I'm waiting for referral at ENT to find out cause of nosebleeds. Had first one about 20 years ago. Gp said bp bit high. Given Ramipril. Nosebleeds stopped for a while. Only medication I took was Ramipril. Wasn't diagnosed with AF till September 2019 at age 75. Point of post is that nosebleeds have increased with age .Turned 80 last June. Weight is 50kg !Gp changed Apixaban from 5mg x2 daily to 2.5. Bleeds have increased slightly and are unpredictable. Thanks Jean jeanie for your post from 5 years ago. I have looked at food & drinks to strengthen blood vessels. I could have vessels cauterised privately but not sure if that would totally stop the unpredictability of them. I'm having a fasting blood test on Friday to check a few things including platelet function. Anyone else had similar experience? Had a short bleed Sunday morning just as I was about to clean teeth. That was convenient. Gp prescribed Naseptin cream few months back. I've taken it for 10 days in the past but few days later bleeds start again. Gp said till referral can take every day!
Nosebleeds and AF meds : I'm waiting... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Nosebleeds and AF meds
l had cauterisation 10 years ago, before AF was diagnosed. I have not had a nose bleed since. Elderly folks are more prone to nose bleeds because of thinning of nasal tissue and the nose being drier. I am now careful of not blowing my nose with force and treat my nose area with respect.
Nose bleeds are awful and frightening. I was in a bad way with mine as they would start at the least movement, even just turning over in bed would do it.
ENT should put an end to all this, as they did me. Cauterisation is quick and painless, so no worries there for you.
Wishing you well.
Chris.
Thank you Chris for this reassuring post. I'm fed up with wearing my old dark jumpers. Shopping in Tesco last year I had a slight bleed and was talking to a couple about my age. The man had cauterization in Spain where they had lived for a while. He said it hadn't worked so he asked the doctor there to cut out the vessel. That depressed me a little but I decided not to be negative. It did work for him but cost a lot. Now back in uk so they could use nhs, I think.
Try not to worry because ENT will put a stop to them with whatever method they use. The nose is not a big area to deal with. I did have to have my nose done twice before it cured it. They are quite common in old age.
My GP didn’t seem too concerned. I got quite worried and he said not to let a nose bleed upset me. Most unsympathetic!
I know what you are going through, so wish you well and hope you get an early appointment.
Chris.
2nd October 2024 I had a nose op to cut out a precancerous growth, then surgeon stitched a skin flap over it. Although I have had nosebleeds previously I wonder if they're more frequent after the hacking my nose endured. She did a very good job!
Ahh! Yes, it could be something to do with the scar tissue thinning. Try not to worry as l am sure they will sort you out. Take care.
Glad your cauterisation was successful. My wife used to have horrendous nosebleeds which often involved a nurse or Doctor coming out - remember those days? 🤣. She discussed cauterisation but someone told her that it often didn’t continue to work so she didn’t go for it. Thankfully, the really bad nosebleeds stopped. She sometimes has nosebleeds now but usually when she has a problem from having a cold or infection and has blown her nose a lot. She finds that an ice pack on the back of the neck, sometimes even an ice cube on the bridge of the nose, helps to stop them quickly.
Hello Desanthony,
Good to hear from you again and hope you are keeping well.
Nose bleeds are quite horrendous and awful to live with. They are, however, quite common and l know a lady that lives near, who has had them all her life. GP’s don’t seem unduly concerned. Last time l was at AE there was a poor lady with her nose all padded up. High blood pressure can cause nose bleeds, but l have low blood pressure.
Good that your wife’s stopped on their own accord. I would always recommend cauterisation, so don’t know who put the spanner in the works for your wife! It worked for me, but not saying it does for all.
Hope your wife continues to be ok. The nose is such a delicate structure and easily bleeds, especially for us oldies. Take care both of you.
Chris.
Yes it’s funny how they stop isn’t it? We are going back here to when she was in her mid/late teens in the late 70’s so things have progressed since then. She also used to get sinus problems which they considered sorting but after the worst episode she stopped having them so often or so badly with instead of months between episodes there were years between so it never had anything done. Has only had maybe 3 bad episodes in the last 30 years. Although she will get blocked sinuses when she gets a cold they are nowhere near as bad as they were when she was younger which is so odd. You wonder what causes these things which for years can be horrendous to get better on their own. ?
Yes, the human body is amazing how it can heal itself. When you think of it how a cut heals and the skin grows back to normal, it’s not short of a miracle is it? We take lots for granted. Take care.
Yes we do take our bodies for granted and we realise that as we get older!
Hi Camelia23,
I was diagnosed with paroxysmal AF in January 2010 and part of my medication was to go onto Bisoprolol - I was then aged 65. The Bisoprolol (5mg - I think) was prescribed to be taken in the morning. It wasn't too long before I started getting regular, but, random, full flow nose bleeds which took a while to stop.
Had a good old moan to my GP who got out her book of magic potions and brews and said take Bisoprolol at night. I did this ......... no more nose bleeds, even to today as I write - I'm 80 now and still take my beta blockers at night - no sweat.
I might add I was on Bisoprolol for 12 years, then went onto Nebivolol and nowadays, finally, on Sotalol. No sweat, I take all these beta blockers at night.
Hope this helps. I think the basis for all this is by taking at night you get the medication all day BUT by taking at night all the drama of side effects occur when you are asleep. Maybe suggest it to your GP if appropriate.
John
That's so interesting as after my 3 second "faint " July 2023 my bp was quite low so gp changed ramipril to 2.5mg twice a day instead of 5mg in morning but also bisoprolol reduced to 1.75 mg am and 2.5mg evening replacing 5mg daily in the morning. I was diagnosed with Paroxysmal AF in September 2019. At first when I was walking in the morning I used to feel sluggish first thing. But later if I carried on walking my energy would return. I thought I'd scrutinised the side effects but didn't realise bisoprolol could cause nosebleeds.
Ah! I realised you were referring to taking bisoprolol at night not necessarily side effects. I take the larger dose at night. After 8 nosebleed free days I had light 10 min bleed as I put my head on the pillow to sleep. Realised I was lying flat as I felt a trickle of moisture. Sat up and noticed blood. I dabbed with tissue then stuck in a nampon. I also slept half sitting up. I had very good sleep. I did feel a bit down as was meeting friends for lunch. Put on black jumper and glad to report no more nosebleeds. Yet.
Keep the nostrils moist, with the cream or coconut oil or vaseline or, best of all, rose geranium oil. Check out the symptoms of Hereditary Haemorrhagic Telecgianstia (sp?) it's rare but just in case though I think you would have had symptoms years ago. Keep a diary of bleeds for doctor including how long they last.NHS advice is A&E if they last more than 20-30 minutes but I never bother, my longest was 50 minutes. Be aware you may feel dizzy and sick afterwards. If the bleeds are heavy you can use transexamic acid serum (beauty department of superdrug etc).
Hope this helps 🙏
Thank you. I like the sound of rose geranium oil. I have a blood test tomorrow for platelet function and cholesterol. Have to fast for 10 hours.
Mine arrived at around the same age as yours did but I haven’t taken anticoagulants for ages as they all came with unpleasant side effects for my digestion and I now take Flecainide regularly which has virtually put an end to episodes of AF for me. I was told by the EP who first prescribed the Flecainide as a PIP, that unless an episode of AF went on for a long time with a very high heart rate, I was not at risk of stroke and I’m still here at 81! Good luck! The only time I had a nosebleed in my life was at the start of paratyphoid when I was 9 years old! It was in Switzerland and it was fairly traumatic with what I realise must have been cauterisation to stop it and then blood donated by one of the male nurses and about 6 weeks in the hospital.
my friend kept having nose bleeds likewise my brother in law. They both had cauterisation and fine now.
Hi Camelia23, I too have developed sudden nose bleeds, never suffered with nose bleeds before. I have been taking anticoagulant for years so don’t think that is what is causing it. They are quite scary as very heavy and last up to 30 minutes. I too was given Naseptin but it didn’t seem to do much. Would be very interested in the outcome of your referral and I hope they manage to sort it for you. Best wishes.
Thanks for your concern. I walked this morning, about a mile, to my hairdresser. I was a bit apprehensive as didn't want to have nose bleed. Not been too heavy and seem to be set off by high blood pressure. Walking is a great remedy for reducing my bp. Just as I turned into his road a small spot appeared .But all fine. I'm a little over anxious so tried deep breathing for little while. Sunny weather is helping my mood. The Naseptin seems to help It might be worth paying for cauterization anyway..
I've had this issue for the last 3 years or so. My ENT explained that, like the rest of my skin, the skin in the nose is thinning with age and the tiny blood vessels are more susceptible to damage. Use of a humidifier in the very dry winter climate helps, but the ultimate "cure" was cauterization. That works and I feel I've finally got a handle on it. It's painless and it seals off those leaky blood vessels. Also, keeping the nose moist with a tiny bit of aquaphora (vaseline like ointment) before bed is also useful.
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