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Left Nostril Nosebleeds

Hi, I am a 22 year old male and for the past 4 years or so I've been having nosebleeds about once every 4 days on average. The nosebleeds are always out of my left nostril and only last a few minutes. I think that they used to bleed heavier than they do currently. They occur all year around and my blood pressure is normal, maybe a little high. I'm not overweight but am out of shape and get little exercise.

Having anxiety with hypochondria, I'm worried that there is some serious reason for my nosebleeds. My grandma died from a brain aneurysm before I was born and so I'm really worried that I inherited some vein malformation or something that is causing my nosebleeds and could result in a brain aneurysm in the future. I have also had recurring bleeding in my bowel movements for the past ~2 years which my hypochondriac mind tells me that it's due to some other malformed veins in my digestive tract.

In terms of headaches, I rarely get any significant ones. Although, in the past few months there have been two headaches that were quite painful, more than I have had before. They both lasted about an hour but I believe that they were just tension headaches/migraines because the pain was centralized at my upper neck muscle in the back of my head and I felt relief when I rested my neck.

Should I be even be concerned at all? Should I request an MRI or CAT scan? Anyone have a possible cause?

I've done some research on nosebleeds and came across HHT (Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia) but I've ruled it out because it is genetic and my mom and her many sisters don't have any symptoms of it (as far as I know). Vitamin C deficiency is another possible cause that I came across because I regrettably don't intake much Vitamin C. I tried increasing my Vitamin C intake but still had nosebleeds.

I have a doctors appointment next week which I originally scheduled to request a colonoscopy and I will mention my concerns about my nosebleeds but my doctor knows I have anxiety and fear that he won't take me seriously.

Wow, just reading everything I wrote... I feel like hypochondria's textbook example.
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Avatar universal
You really have nothing to worry about.

Remember, the most obvious answer is usually the correct one.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Sorry about the tone of my last post. I didn't know your family history.  That's the down side to medhelp.  We almost always work with partial information.

Your doctor may do a few simple blood tests (hemoglobin test etc.) to rule out certain causes that could be more serious.  These tests rarely provide any answers because nosebleeds can be caused by so many things.  It's unlikely that any amount of testing can determine the cause.  I'm sorry I can't be of more help here.

A person should start having colonoscopies at a younger age if they have a family history of early onset colon cancer (younger than 50).  The vast majority of polyps are benign and pose no risk of cancer.  

If your brother was suspected of having malignant polyps and they were surgically removed.  Then you MAY be able to get a colonoscopy
if lab tests confirmed that they were cancerous.  But I really doubt it, unless someone in your immediate family had colon cancer when they were in their 20s.  Getting a colonoscopy at your age is almost unheard of.

There may also be some sort of prescription medicine (probably drops) for treating nose bleeds, which I don't know about.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I don't think it's unnecessary, is it? Colon cancer runs in my family and my brother, a few years older than me and has had a colonoscopy which they found polyps.
Also, like I said, my nosebleeds occur all year round, during summer as well. I don't think it's the dry air.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Colonoscopy at 22.  This is completely unnecessarily and no doctor will give it to you.  

Your neck pain is probably caused by poor posture.

Try a dehumidifier for the nosebleeds.  

Don't even waste your time by going to the doctor.  He'll look at you like you are crazy.
Helpful - 0
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