomfort. This is a benign finding. If you are asymptomatic, then this finding can be reassessed on your next Prenuvo scan. (2) There is mucosal thickening of the ethmoid air cells and right maxillary sinus. No follow up is needed unless you have symptoms related to this finding." Also relevant: "The remaining paranasal sinuses are clear. The mastoids are clear." "Nasal pharynx: No adverse findings. No worrisome mass is identified."
Hello @cmx. My experience with winter dryness has been similar to yours. The more we burn our wood stove, the drier it is. Once I start seeing blood, it usually continues unless I keep up with the saline spray and humidity. If you are still having symptoms like this despite your preventative measures, then I would see your doctor. Facial pain or pressure would indicate sinus infection is possible. Sometimes a virus will leave our sinuses full and then a bacterial infection can start. If you are seeing more and more blood, I would certainly get it checked out.
Thanks for the advice. I carefully blew my nose this morning after not blowing my nose for over a day, and only saw a few specks of blood this time. It was mostly yellow and brown gunk like I get from time to time. I have faith this is a sign the cut or whatever it is is improving. This is despite not using humidifiers for the last 2 days (the humidifiers have a lot of brown gunk inside so prob won't use them until I get around to cleaning them as I understand that could cause a respiratory infection), just Xlear nasal spray typically 2-3 times a day with 2-3 pumps each time (I hope my nose doesn't become physically dependent on this; from what I read it shouldn't). Again I don't feel any other symptoms such as facial pain/pressure etc, except for, sometimes, a feeling of something in the left nostril which I assume is the cut/scab or dried snot from not blowing my nose for a while. If the bigger amounts of blood return I will plan to see a doc.
Well after it improved yesterday, this morning when I used my nasal spray I noticed the spray mixed with blood running down the bottle, so I carefully blew my nose and found more fresh blood (attached). Booked a doctor.
They drew blood bc she said if it's due to blood not clotting / cut not healing this can be caused by vitamin or mineral deficiencies, hormone imbalances, liver issues, lipid issues (didn't test lipids today bc didn't fast). All normal in 2023 tests.
She said maybe due to dryness, and nasal spray (like what I used, Xlear) is a decongestant and can dry it out more. She recommended nasal moisturizer gel instead, such as NeilMed (will compare with others). (When I mentioned dry hands she also recommended CeraVe). She said use a humidifier.
She checked anterior nose, mouth, eyes, and neck lymph nodes. She said all looked normal except swelling in anterior nose; can't see posterior so provided ENT referral where they may insert a camera.
For now I plan to get a gel and resume humidifier.
Typo above: 2024 tests.
I got Ayr gel (couldn't find NeilMed nasogel in stock) and a new humidifier. Will see what happens.