Sudden significant, difficult to control nasal bleeding

Bless You! Do you use Flonase or do you take Fish Oil? Flonase can cause nosebleeds in some people and Fish Oil is a natural blood thinner. Taking Ginger & Feverfew can also cause nosebleeds. Have you had your K level checked? Low Vitamin K can cause nosebleeds. Praying for you to get better. This has got to be scary.

Had the same thing 2 years ago! Spontaneous nose bleeds, difficult to stop! Did anyone do lab work, specifically a calcium level/PTH, take your blood pressure or any other diagnostic tests? Just a couple of shots on the dark… Bloody noses could be caused by extremely high blood pressure. In my case it took an astute female Dr to review my lab work to diagnose a parathyroid tumor. These are usually benign, mine was. There are 4 parathyroid glands having nothing to do with the thyroid gland, but help control the calcium levels in your system. My signs & symptoms were missed for over five years which resulted in a severe osteoporosis! Have you internist check you serum calcium, PTH, and BUN levels. I am sure this was & is very distressing to you!

Thank you so much for responding and sharing your experience. 🌺

At least I was ready when I had the repeat performance of my scary nose bleed yesterday.
I hated waking up my husband since he has sleep interruptions due to severe neuropathic pain in his feet but I needed his help with doing what I had been informed would stop the bleeding (and avoid yet another event like the first one on March 18th).

The plugs that he helped me shape from small cotton square rolled into "plugs" sprayed with Afrin absolutely did work! My doctor had suggested cotton balls but the little square pads were great. Took about hour with them in place, and having to replace them twice before the bleeding stopped (as did the disgusting warm blood down my throat and gagging!) and I was able to kinda sleep sitting up, propped by many comfy pillows on the family room sofa. It was difficult having to breathe through my mouth because I'd keep jerking awake whenever my mouth would close and I guess my brain registered "Wake up! No oxygen getting to me!" After getting up, showering, and having a light lunch, I actually was able to go over to our older daughter's home (she lives about 5 minutes away in same town) and do a laundry. Yeah, our washer chose to just stop working this week, to add to my stress level. And you are absolutely spot on when you indicate blood pressure being a factor! Despite metoprolol succinate extended release and losartan, my BP was elevated this week due to the stress of the unknown etiology of the sudden nasal bleeds but also brought on by dealing with a dead washer (that had clothes in it when it chose to stop working), getting a repairman to the house and then learning that the mother board needed replacement so it was not worthwhile saving the 12 yr old appliance, and then coming to grips that I would replace BOTH appliances so that they would both have a distal demise...the dryer had been "hiccuping" for the past month also, with at times extending a dry time of 28 minutes to over an hour and then upping it again by 47 minutes, which meant that I had to keep an eye on the dry cycle...so yes, the stress of facing a major output of money for new appliances had my heart palpitating (I also have irregular beats but not atrial fibrillation thank God).

I did have blood drawn at the second ER that I was in on the first nose bleed event (March 18). And all those tests were normal, no low or high readings of crucial items. But of course it did not include specifics that you indicate your primary ordered. I had a Virtual Visit with my outstanding primary this past Tuesday (day after the second nasal episode) and she had the blood work results done on the 18th so she was pleased to see that all had been fine. Of course I will drop off a note at her office here in town (literally 4 minutes from our home) regarding what you indicated. I drop off notes rather than email via the patient portal since the portal does not always work for me. It's a new system for the medical group and still is quirky, so dropping off a note is way more efficient and direct since her nurse attends to it right way, making sure that my doctor reads it. Her nurse is amazing and she is the one who gives me my monthly B12 shot. So I'll drop off a note tomorrow (she's in the office on Mondays which works out great), asking if she might consider having those specific levels tested. She will definitely be concerned that after speaking with her on Tuesday via Virtual Visit that I had yet another event just 4 days later. The lab is within the same building so it will be easy to get blood drawn.

I do know that I have osteopenia but not osteoporosis. I have fallen several times and thank God no breaks or fissures of any kind. I've had balance issues for over 9 yrs now, and just recently got a diagnosis that explains why, but I can't share that just yet...still wrapping my head around it and the impact on our lives...

Your reply and that of another member have both been very useful and appreciated. The fact that you experienced a similar situation at least relieves a bit of the stress of thinking it could be a vascular issue (although I will be contacting my vascular cardiologist this week to get his input as well). Two otolaryngologists have indicated that the problem lies within the nose passages itself. I will be making an appointment with the one that cauterized the left nostril (the one that literally pulsed and gushed warm blood out the opening as well as flowed down my throat). I vetted her and learned about her incredible education and experience, and that she is also an outstanding surgeon (just in the event that it should be required). The doctor at my medical group pales in comparison, so of course I'd choose her!

Can you share how you are doing now, since having had the parathyroid tumor addressed? Was it excised or treated by another means? It would be helpful for me to know.

Be well, and thank you again💖.

Thank you so much for responding🌺.
No, I do not use Flonase or any other OTC. Had been prescribed a spray but found it not useful so stopped about 2 yrs ago (used it for about 9 months). I do use Ayr, an OTC saline spray which helps with nasal dryness. We also have air purifier in the bedroom (and in living room and family room) as well as cool mist humidifiers.
I've never been on blood thinners but had taken (as prescribed by cardiologist) low dose aspirin, which I stopped taking when I ran out about 7 weeks ago. Quite honestly, I just forgot to purchase to replenish it. No fish oil, because even the "odorless" offends my nose. I had been on Nordic Naturals Omega supplement (lemon flavor is great), but take only 1 gel capsule daily instead of the indicated 3 per day. Have been taking that for about 6 yrs with no issues, but after the nasal bleeding episodes gave thought to the fact that whenever I've had any type of surgical procedure (even dental such as root canal) I'd been asked to not take. So I stopped taking it as of March 19th (the day following the first nasal bleeding episode.
I don't use ginger, except for a sprinkling when making stir fry dishes, and have never used feverfew. Another member responded with info regarding her own sudden nose bleeding, and how her doctor did incredible investigating into her blood components and discovered it was due to a parathyroid tumor. Live and learn! How wonderful that her doctor was so astute. I am communicating with my primary and asking about certain testing for my blood. Yes, I had blood drawn on the day of the first episode and ALL results were fine, no red flags of any kind.

Quite frankly, I am anxious now about venturing out for fear that another episode can occur. What I find a bit comforting is that we wear masks to everywhere we go, so now I'll just place what is called "a dam" under my nose, which will be concealed by the mask! And I plan our errands, etc., anyway so I won't have to be out for very long. All our doctors, stores, etc., are within a 5 to no more than 10 minute one way trip from our home.

Gracias for taking the time to reply to my post. May you enjoy a blessed and peaceful Sunday today, and the week as well.😊🌺

I had one parathyroid gland removed at the Norman Center in Tampa, Florida. This was after over 5 years of missed signs/symptoms of parathyroid disease, ie hypertension, kidney stones, elevated BUN which eventually led to CKD and the severe osteoporosis. I would imagine that your nosebleeds to the degree that you are describing is caused by something! That's what needs to be addressed: Why are you having the nosebleeds?

Thanks for responding and sharing further.
The perplexing thing is that my nose bleeds came out of NOWHERE, and I had never had nosebleeds before, not even as a child. Sinus issues yes, but none in past 2 years or so. I believe that is due to wearing a mask anywhere that we go, and insisting that any service person wear a mask and booties over their shoes (we do have allergies and I do not have a housekeeper so I feel very justified in demanding this). The "source/reason" is precisely what I want to know, but so far no one has offered a reason other than that "you evidently have sensitivities and you absolutely must run the cool air humidifier constantly" (right, like I want to promote mold!). One doctor told me to put vaseline INTO the nostril....gross. I do put a smidgeon of Ayr Gel just inside the opening (so it's not visible), and the product is very soothing with no odor.

Siiiggghhh! Will have to "deal" for now....but will definitely be pushing for the etiology...🤔

3 years ago, I had 4 mysterious nose bleeds within 2 weeks.
The 1st one stopped after squeezing the nasal tip for 45 minutes , but #2 & #3 required cauterizations. When #4 started, I sprayed in Aftin and help my nose for only a few minutes before it stopped. (Maybe I should have used cotton.)
No explanation for the cause, but the blood was flowing from the septum side of the lower part of one nostril.
I now use Simple Saline (no preservatives) spray and - when the air is dry - a small amount of coconut oil in my nasal passages before sleep.
An ENT in the ER of a Boston hospital (that specializes in ENT problems) said that if there were more nosebleeds, surgery was possible.
I think that a combination of dry air and thinning nasal membranes left nasal capillaries without protection they had when I was younger.
My experience was not as bad as yours and I also had a partner who was able to drive quickly to the best hospital for this problem.
I’m so sorry that you had to endure this nightmarish experience.

Thank you for taking the time to reply. Your experiences resonate what I've undergone.
Yes, Afrin sprayed cotton inserted into the left nostril (the one that literally pours out blood) absolutely helped. Ditto to the squeezing (which I did for 90 minutes this past Saturday when I had episode #3!).
We've had air purifiers and cool mist humidifier stationed strategically throughout the house, and most definitely in the bedroom. And yet I experienced what I call "nasal hemorrhaging" episodes.
I'm looking to be seen by the incredible otolaryngologist who cauterized the nostril with the first episode. She also removed sizable blood clots that had lodged in my throat (making it difficult to breathe and swallow). I'm so worn out and stressed with this additional "condition" placed on my already seriously filled medical plate. Doesn't do much for my ongoing depression either, and adds more to my husband's intense heart issues.

Gracias for your input. Deeply appreciated.

I'm so sorry for what you're going through, and for the agonizing uncertainty. My 81 year-old husband started having copious nosebleeds (no history) in mid-2022. Maybe an average of once per month. An urgent care visit resulted in a cauterization of some kind and taking Afrin home with us. It worked well for a long time. No bleeding. Then last fall 2023 he started getting a severe headache (he's not a headache person AT ALL) that grew more painful over about a week, and the nosebleed situation came back with it. We figured it was time for the ER. They saw a nasal mass in one of their scans. After consulting with an ENT surgeon the next week (the result of an ER referral), a biopsy was done shortly after and the result was a malignancy, either a carcinoma or sarcoma, (it was never determined for sure). Scans showed no spread. In December the tumor was cleanly removed endoscopically (through the nostril, no cutting) in a long operation by that same ENT and a neurosurgeon standing by. The location of the tumor was close to the brain. It all went very well, with a one-week stay in the ICU to watch for spinal fluid leaks. My husband is now in his final week of chemoradiation (once per week), and we won't know for about 3 months from now (summer 2024) if there is any cancer remaining, when they do all the scans again. Chemo has been more or less tolerable; the radiation has caused more of the discomfort to the targeted area, but compared to many others he has fared well. That's a lot of detail just to tell you that going to the ER was ABSOLUTELY the key to finding and treating his problem, which started as copious, unpredictable nosebleeds, followed by a debilitating headache. I send my encouragement!

There is always an underlying reason for nosebleeds that are as copious as everyone has experienced. It just takes the right physician to take the time to work through a diagnostic differential. Therein lies the problem!