Coughing up blood

[Rich1957]

Anyone else cough blood up regularly , I can really say I’ve had enough of it today !! ( sorry about the pics )

[2greys]

There are a lot of reasons for this, in the main of no real concern, but you need to see your doctor. Only they can progress this further. Looking at your photos the blood is a bright red so that means it is fresh as opposed to brown which indicates that it is older blood. Possibly just a ruptured vein, close to the surface of your throat, from the exertion of coughing which is quite common.

[13cats-lives]

The last time my Husband was in hospital with the common side effect of severe COPD - pneumonia, along with the gunk he coughed up was Blood. I was rather alarmed 😱 at first! A lovely Nursing Sister told me that ir was through straining the blood vessels whilst Coughing, not a Blood clot as I imagined.

I hope that this is the case for you, but if in doubt - get a Medic Out! Best wishes.

[soulboy118]

Occasionally Par for the course I'm afraid , if you get more than one bit of phlegm with blood in you need to see ur copd nurse or doctor , it doesnt necessarily mean you have to panic or worry ( even though it can be alarming) this has occasionally happened to me , it could be the simple act of coughing that has produced this blood but it's best to seek professional advice, good luck rich

[Rich1957]

Thanks all for the comments , it comes from somewhere in my lungs , I’ve had a couple of bronchoscopies and numerous CT scans and it’s something that happens 🙈. I don’t worry it’s just frustrating when i know what’s coming , when it’s quite a bit of fresh blood it will mean I’ll end up with dark blood I can’t get rid off and a chest infection 😥😥

[gingermusic]

Could well be nothing to worry about at all but as it is happening often do speak with your doctor and let them be the judge of it

[Rich1957 in reply to gingermusic]

Hi gingermusic unfortunately it’s normal for me , but just frustrating when I know what’s coming ( chest infection due to build up of old blood I’ll struggle to get rid off ) .

The only possible saving grace could be I’m on a trial drug or placebo ( started last month ) that is suppose to stop exacerbations 🙏 so fingers crossed im on the drug and it does what they hope it can do .

[gingermusic in reply to Rich1957]

I wish you well x

[SquirrelsHolt in reply to Rich1957]

Hi there Rich1957 and I'm sorry you feel you have a chest infection looming around the corner. Like other members have said,best to get to your GP and let them have a sample of this,so if you're going to need AB's that you are given the right ones etc. Nevertheless,it's certainly no fun when you know your body and it's telling you it's time now to call into your medical centre.

I'm interested in the clinical trial you are involved in...please keep us updated on how that's getting on. As you say , 🙏🙏🙏that you and others can benefit from this in the future. Good luck!

[Hidden]

I have been in that position. I was told if it is bright red, it is because the coughing is bursting small blood vessels in your lungs and nothing to worry about but tell your doctor. If it is dark and old blood you need to act more quickly. Your looks to me like fresh new bright red blood. But chat to your doctor to help you feel more safe and not so worried. Always best to check. Stay strong, best wishes.

[Nottobad]

Had COPD since 2006 and have never coughed up blood. Take care x

[WINDBAG]

I believe it was you that had the bronchial valves placed ?

[Rich1957 in reply to WINDBAG]

Yes I had valves fitted last April , initially not good due to complications but I’ve had loads of CT scans and sometime between November and December one of the valves has moved and positioned it self in the ideal place 😂😂. So they are now working properly but due to the damage done while fitting them I have seen no improvement from pre valves . But since one has moved my FEV 1 has increased from 26/29% to around 36% so relatively happy ( I was 36% pre op ) .

[WINDBAG]

Hi Rich1957 as for the blood in sputum I had blood after a bad exasperation but it was the last week of a 7 week stay and was darker than what you present .Nurses all said it was ok.It was very little and continued for 2 weeks after being discharged.Are you on any blood thinners ?

[Rich1957 in reply to WINDBAG]

I’m not on blood thinners , but next time I’m with my consultants I’ll definitely ask . 👍

[scm20]

did you find out the cause ive ben like this for four months

[Rich1957 in reply to scm20]

To me it’s become the normal , which does take a bit of getting use to . I cough up blood most weeks and during the winter months I end up with chest infection after chest infection and having to take antibiotics and steroids to help clear it . It’s been put down to a weakness somewhere but we don’t know exactly where so it’s just something I’ll have to put up with .

The only time I really worry is if it changes and if it does I’m straight down to the doctors

I also had a lung nodule which was initially shown up on an X-ray ( 4 years ago ) which also coincided with when I started coughing up blood then had a CT SCAN . I then had to wait for 6 or 8 weeks to see how it grew obviously this was quite a nervous time as you expect to be told you have cancer . For the first week I was very on edge but then I just thought what will be will be and as my consultant said it was at a very early stage if it was . So I literally put it at the back of my mind I then went back for another CT SCAN and saw my consultant the same day and was told it had disappeared and was put down to some form of puss ball . Since then it’s never come back but does make me wonder if this is were the weakness is , on my notes and on my letters it now says resolved lung nodule.

[scm20 in reply to Rich1957]

thank you so much for reply do you cough up blood ever day and what tests did you have for lung noddle also are you on blood pressure meds or blood thinners how long have you had the blood plz its been 4 months for me

[Rich1957 in reply to scm20]

As I’ve said I have been coughing up blood for over 4 years and is now considered normal for me .

After the first CT SCAN to look at the nodule I had a bronchoscope put down my throat and into my lungs ( I loved watching it on the screen ) which showed nothing irregular and then had to wait for my next CT SCAN which showed it had disappeared , thank god .

I’m on 2 drugs for high blood pressure Ramipril 10 mg and Amlodipine 10mg both taken-once a day .

[Rich1957 in reply to scm20]

scm20 I’ve just looked at my photos for December as I’m on a trial ( I have to keep a record ) at the hospital and I’ve coughed up blood on 7 different days and have been on antibiotics and steroids

[scm20 in reply to Rich1957]

did they do a biopsy with camera i had ct scan xray pet scan and sputum test for coughing blood but i cough it every day so they were teasting for sacoindsis because active limph nodes in base of neck not gone for the biopsy yet because she says 90 percent sarc but still 10 percent cancer so worried how do you manage couhing blood for 4 year am bad enough 4 months also lost over half a stone since this started x

[Rich1957 in reply to scm20]

scm20 When I had the bronchoscopy they didn’t find anything so obviously they didn’t have to do a biopsy . I feel I’ve been lucky and due to me going on trials at Glenfield Hospital ( all the time ) I have a brilliant relationship with everyone at the research department that I’ve had contact with and they go above and beyond to explain anything I want to know . This has given me so much confidence with my problem and because of this I don’t over worry about the blood I cough up unless it changes in look . If it does I’m down to the doctors straight away to check if I’ve got a chest infection which has been the case every time I’ve been down .

My family worry ( which I understand ) far more than I ever have as it’s really not normal but as I said it’s just something I’ve excepted

Fingers crossed you get a positive outcome 👍

[scm20 in reply to Rich1957]

i how many steroids did you take a day and can you sleep ok just got thm today and so worrid about sid affects

[Rich1957 in reply to scm20]

I was put on a maintenance dose of 10 mg a day last December which reduced my flare ups but found the lack of sleeping and the bruising drove me mad . So In June my consultant and myself decided to ween me off them . But every time I have a chest infection I start with 40 mg for 5 days then reduce to 30mg , 20mg , 10mg and the finally 5mg all for 5 days each and I seem to be virtually on them all the time ( or so it seems ) . I hate taking them but if I didn’t I’d end up in hospital , unfortunately there always seems to be a price to pay . Because of an over use of antibiotics which I take along with my steroids for the first 7 days amoxicillin doesn’t fully work anymore and it does worry me if another one won’t work so now I always go to the doctors to have it confirmed before taking both . I’m back on December 30th to see the consultant so that will be interesting as I’d like to stop them if possible 🙈😂( can’t see it happen) .

[scm20]

hi just wondering how you are

[Rich1957 in reply to scm20]

Hi scm20 thanks for asking I’ve stopped taking steroids as a maintenance dose and will hopefully just take them when needed . I’ve got to go for a blood test on Wednesday to check my white blood cell count and 3 sputum tests over the next three weeks to check if I have any other underlying problems. Then it’s back to see my consultant in 3 months or earlier if they find something.

Still coughing up blood but not quite as bad , hope your well 👍

[scm20 in reply to Rich1957]

hi hope you doing well with the steroids i am stll getting the blood but doctors will not treat without biopsy think i may be a symptom of sarc got another ct scan with contrast waiting on results did you get any help wth thenow blood or is it going by itself i hope everyting goes well for you i am losing balance now good luck with you scans

[Rich1957 in reply to scm20]

At the hospital they don’t seem to be over concerned with me coughing up blood , I do have a chuckle though if I see a new Doctor at my surgery as they worry like hell . It’s just something regretfully I’ll have to come to terms with .

Hope your balance comes back quickly and your CT Scan goes well ( I’m not very keen when it’s with contrast 🙈😂)

[scm20 in reply to Rich1957]

i hate the contrast last time they done it when thy removed the canula there was blood everywhere all over folor and cloths was a lot of blood not felt right since

[Rich1957 in reply to scm20]

I hated it first time as when it starts I feel as though I’m going to soul myself 🙈😂. But next time it was better ( doesn’t hurt ) as I knew what was coming and it didn’t seem as bad . All the best though still rather you then me 😂😂

[scm20 in reply to Rich1957]

thank you had all the scans before with contrast never had the bleed like this before even the nurse had a panic attack got a massive bruise and still a lump where the canula went in put me right of needles

[Rich1957 in reply to scm20]

I use to be petrified of needles 😂😂😂so quite understandable . Had so many blood tests now I think I’m totally relaxed its just like having a cuppa . I hate them in my stomach , all the best with your CT scan .

[Milky01]

Hey mate, not sure if you'll read this now but im going through he same thing, and im freaking out a bit. You said it was NORMAL for you? Did you get an answer as to what actually was causing the bleeding after all your investigation and tests?

Im about to go for an endoscopy next week.. Please let me know! Cheers

[Anonymous12345678912]

I spit up the same stuff miscues and blood and I’m only 14 years old and it’s scaring me out.

[Karter2915]

That’s exactly what I just coughed up. I am alarmed!

Bloody thick mucus thingy. Not quite sure exactly.

[Rich1957 in reply to Karter2915]

I’m not surprised your alarmed , you need to show the photo to your doctor .