Lyme Disease nosebleeds?

[Joeland]

Does Lyme disease cause a person's blood to be thinner than normal, and for a person to have severe nosebleeds like water pouring from a faucet? I told my infectious disease doctor about this. And, he is testing my CBC, and RBC.

[cave76]

You're right, Ephedra.
"I don't think that liver function test are covered on a CBC"

Here's the difference, as found at a NIH.gov site----- other types of blood tests are also listed there. Very interesting.

"COMPLETE CBC (this is often the only one given)

The CBC is one of the most common blood tests. It's often done as part of a routine checkup.

The CBC can help detect blood diseases and disorders, such as anemia, infections, clotting problems, blood cancers, and immune system disorders.

BLOOD CHEMISTRY TESTS/BASIC METABOLIC PANEL (this is the one for liver function ---- plus other organs)
The basic metabolic panel (BMP) is a group of tests that measures different chemicals in the blood. These tests usually are done on the fluid (plasma) part of blood. The tests can give doctors information about your muscles (including the heart), bones, and organs, such as the kidneys and liver.

The BMP includes blood glucose, calcium, and electrolyte tests, as well as blood tests that measure kidney function. Some of these tests require you to fast (not eat any food) before the test, and others don't. Your doctor will tell you how to prepare for the test(s) you're having.
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[Ephedra]

I know this is a little old.  But the first thing I would think of with your description of "nosebleeds like water pouring from a faucet" is liver function and I think that is where your platelets are made in the first place.  I know someone that poor liver function that had nosebleeds like that and they would last for hours.  But there could be other causes.  

I don't think that liver function test are covered on a CBC.

[JackieCalifornia]

The infectious disease doc may take a blood sample to check your platelet count -- the platelets being the tiny little bits that pile up to form a scab and stop the bleeding when a blood vessel is damaged.  There can be various reasons for platelet problems -- sometimes it's that the body is suppressing the manufacture of the platelets, and sometimes it's that the immune system is accidentally gobbling up too many platelets, leaving not enough to form a scab or seal a broken blood vessel, even on a tiny scale.  

Someone in my family had that happen -- it turned out that the immune system was mistakenly gobbling up too many platelets, thinking they were defective or were invaders.  But with some treatment, it was all fine.

It's good your doc is checking it out.  Try not to worry in the mean time, and let us know what you find out, okay?  If the doc wants to give you meds to suppress an overactive immune system, that could be steroids, which are not good if you have Lyme or any other infectious disease.  

I would want to be sure I did not have Lyme before taking steroids, but if the doc insists that it is necessary, I would definitely consult with a Lyme doc before proceeding.  Lyme is a bacterial infection; steroids suppress the immune system; and the Lyme infection then starts to party even more than before.  Your docs should *all* be in on the discussion so you can decide what to do.

Keep us posted, okay?

[cave76]

Usually Lyme patients are suspected of HYPER coagulation. But anything might happen.

If you are consistently having nosebleeds and it's not just a new thing for you, for instance during winter with the heaters on your house could get very dry and your nose tissues also, read on.

If it's always a problem, if it were me, I'd want to be seen by a doctor that specializes in clotting issues of the blood. A hematologist perhaps? Sometimes genetics are the reason.

Wiki has a long, confusing and somewhat scary page about hypocoagulation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypocoagulability

But there are fairly mild causes for it also, so don't get worried. But do talk to a doctor that can answer your questions thoroughly.

Here's hoping it's just a one-off series of events for you, but do check it out.
It could be just a simple 'dried nasal passages' thing.

[mojogal]

I never heard of that. Glad you are checking with your doctor.