What to expect after nasal cauterization?

Answer 1

Here are some answers from people who have the procedure done:

I had nasal cauterization last week. I had 3 blood vessels in my right nostril that kept bleeding very easily (even if I ate spicy food!). So, I met the doctor and got it cauterized in the same first appointment. The silver nitrate is so painful. It felt like I broke my nose and my right front tooth was killing me too. Not to mention I couldn't breath out of that nostril due to some type of dried discharge attached to the burnt area. I didn't want to mess the procedure up so I just left all that junk in there alone. 6 days after the cauterization I pulled all the crusty junk out and yanked off the burnt patch of nasal skin. Um, just to worn you the burnt nasal skin will be gray and you will see old very tiny blood vessels in it. It will be a weird texture. It has been 6 days since I had the lovely experience of nasal cauterization and now have no pain! Just hang in there it gets better with each day. It is VERY painful for the first 4 days.

I can agree with the pain mentioned. I was only 5 years old when I had this procedure done and I remember the pain very well. This was back in 1986 so I am sure medicine and methods have improved greatly but I would caution you to make sure to ask questions - a lot of questions. I ended up with permanent damage to my olfactory bulbs resulting in a loss of smell. It wasn't total loss - a doctor I saw recently told me it was probably around 75% (other things that have happened to me since have contributed to most of the rest of my loss of smell). This is not reverseable. Just make sure you ask questions.

i had nose bleeds since i was 4yrs.old, i am now 14 years old. At first, they would scare the heck out of me but with age i soon got used to them. Though, it scared the living crap out of my grandmother she would always have a fear that i would, one day lose too much blood , or become anemic. In the spring and winter i would get them as much as 2 times a day, though in other seasons i would get them every, lets say once or twice a month. It would bleed ,if i ate spicy food, if i had a runny nose, and just randomly and bizaarely without any motion at all, i could be standing completely still and it would bleed! Though, with age i found different ways to deal with it, i would always wonder why it would bleed. It would bleed for up to 30-45 minutes long and it would be quite a gush of blood, it would make me feel weak and tired. So one day i said enough when i was taking a bath and decided to wash my face and it bled! My mother did some research and found this procedure call cauterization. It was described as a painless, short, but effective procedure. I went to ENT and the day of consultation, i had the procedure done. First they immediately prepped for numbing, by placing tampons in my nose covered in numbing medicine. They then sprayed my nose with another time nasal spray. They then gave me a numbing shot in the nose. After that, they burned the blood vessel and i went home completely numbed out of mind numb! After the numbing wore off my nose began too run, but i am not allowed to blow my nose for a week, so it will continue to run. This procedure was done today! Then they cauterized nostril began to burn, it will burn more and get better each day the worst part is today. I have had headaches on and off, and have been in much PAIN! Though it will stop th nosebleeds. It was said i could not get my period until, my nose bleeds ceased because i lost too much blood through my nose and now i should have a period by June. If you choose to have this procedure it is effective but much PAIN is involved. I would recommend Advil for the head aches and ask for over the counter or perscriptionpain pills for the pain in the cauterized nostril.

I had this done 5 days ago and I never felt any pain at all. The Dr. put some numbing solution on a cotton ball and let it sit in my nostril for a few minutes and they he did his job and I never felt a thing! I have no pain. The only thing that bothers me is that I can't blow my nose for a week after the procedure is done.