Son's been getting torrential nose-bleeds 2 or 3 times a day all week.

[rbnyc]

I’m taking him to the doctor tomorrow. Last night was horrible. He was just sitting there after dinner and it started pouring out. I took him into the bathroom and we went through half a roll of toilet paper. There was just so much blood. I was afraid it would never stop. You always have to stay calm and cool when your kids are sick or hurt and you can never let them know you are scared. I could feel the panic welling up inside and I really thought I was going to have to step out and let my husband take over. If it had gone on another minute, I’d have taken him right to the hospital. But it subsided. I put him in the tub and mopped up all the blood.

My husband says he got a lot of nosebleeds when he was his age. I know there are many benign causes. But I keep thinking of reading Judy Blume’s A Summer to Die when I was a little girl and how it all started with those nosebleeds.

I wanted to take him to the doctor today, but he would miss his field trip and he’s been looking forward to it for weeks. I feel so out of balance. I just want to take the best care of him that I can and for him to be safe and happy.

Please let G be okay.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

1. That happened to me as a kid...

...turns out that I had developed an allergy to aspirin. My mom didn't know that, so the more my nose bled, the more she pumped me full of St. Joseph's Children's Aspirin. I ended up at the hospital and they cauterized a vein in my nose. The bleeding stopped and so did my aspirin intake.

Best wishes and vibes for your son's health. You're right, there are many benign causes. Let's hope this is one of them and that it will be quickly and easily managed.

[rbnyc]

2. Thank you.

My husband said when it happened to him it was because his nose was growing!

[1gobluedem]

4. Me too

Turned out I was allergic to all anti-inflammatory drugs including aspirin AND ibuprofen. I've been cauterized twice -- ouch.

[TuxedoKat]

3. That would be scary

I hope all is okay and that it turns out to be something minor. My daughter gets alot of nosebleeds but only during the winter when it is so dry. She seems to get fewer each year too.

[Generic Other]

5. I had the same as a child

Allergies...the blood is really mostly mucus. Looks like the veins are coming out though. Very scary. Huge clots of it.

It runs in families. I am sensitive to perfume and yellow flowers. I had my worst year of nosebleeds in a classroom where the teacher wore heavy heavy layers of cologne.

Have them test for allergies. Sneezing always brought on the nosebleeds for me. And as long as you are sneezing, the capillaries can open up again.

[Duer 157099]

6. I had them as a child, as did my teenage son

He has fewer every year, I can't recall the last time he had one. Guess it's a rite of passage for some of us.

[rbnyc]

7. Thanks for all your replies.

I feel way more normal. I know this is just typical stuff, but I get scared.

Thanks again.

[Kali]

8. yes it can be something serious, but most likely is minor

I had that a lot as a kid, took two tries to cauterize a small vein in one nostril. First with silver nitrate and then electrically.

pinch lightly and tip head back, he will be OK (but he may get a bleed on the field trip - hope he wore a dark shirt ;-)

[rbnyc]

10. They had to wear red shirts.

:evilgrin:

[TrogL]

9. I still get them

He's probably got a weak blood vessel inside his nose or damaged one blowing it. Don't let them cauterize it. Mine was done a couple of times and now I've got a hole right through my septum.

You shouldn't be going through that much Kleenex to stop a nosebleed. Have him take a big wad, gently pinch the nose shut, making sure he can still breathe, sit someplace quiet and don't do anything except something that allows you to stay motionless like reading. Some people say a cold washcloth on the back of the neck helps, but all it does is make me cold and tense.

Do not have him lean forward or back.

[rbnyc]

11. Thanks so much for tips. (nt)