Blood in Sputum

[RedDraig]

Hello all, apologies but this is quite a long post!

I’ve had what a consultant described as mild bronchiectasis affecting one lung tube and a few alveoli, for about 2 years now. I’m 66, exercise regularly and apart from what feels like constant winter infections (taking doxy to remedy) I don’t take any other medication, generally feel very well and don’t cough that much.

However about 5 days after finishing my last course of doxy (felt fine throughout), on going to bed I suddenly felt a strange sensation in my throat, which when I coughed, brought up quite a large blood clot and red blood! It seemed to come from nowhere as I hadn’t been coughing previously and felt very well! Needless to say I was horrified and made sure not to cough any more in case of more blood! I actually felt ok afterwards and when I awoke the next morning I had a little test cough and it was clear.

My Dr checked me over and apart from a slight temperature, she couldn’t find anything wrong with me. I’ve been for an X-ray and that came back as ‘Stable Result’ meaning I guess that nothing has changed since my last one a few months ago (it said ‘Chronic atelectasis noted. No acute pulmonary abnormality seen. The heart is not enlarged.’) Suffice to say my Dr put me straight back on doxy, no further blood seen and I still continued to feel fine and healthy.

Another 5 days since finishing that course and bizarrely again I have coughed up a little red blood and my throat feels ‘strange,’ however again I feel fine in myself! My question is has anyone else experienced this kind of thing? I’d really like to know where the blood and clot came from! Thanks so much x

[Patk1]

I have at times,usually it's been when i have lung infection. Sometimes sm capillaries rupture + bleed.i hope u have 2weeks of antibiotics ea time - you should with bronchiectasis. A few days after finishing thm,put a sample in to make sure its cleared.do try to avoid people with viruses as they often result in an exacerbation/ infection,which can cause more damage.i carry a mask+ handgel everywhere too and use antiviral sprays

[RedDraig in reply to Patk1]

Thanks for your reply, so I probably still have an infection even after the two lots of 28 doxy tablets☹️ It’s so strange that the blood appeared 5 days after finishing each course. I seem to be constantly on doxys even though they said that I only had a mild form of bronc, but I suppose I need to get my head around the fact that this is still serious. I will as you advise take another sputum sample to my Dr. Thanks again x

[Seagullcity]

Hi, I had blood in my phlegm for months before I was diagnosed with bronchiectasis. The doctors sent me for chest x-rays and blood tests which kept coming back as ‘normal’. It took a CT scan to show that I had infection in my lungs, and then a bronchoscopy to diagnose the bronchiectasis. The blood could be a result of inflammation in the lungs, but I’d be concerned about a large clot or anything more than occasional small pink or red specks. Might be an idea to go back to the gp and ask for a more thorough investigation.

[Patk1]

I take doxy twice a day for infections.id ask which bacteria it is,as we bronchiectasis are prone to some nasty ones eg haemophillus influenzae.yes just because it's mild,it's still bronchiectasis- u want to keep it mild,if u can.xx

[Alberta56]

I'm not medically qualified but large blood clots do not sound normal for bronchiectasis. Hope you can get to the bottom of it.

[Phill1]

I’ve coughed up spoonfuls of red blood twice in the past. Both times as a result of being outside for prolonged periods in very cold weather . Learnt my lesson . Was it during the last cold period ? Exercising outdoors?

[Petetriplet]

Red

I was diagnosed with bronchiectasis lower right lung lobe. Had asthma since day one

My doctor told me there is a bronchiectasis protocol - although my rescue pack doxy and Predisilone did not touch it I was given stronger antibiotic for longer amoxiclav . I had physio and was given a sheet to identify my normal and not normal symptoms. Go back to your doctor if you sat still seeing blood! ( I am not a dr. ) but something is not right ?

Ped

[RedDraig in reply to Petetriplet]

Morning all and thanks for your replies.

I do exercises twice a week (Pilates and a Ballet mix, but in my front room via zoom) and do lots of walking, but it hasn’t been that cold here in Kent. I’m lucky that I’ve not had many other ailments, but did have pleurisy twice years ago, which was very painful and kept me in bed for a few days each time. Other than that, I consider myself quite fit and healthy, which I suppose is probably why I find it so difficult to keep on getting these infections.

Since August last year I’ve had 5 of which all have been the Haemophilus influenzae bug (Dr says that unfortunately it really likes me). I was quite unwell with the first few, but with the last 2 I’ve hardly coughed and felt quite well throughout, and that’s why I was so shocked to see blood.

Thank you all for your replies, looks like the blood could very well be as a result of my still having this Haemophilus influenzae bug. I shall go back to see my Dr x