The Nosebleed Saga

(If you are squeamish about blood, you may want to skip this one.  ER pics are coming up.)

Let me start out by saying, that this pregnancy hadn't been so bad.  Beside some awful morning sickness in the beginning, I was feeling really good.  I had tons of energy, was keeping up with the kids and slept like a baby every night. 

Then, one day, we started going downhill.  I went to the mall alone and had the most peaceful afternoon shopping for maternity clothes.  On the way home, and out of nowhere, my nose started bleeding and would not stop.  Let me tell you how I feel about seeing my own blood...I freak out!  I had to pull over to sit and apply pressure before I could start driving again.  And I was sobbing.  

When I got home, I called Dr D.'s office and they said to go to the ER if it didn't stop in 20 minutes.  It stopped in 10.  Throughout the rest of the week, I got a few minor nosebleeds out of nowhere.  I thought it was nothing to worry about.  I know several girls who have had nosebleeds during pregnancy.

About a week later, I was washing strawberries in the kitchen sink with 'The Boy'.  We had just gotten home from Costco, I had put 'Munchkin' down for her nap and he wanted to help me put things away.  I decided he could help me wash the fruit. 

Then he says to me, "Mommy, don't get blood on the strawberries."   

I looked down to see what he was talking about and I was completely covered in blood.  Another nosebleed.  I sat down and applied pressure but it got worse.  Blood started pouring down my throat and I started choking on it.  I ran to the bathroom to throw up and I saw myself in the mirror.  There was blood coming out of both my eyes.  I was totally freaking out.   

Did I mention that 'The Hubs' was away on business in Santa Barbara?  Totally freaking out.

I decided to call 911.

By the time I started talking to the dispatcher, I was able to speak one sentence before throwing up.  Blood was everywhere.  I called my mom and she started speeding over from her house. I called out to 'The Boy' to unlock the door and then he came to the bathroom and saw me.  He said, "Mommy, you have a bad boo-boo.  I will get you a Band-Aid."  He was a little nervous but I told him I was going to be okay and then prepared him for who was coming to help Mommy.

The fire department and ambulance came so quickly.  They clamped my nose and gave me a bag to throw up in.  'The Boy' completely freaked out and ran upstairs to his room.  Thank goodness 'Munchkin' was asleep.  My neighbor, Trina, ran over to see what was going on and stayed with the kids.  The paramedics strapped me on the gurney and took me into the ambulance.  The last thing I saw before I left was 'The Boy' crying in the front door way. 

Five minutes later I was in the ER and the bleeding had slowed down.  I had stopped throwing up and they gave me ice chips to eat to constrict the blood vessels.  I talk to 'The Hubs' on the phone and he dared to ask me if it was serious enough for him to come home.

I texted him this picture...

So attractive.

I spent the next two hours in the ER with my mom and step-dad.  'The Hubs' mom came to the house to watch the kids.  The Dr ran some blood work and was worried that I may have HELPP syndrome.  Everything came back normal but my nose would not stop bleeding.  They had to do a Silver Nitrate treatment to cauterized the capillaries in my nose.  It burned like a sonofagun.

'The Hubs' walked into the ER as I was checking out.  We went home and he got the kids to bed while I rested.  Despite everything, I slept like a baby.

The next day, I woke up looking like this. 

They had neglected to tell my that the Silver Nitrate totally stains your skin.  I looked like this for a few days and make up did not help.

I followed up with my Primary Doctor and he said everything looked fine.  I went home, ate some lunch and then blew my nose like I had totally forgotten the whole thing had happened.  Of course it started bleeding again.  I call my Dr and he sent me back to the ER to get my nose packed.  Yuck!

'The Hubs' was able to meet me there and sat with me for a few hours while they did more blood work.  We joked that we were on a date. They, thankfully, didn't have to pack my nose.  They gave me some magical nose drops and told me to use a saline spray daily. 

I had a couple of minor nosebleeds (one of which woke me form a sound sleep) in the week following.  I am now totally paranoid about blowing my nose, carry a nose clamp with me in my purse at all times, and have stocked up on so many boxes of tissues I don't even know where to store them. 

I'd like to say that this was the end of the pregnancy related drama but it was only the beginning.  It was the last of the nosebleeds.  At least I hope so.