nosebleeds

[jayt]

Any tips for dealing with them/avoiding them on the playa? Since I'm already prone to them, high-altitude + dust + heat makes me a bit nervous. Commonsense suggests coating the inside of the nose with vaseline, using saline solution to make sure the sinuses don't get too dry, staying hydrated in general . . . probably there's little to suggest beyond that, but thought I'd check anway. Many thanks.

[atossab]

Stay inside during dust storms, and if you are out, wrap your nose/mouth with something good, bring a good dust mask. Saline good. Don't blow too hard when dusty in there. Any one else?

[thedrunkenmonkey]

Try not to root out the string boogers with your nails. Use a moistened Q-tip and sneeze as much as you can.

Target has saline squirt stuff for $2 a bottle. Most generic stores carry it as well. Carry that and tissues. Hydrate, you bastard, HYDRATE!

I get very dry nasal passages in the winter and the first thing that makes them bleed is nosepicking. If it hurts, don't DO IT. If you DO have a nosebleed, do not throw your head BACK. That makes the blood run down your throat and most often either into your mucus cavities and/or lungs. Put your head forward, stuff tissues up your nose, hooray.

[Sobretta Franjipan]

You've got it pretty well covered. Bring along a spray bottle too. Misting your face (and body-and others' bodies) feels great, cooling, and soothing.
Don't forget to reapply sunscreen after.

You just CAN'T drink enough water too.

And yes, don't blow too hard.

[Tricky]

rather than stuffing your nose full of tissue use a bit a of vasaline. it'll block the blood flow while keeping the area moist thus discouraging the formation of huge crusty dried blood boogers...

[Rian Jackson]

I got the playa nose from hell last year.... gushing everywhere, wouldn't stop.

Met some lovely space virgins who used some little toolie thing that sealed the capillaries.

There are some interesting pictures wandering around from that day.

[atossab]

This is why I love Burning Man, even before you get there, everybody is each other's mother.

[Desi Arnaz]

Take a vitamin K supplement daily, starting now and throughout the event. Or get it by eating a lot of green leafy veggies. K helps with clotting. I had a nosebleed problem as a little kid, this cleared it right up.

[shitmouse]

there are several evil things on the playa, and the giant, dark-red playa boogie is one of them. they're like goats' head stickers with roots.

-b

[jayt]

great advice, thanks all!

[Selkie]

Here's some interesting stuff I just found out about.

http://www.biolife.com/

It's called QR Stop Bleeding and they do have one designed for nosebleeds. A sample of it came in the first aid kit I just bought. Looks like it could be helpful out there.

[JezebelinHell]

Or...just lay off the tweak.

[rudy350]

I checked out that stuff that someone had listed on the link below, from Biolife (www.biolife.com) and it works awesome. stopped by nosebleed in less than 15 seconds and I didn't rebleed for another two weeks.

[Sandwichman]

I have only seen it mentioned once or twice so far but hydrating will help immensely. Some of the first signs of lack of hydration is drying of sinuses, shit, and other bodily fluid type things. Of course it is impossible to keep from having any boogers but if you are hydrated and only clean your nose out once a day or so it will probably help. Try the tips the others have reccommended for helping clean your nostril cavities. Good luck.

Jason aka not even close to a medical professional just an old desert goat

[swampdog]

My campmates and I (first timers) had pretty severe nose bleeds, and being good prepared scouts who had read all the pre-playa advice, we treated it like all the advice for playa foot - vinegar to wash and cut the alkali, then skin lotion. Worked like a charm. BTW, we also brought vinegar and water in a kitchen spray bottle, so our morning drill was spray, wipe, and lube the feet, then dab some vinegar and then skin lotion in the nostrils, and we were good to go.

[jayt]

I escaped without a nosebleed but got a horrible one at the decompression due to a hug gone wrong. :)

Turns out that a combination of afrin, saline spray, and vaseline did the trick. Inasmuch as the former shrinks swollen membranes, I figured it would help. It's truly evil stuff, though - addicting, makes the nose even drier, and undoubtedly does some damage to the very membranes it makes feel better. Shame on me for using it (though I'll probably use it again this year).

[AntiM]

Of course the impractical solution is to already live in a high altitude desert. Like Utah. Automatic acclimated nasal interior.

(just whinin')

snottily,
anti m

[unjonharley]

avoid nosebleeds, do not fire snot rockets.