Nosebleed during a gig!

[Mr Fixit eh]

Have you ever have a nosebleed during a gig?

Today I was to play 2 shows at a nursing home - 60 minutes then break down, move across the parking lot, set back up and go another hour. So I had a wonderful first set, and got set back up in the second room when my nose started to bleed. After trying to get it stopped, pack it with tissue and get started, it just would not stop. I had to tell them I couldn't carry on, and then sat in the bathroom for 45 minutes until it stopped flowing.

How embarrassing! It was so frustrating and I felt so bad for the residents.

How would you have handled this?

I don't get bleeds very often - last one was over a year ago, but it does happen. Doctor didn't offer much help for prevention. I'm wondering how I could carry on if this were to happen again - maybe a nose clip for swimming might contain the bleeding...

Steve

[C_Becker]

They keep nursing homes pretty warm usually, so maybe it has to do with the dry air from the heating affecting the mucous membrane in your nose. Going from the cold parking lot to the warm inside may have done its part too.

Maybe try some salt water nose spray to keep your mucous membrane from drying out.
Did the last bleed occur in winter too ?

How would I have handled it ? I don't gig, and if I would it'd probably be with the electric. Since we play hard rock / metal, it'd make for a good show

[JonPR]

Originally Posted by Mr Fixit eh

How would you have handled this?

(a) "Sorry about this, must cut down on the cocaine...."
(b) "Sorry about this, someone outside just punched me when I refused to play his request"
(c) "This next one is from the Stones' album, Let It Bleed"
(d) "Those of you in front might want to move back in case I sneeze"
(e) "You think this is hardcore, I slash my wrists in the next set"

[Kyle76]

The saline spray is probably a good idea. I can only imagine how dry the winter air is in Ontario. Maybe we need a thread about humidifying our sinuses!

Great one-liners, JonPR.

[Bob Womack]

Best first aid for a nose bleed: tilt your head back and pinch your nostrils together. It places direct pressure on wound, lowers blood pressure to the site by raising the wound site to be the highest point in the body, and helps stop things quickly.

I was working a live national TV show once as the audio mixing engineer. While were in the commercial break the star of the show, who had been under a lot of pressure, all of a sudden had an explosive nose bleed. Right on camera in view of the control room people and in front of the studio audience, blood explosively gushed out of his nose, down his chin, and all down his shirt front. He pinched his nostrils, and a security guy grabbed him, and rushed him to the hospital where he was given immediate, emergency laser surgery to close and cauterize a ruptured blood vessel.

Meanwhile, the producer of the show ran out of the control room and onto the set. In his jeans, casual shirt, and no makeup, he stepped in front of the camera and took over hosting the show the moment the break was over. "The show must go on," as they say. He explained the situation and we went on.

I'm afraid that has no application to you situation.

Bob

[Gitfiddlemann]

I don't get bleeds very often - last one was over a year ago, but it does happen. Doctor didn't offer much help for prevention.

To be on the safe side, unless the cause of the bleed is obvious or known to you (like a blow to the nose ), get yourself checked out by an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist the next time you get an opportunity. Once you're in the clear, also get some preventative advice from them regarding dealing with potential triggers of benign bleeds. A mixture of prolonged dry air and anxiety/pressure from performing would be a prime source for it for example. Saline sprays and sinus rinses can help in this regard.
(General practitioners or primary care givers just don't have enough of the specialized knowledge or the proper equipment to get the right kind of look at what could be a potential source for that kind of transitory nose bleed.)

[Jusca]

I had a terrible nosebleed that wouldn't stop for around the same amount of time you experienced. I used to have frequent nosebleeds as a child but a long nosebleed was concerning. I went to the hospital as the usual pinch the nose and tilt the head back wasn't working. They gave me a shot on the rear end and the bleeding stopped quickly.

I would have postponed the gig or let the audience know I'd be late until the matter cleared up. Just have someone explain a health issue came up. I hope people would be understanding of that. Plugging up the nosebleed with a nose clip sounds nasty & tacky as I wouldn't want to see the possibility of blood dripping down your face.

[Mixolydian Gray]

Originally Posted by JonPR

(a) "Sorry about this, must cut down on the cocaine...."
(b) "Sorry about this, someone outside just punched me when I refused to play his request"
(c) "This next one is from the Stones' album, Let It Bleed"
(d) "Those of you in front might want to move back in case I sneeze"
(e) "You think this is hardcore, I slash my wrists in the next set"

Thanks for the laugh. It's been an unpleasant day for me otherwise.

[Mr Fixit eh]

Originally Posted by Jusca

Plugging up the nosebleed with a nose clip sounds nasty & tacky as I wouldn't want to see the possibility of blood dripping down your face.

I guess that wouldn't be pretty!

Originally Posted by C_Becker

Maybe try some salt water nose spray to keep your mucous membrane from drying out.
Did the last bleed occur in winter too ?

Often it will be in Winter, but I have had them equally in Summer. I coat the nostril with Vaseline on a daily basis, which seems to help, but obviously not enough.

Originally Posted by JonPR

(a) "Sorry about this, must cut down on the cocaine...."
(b) "Sorry about this, someone outside just punched me when I refused to play his request"
(c) "This next one is from the Stones' album, Let It Bleed"
(d) "Those of you in front might want to move back in case I sneeze"
(e) "You think this is hardcore, I slash my wrists in the next set"

Oh my, these are really funny. Thanks for that!

Originally Posted by Kyle76

The saline spray is probably a good idea. I can only imagine how dry the winter air is in Ontario. Maybe we need a thread about humidifying our sinuses!

Great one-liners, JonPR.

I can see the threads now: 'How do you humidify your snoz'

Originally Posted by Bob Womack

Best first aid for a nose bleed: tilt your head back and pinch your nostrils together. It places direct pressure on wound, lowers blood pressure to the site by raising the wound site to be the highest point in the body, and helps stop things quickly.

I was working a live national TV show once as the audio mixing engineer. While were in the commercial break the star of the show, who had been under a lot of pressure, all of a sudden had an explosive nose bleed. Right on camera in view of the control room people and in front of the studio audience, blood explosively gushed out of his nose, down his chin, and all down his shirt front. He pinched his nostrils, and a security guy grabbed him, and rushed him to the hospital where he was given immediate, emergency laser surgery to close and cauterize a ruptured blood vessel.

Meanwhile, the producer of the show ran out of the control room and onto the set. In his jeans, casual shirt, and no makeup, he stepped in front of the camera and took over hosting the show the moment the break was over. "The show must go on," as they say. He explained the situation and we went on.

I'm afraid that has no application to you situation.

Bob

Yup, that's the first aid treatment I used - just it takes about 20 - 40 minutes and there's just no way to keep the gig rolling.

I guess times like this, there's a real benefit to having a band, so the band can play on....

[Mr Fixit eh]

Originally Posted by AndreF

To be on the safe side, unless the cause of the bleed is obvious or known to you (like a blow to the nose ), get yourself checked out by an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist the next time you get an opportunity.

It's a great idea. My GP has not been helpful even though I've mentioned the bleeds several times over 20 years. I hadn't thought of getting a referral to an ENT specialist.

Originally Posted by Jusca

I had a terrible nosebleed that wouldn't stop for around the same amount of time you experienced. I used to have frequent nosebleeds as a child but a long nosebleed was concerning. I went to the hospital as the usual pinch the nose and tilt the head back wasn't working. They gave me a shot on the rear end and the bleeding stopped quickly.

I would have postponed the gig or let the audience know I'd be late until the matter cleared up. Just have someone explain a health issue came up. I hope people would be understanding of that. Plugging up the nosebleed with a nose clip sounds nasty & tacky as I wouldn't want to see the possibility of blood dripping down your face.

Sounds like quite the experience for you.

The staff were very understanding, but I just felt so bad that I couldn't continue.

STeve

[caster]

Originally Posted by Bob Womack

tilt your head back and pinch your nostrils together.

I am not sure that this would be a good option.

[Wyllys]

Originally Posted by Mr Fixit eh

Have you ever have a nosebleed during a gig?

Today I was to play 2 shows at a nursing home - 60 minutes then break down, move across the parking lot, set back up and go another hour. So I had a wonderful first set, and got set back up in the second room when my nose started to bleed. After trying to get it stopped, pack it with tissue and get started, it just would not stop. I had to tell them I couldn't carry on, and then sat in the bathroom for 45 minutes until it stopped flowing.

How embarrassing! It was so frustrating and I felt so bad for the residents.

How would you have handled this?

I don't get bleeds very often - last one was over a year ago, but it does happen. Doctor didn't offer much help for prevention. I'm wondering how I could carry on if this were to happen again - maybe a nose clip for swimming might contain the bleeding...

Steve

Take a tissue or a couple of squares of toilet paper, fold it up into a roll small enough to place between your upper lip and gum, soak it in cold water and put it in place. The pressure on the blood vessels will staunch the flow and you can continue your program. Here's a link:

http://m.wikihow.com/Stop-a-Noseblee...Your-Upper-Lip

The only thing they left out was to wet the paper so it conforms better and doesn't stick to your lip/gums.

If that doesn't work, dial 911...

[Joscefi78]

Yep, put a big wad of tissue up under your front lip, like a big old hunk o' chaw. It looks like you been socked on the lip, but that's where the blood vessels are that supply the blood to the nose.

Playing a gig is always a nervous affair no matter how experienced you are as a performer, nose bleeds would be more common then. Use that saline spray and drink plenty of water to keep your mucus membranes hydrated.

[darrwhit]

Originally Posted by Wyllys

Take a tissue or a couple of squares of toilet paper, fold it up into a roll small enough to place between your upper lip and gum, soak it in cold water and put it in place. The pressure on the blood vessels will staunch the flow and you can continue your program. Here's a link:

http://m.wikihow.com/Stop-a-Noseblee...Your-Upper-Lip

The only thing they left out was to wet the paper so it conforms better and doesn't stick to your lip/gums.

If that doesn't work, dial 911...

A coworker showed me this trick once, after many years of battling somewhat frequent nosebleeds which seem to always happen at the worst times. He was this old-timer from North Carolina who literally could not read. Needless to say, he taught me one of the most practical pieces of advice I ever received when he showed me the tissue paper trick.

The tilted head thing helps too, but a serious bleed isn't something you can "play through". Probably best to see an ENT doc to cauterize the source of frequent bleeds.