Wyatt has been having a lot of bloody noses lately. To qualify a lot, I would estimate once a month. They almost always happen at night. He wakes up with blood on the pillow and sheets and crusted on his face. It makes me so upset to see him like that. And typical Wyatt fashion he doesn't let me wipe his face off until he has fully woken up which is sometimes at 10. He'll walk around the house, playing with his trucks, with blood smeared on his cheeks. Then over Memorial Day weekend he had one Saturday night, then another for about an hour on Sunday, then another on Sunday night. Freaked. Me. Out. What the hell is up with that?! Then he had a small night one a week later.
Of course, I called Dr. Greg. If they were happening sporadically I would shrug and go about my life but it seems to be getting worse. Dr. G wants him to go to an Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist to get his nose cauterized. He said that it shouldn't be happening that frequently, get it cauterized and they will stop. I was really hoping he was going to tell me not to worry about it. That its a phase. It will pass. Cauterizing seems invasive. (For those that don't know: they would burn the inside of his nose to create scar tissue to block and prevent bleeding.) An unnecessary procedure for a 2 year old and a terrifying procedure for me. Really, is that our only option? Doesn't that seem risky? What about infections? What happens when he grows? It just seems like cauterizing should be our absolute last option.
I haven't called the specialist yet. I'm procrastinating because I'm nervous. I'm afraid that if I take him they will cauterize on the spot which I am not sure is the right option. Or that they will look and freak him out then if it gets worse and I have to take him again its going to be traumatic. Like burned into his memory for eternity traumatic. Like etched as the first Mommy hurt me moment. Maybe I'm over thinking. I want to do the right thing by Wyatt. Of course, stopping his bloody noses is better for me but is taking the invasive option right for Wyatt? Maybe its allergies. Maybe its a stage. Maybe he's picking his nose behind my back. He is my son after all and everyone knows how much I love to pick my nose.
He had another one on Monday. It was worse then it looked. We were down by the beach. He was sneaking up on me then splashing. I would spin around, grab him and dunk his butt in the water while swishing him around. I was pretending not to notice him so he could sneak up on me. After a few moments, I turned to find him wiping his face with blood everywhere. On his forehead to his chin, running down his lips, from his fingertips to his elbows. I know the water diluted it but blood was everywhere. I washed him up as best I could and leaned him forward watching droplets fall in the water. I put Pup's leash on and by the time I got him home and cleaned up, it had stopped. Should I call? I'm not sure what to do.
He had another one on Monday. It was worse then it looked. We were down by the beach. He was sneaking up on me then splashing. I would spin around, grab him and dunk his butt in the water while swishing him around. I was pretending not to notice him so he could sneak up on me. After a few moments, I turned to find him wiping his face with blood everywhere. On his forehead to his chin, running down his lips, from his fingertips to his elbows. I know the water diluted it but blood was everywhere. I washed him up as best I could and leaned him forward watching droplets fall in the water. I put Pup's leash on and by the time I got him home and cleaned up, it had stopped. Should I call? I'm not sure what to do.
5 comments:
As a fellow ginger with a sister who is a ginger let me assure you we had blood noses all through our youth. Unless it gets really bad, I think you can ride it out. Just put a cool icepack on his neck and pinch the bridge of his nose.
xx
Matt has the same problem. To this day, he gets them sporadically. Sometimes a few in a week, sometimes only once a month. The doctors have told him he should get it cauterized and he never has. He's survived (although our sheets sometimes don't). Of course, when it comes to your kid, I might just call another doctor and get another opinion.. call the specialist and ask him/her about it and tell them you're not ready to cauterize without further discussion with the baby's father even if they demand it on the spot... Then again, there's always WebMD.
<3 Mia
Terry use to get them all the time. His doctor explained that the membrane in his nose was thin which would change as he got older which it did. I got the same advise, pinch his nose and place an ice pack on the back of his neck. The doctor also told me that the weather (warm) could trigger it. Terry always got them in the summer. Got them in the winter if the house was to hot. Like Mia suggested, chat with the specialist and see if there is something alternative to do.
Mary Ellen
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