Does my daughter need to see a neurologist?

[divamom946]

My tween has experienced nose bleeds every fall b/c of the change in seasons and drier air.  This past week her nose has bled 4 times. It clots within 15-20 mins, but this last time it came out of her left eye.  she also concurrently experienced a severe headache and pain on only the left side ( arm and leg) the same side the blood trickled out  of her eye. Because of her symptoms and seeing the blood scared me I called the paramedics. They explained about how the blood came out of her lacrimal ducts and basically poo pooed my concerns. Also, one said he could see if she was 80 yrs old or something with the same symptoms in that case it would be different. They said the change of seasons caused it along with my previous history ( I had my nose cauterized when I was younger). They said it could start up again, but she was fine to return to school that day. They said her nose might bleed again and shrugged their shoulders said Goodbye and left. I took her to the ER hoping they would check for something that could cause all these symptoms simultaneously, but she was given a vision test, vitals check and referred to her PCP.  I had just taken her to her Dr. a day earlier requesting a referral to an ENT, but it was refused. Please tell me what to do so that her symptoms are taken seriously. I made a recheck appmt as advised by the ER doctor, but what if something happens before then. She keeps complaining of pain on the same side. I don't know what else to do to help her while we wait 2 days for her to get her referral to ENT and I hope to a neurologist about the headaches and pain and numbness on the left side of her body. She is only 12.

[don_campbell]

i'm not sure about the pain in the left side in her arm and leg but the headache and nose bleeds sounds are exactly what happened to me a couple years ago during the months when the season turned colder and the air was drier i started getting severe nose bleeds and even bled out of one of my eyes i honestly thought i was dying so i went to the doctors and found out my sinuses were the cause they were pretty much dried out. my doc explained that the bleeding was a way that the body was trying to rehydrate them so to speak he had my buy some saline solution that you squirt up ur nose and after using that for a day or 2 i didnt have any nose bleeds now i keep a bottle in my medicine cabinent as a just incase.i'm hoping that helps you out a little bit

[kickanxietysbutt]

I think the paramedics were probably referring to posterior nosebleeds, which are more common in elderly people or those with high blood pressure.  Older people's blood vessels and arteries lose their elasticity and flexibility, so this may be what the paramedics were thinking.  However, I don't think it's reason for them to dismiss what is going on with your daughter.  You said they checked her vitals at the ER, so I'm assuming her BP must have been fine and not the culprit.  On its own, I wouldn't think that the nosebleeds, or even the blood in the eye would be THAT alarming, but the pain on the one side of her body seems a little bit suspicious.  

Pain on one side of the body would make me think of a clot, but generally clots result after injury, and to rest more assured, she would likely experience confusion, changes in her mood, slower thinking, etc., which it doesn't sound like she has.  I've gotten the run around multiple times with general practicioners, but I've found that ENTs do tend to take you more seriously, and have a lot more knowledge about these types of issues than regular MD's.  I hate that I have no advice for you, but if something does happen between now and Monday there is always the ER.  Also, have you contacted any providers with an ENT on staff to find out if you absolutely need a referral to the ENT?