How many nights to wait after a bloody nose?

[lentower]

I just had my first bad nose bleed since my twenties. I'm 71.
Started a few breaths in after the second time I put my mask on tonight.

For those who have had this problem:

How many nights after a nose bleed do you wait to restart using your CPAP?

Note my pressure range is 14 -18 varying each night.

Thanks either way,
Len

[Julie]

Will you be seeing a doctor (ENT) to a) find out why it happened (reasons may be quite different than they might have been when you were 20), b) whether you should do something particular about it, and c) whether they think it's ok for you to continue Cpap as you now do it?

You're not twenty anymore (sorry... I'm late 70's here) so you need to look into things differently now than you used to, however small they may seem.

[palerider]

I'd say 0, one would think that pressure in the nasal cavity {from CPAP} would tend to hinder, not exacerbate a bleeding condition

[khauser]

I just had my first bad nose bleed since my twenties. I'm 71.
Started a few breaths in after the second time I put my mask on tonight.

For those who have had this problem:

How many nights after a nose bleed do you wait to restart using your CPAP?

Note my pressure range is 14 -18 varying each night.

Thanks either way,
Len

None? I would treat the nosebleed in the usual way and once it stopped bleeding is go back to sleep, cpap and all.

Perhaps you need a little more humidity in your system.

[chunkyfrog]

. . .
Perhaps you need a little more humidity in your system.

Lack of humidity is the cause of every nosebleed I have ever had.
If you are taking blood thinners, tell your doctor about the nosebleed.
Your dosage may need to be adjusted--NOT A DIY THING!!!

[Deborah K.]

I tend to nosebleeds; always have. I make sure to set my apap humidifier to maximum, and always sleep with a room humidifier going at its maximum setting. I also put a small amount of Lanisoh (brand name for a tube of lanolin) on my pinky fingers and rub it up into each nostril, from the opening to as far as I can reach. These things help me tremendously to avoid both discomfort and nosebleeds.

If I were you I'd go right back to using your pap machine. Best of luck!

[Wulfman...]

I just had my first bad nose bleed since my twenties. I'm 71.
Started a few breaths in after the second time I put my mask on tonight.

For those who have had this problem:

How many nights after a nose bleed do you wait to restart using your CPAP?

Note my pressure range is 14 -18 varying each night.

Thanks either way,
Len

What mask? What is your pressure range?
You haven't filled in your profile. Please do so.
Random statements don't mean diddly squat unless the necessary information is provided.
If you have a full face mask, should be no problem as you can still mouth-breathe if you have to pack your nose with something to catch the blood (like tissue).
Personally, I have always used "passover" (cool/no heat) humidification and don't have nosebleeds.

Den

.

[colomom]

It depends on the severity of the nose bleed and whether or not your nose bleed keeps reoccurring. Medications of course are also a factor to consider, if you are on any blood thinners you should be more cautious and talk to your doc.

My son and I both use CPAP. I’ve never had trouble using my CPAP the same night after a nosebleed, my son’s nosebleeds are severe enough that they sometimes warrant visits to the ER so he often has to take a break from CPAP because the air pressure opens his bleeds back up. Nosebleeds this time of year when many of us are starting to use heaters which suck moisture out of the air are pretty common and generally aren’t concerning as long as you can get the bleeding to stop. Some things you can do to help your nose heal and hopefully prevent more nosebleeds so you don’t have to worry about using your CPAP:
Be gentle with your nose and avoid blowing your nose so you don’t loosen the scab.
Increase the humidity in your house.
Use saline spay or gel (I prefer the gel) especially before bed.
The nasal spray Afrin can also really help (just be sure to only use it for a couple of days).

[chunkyfrog]

Heated humidifier in my cpap has completely changed my nasal health .
Especially in the winter.
Before CPAP, my nose was dry, itchy, and crusty all winter.
I would keep my cpap just for this, should my apnea go away--as if!!!

[lentower]

Thanks for all the replies.
I'm going to take a one night hiatus, to make sure its healed.

Will you be seeing a doctor (ENT) to a) find out why it happened (reasons may be quite different than they might have been when you were 20), b) whether you should do something particular about it, and c) whether they think it's ok for you to continue Cpap as you now do it?

You're not twenty anymore (sorry... I'm late 70's here) so you need to look into things differently now than you used to, however small they may seem.

All true.

I will take a one night hiatus. It was severe enough.
(I didn't mention before that it rook me 30 minutes to control the bleeding.)

Since I posted, I've found out my CPAP's water reservoir was empty.
First time, I forgot in 37 years.
(A new thing to be extra careful about. Part of aging.)
Which has to be the cause.
Saves me the hassle of getting an ENT referral from my PCP.

Best, Len

[Julie]

And I almost never need the hum. so don't think of it as being possibly part of the problem for others.

[Pugsy]

And I almost never need the hum. so don't think of it as being possibly part of the problem for others.

It can be a critical need for a lot of people depending on what their nasal mucosa wants and needs.
Nose bleeds can simply be from dry cracked nasal mucosa. When I lived in Las Vegas (pre cpap therapy) I had them frequently. They weren't horrible but they were common. My nasal mucosa simply doesn't deal with being dry very well at all.

Humidity needs or preferences...probably the biggest YMMV sticker thing when it comes to cpap.
And just because someone lives in a higher humidity area doesn't mean their nasal mucosa doesn't need more when cpap is added.

[dreamingofdreaming]

I tend to nosebleeds; always have. I make sure to set my apap humidifier to maximum, and always sleep with a room humidifier going at its maximum setting. I also put a small amount of Lanisoh (brand name for a tube of lanolin) on my pinky fingers and rub it up into each nostril, from the opening to as far as I can reach. These things help me tremendously to avoid both discomfort and nosebleeds.

If I were you I'd go right back to using your pap machine. Best of luck!

I do all of this as well. I will get a sore on the inside of my nostril. I tend to sleep mostly on one side and the mask that I'm using ends up full blast on that side's nostril and makes it sore. When this happens I rub some Neosporin inside my nostril during the day.