Fiance Coughed Up Blood

stubsgem

New member
Hi everyone, I'm a little stressed right now. My fiance called and said he is going to see the Dr this week because he coughed up some blood the past two mornings. He got a cold a couple weeks ago and last week he was coughing so much and so hard, that he almost passed out twice. I'm really worried, this is the first time in the 5 years that we've known each other that he's coughed up blood, only the 2nd time since he's been diagnosed. We live 6 hours from each other, so being so far away makes this even harder because I can't be there. I'm trying to be supportive, but he's not very communicative other than saying he's not happy about it. And I feel guilty because I think he got the cold from me the last time I saw him. If anyone has any experience with coughing up blood, or advice and support I would really appreciate a response. I'm scared.
 

stubsgem

New member
Hi everyone, I'm a little stressed right now. My fiance called and said he is going to see the Dr this week because he coughed up some blood the past two mornings. He got a cold a couple weeks ago and last week he was coughing so much and so hard, that he almost passed out twice. I'm really worried, this is the first time in the 5 years that we've known each other that he's coughed up blood, only the 2nd time since he's been diagnosed. We live 6 hours from each other, so being so far away makes this even harder because I can't be there. I'm trying to be supportive, but he's not very communicative other than saying he's not happy about it. And I feel guilty because I think he got the cold from me the last time I saw him. If anyone has any experience with coughing up blood, or advice and support I would really appreciate a response. I'm scared.
 

stubsgem

New member
Hi everyone, I'm a little stressed right now. My fiance called and said he is going to see the Dr this week because he coughed up some blood the past two mornings. He got a cold a couple weeks ago and last week he was coughing so much and so hard, that he almost passed out twice. I'm really worried, this is the first time in the 5 years that we've known each other that he's coughed up blood, only the 2nd time since he's been diagnosed. We live 6 hours from each other, so being so far away makes this even harder because I can't be there. I'm trying to be supportive, but he's not very communicative other than saying he's not happy about it. And I feel guilty because I think he got the cold from me the last time I saw him. If anyone has any experience with coughing up blood, or advice and support I would really appreciate a response. I'm scared.
 

Jane

Digital opinion leader
Scary! Unfortunately its pretty common for a cfer to cough up blood, although it is still very frightening when it happens. It could be that he is irritated from coughing so hard. How much blood was it? It usually means there is a reason so its good that he is seeing his doctor on Monday.

He is probably scared too, and doesn't want you to worry so he's staying quiet about it. Just be supportive without appearing too freaked out (easy to say I know). Let us know how it goes at the doc.
 

Jane

Digital opinion leader
Scary! Unfortunately its pretty common for a cfer to cough up blood, although it is still very frightening when it happens. It could be that he is irritated from coughing so hard. How much blood was it? It usually means there is a reason so its good that he is seeing his doctor on Monday.

He is probably scared too, and doesn't want you to worry so he's staying quiet about it. Just be supportive without appearing too freaked out (easy to say I know). Let us know how it goes at the doc.
 

Jane

Digital opinion leader
Scary! Unfortunately its pretty common for a cfer to cough up blood, although it is still very frightening when it happens. It could be that he is irritated from coughing so hard. How much blood was it? It usually means there is a reason so its good that he is seeing his doctor on Monday.
<br />
<br />He is probably scared too, and doesn't want you to worry so he's staying quiet about it. Just be supportive without appearing too freaked out (easy to say I know). Let us know how it goes at the doc.
 

stubsgem

New member
Hi Jane,

Thanks for the support. He went to the Dr. today and the Dr. said that his PFT count was down from 43 to 39, but that it wasn't bad considering he has been congested for the past two weeks. He did hear a whistling in his one lung, so they had him cough and afterwards, he didn't hear it again. They had done a sputum test 3 weeks ago when he went in for his normal checkup and said that he now has psuedamonus (spelling?) which he hasn't had before. He has 3 different varieties of another bacteria, I can't remember the whole name, but it was long and began with a T and is very resistent to antibiotics. Any idea? Not very informed am I? They did another sputum test today and will have the results when he goes back in 3 weeks. They've put him back on his oral Bactram and Cipro. Bactram is the only antibotic that has any affect on the type of bacteria he usually has.

Right now, there hasn't been anymore blood, but the Dr. said as long as it is a small amount and is more like dried blood color, then we shouldn't be overly concerned. He's not running a fever and his energy is still the same, which he says is good news. So it's a wait and see, we're hoping and praying that the antibotics do the trick and his numbers come back up. Atleast his spirits were up today, which is a good thing for both of us and he was more willing to share information today than before which makes me very happy.

Thanks again for all the support, it really helps.

Hope your kids are doing well.

Geri
 

stubsgem

New member
Hi Jane,

Thanks for the support. He went to the Dr. today and the Dr. said that his PFT count was down from 43 to 39, but that it wasn't bad considering he has been congested for the past two weeks. He did hear a whistling in his one lung, so they had him cough and afterwards, he didn't hear it again. They had done a sputum test 3 weeks ago when he went in for his normal checkup and said that he now has psuedamonus (spelling?) which he hasn't had before. He has 3 different varieties of another bacteria, I can't remember the whole name, but it was long and began with a T and is very resistent to antibiotics. Any idea? Not very informed am I? They did another sputum test today and will have the results when he goes back in 3 weeks. They've put him back on his oral Bactram and Cipro. Bactram is the only antibotic that has any affect on the type of bacteria he usually has.

Right now, there hasn't been anymore blood, but the Dr. said as long as it is a small amount and is more like dried blood color, then we shouldn't be overly concerned. He's not running a fever and his energy is still the same, which he says is good news. So it's a wait and see, we're hoping and praying that the antibotics do the trick and his numbers come back up. Atleast his spirits were up today, which is a good thing for both of us and he was more willing to share information today than before which makes me very happy.

Thanks again for all the support, it really helps.

Hope your kids are doing well.

Geri
 

stubsgem

New member
Hi Jane,
<br />
<br />Thanks for the support. He went to the Dr. today and the Dr. said that his PFT count was down from 43 to 39, but that it wasn't bad considering he has been congested for the past two weeks. He did hear a whistling in his one lung, so they had him cough and afterwards, he didn't hear it again. They had done a sputum test 3 weeks ago when he went in for his normal checkup and said that he now has psuedamonus (spelling?) which he hasn't had before. He has 3 different varieties of another bacteria, I can't remember the whole name, but it was long and began with a T and is very resistent to antibiotics. Any idea? Not very informed am I? They did another sputum test today and will have the results when he goes back in 3 weeks. They've put him back on his oral Bactram and Cipro. Bactram is the only antibotic that has any affect on the type of bacteria he usually has.
<br />
<br />Right now, there hasn't been anymore blood, but the Dr. said as long as it is a small amount and is more like dried blood color, then we shouldn't be overly concerned. He's not running a fever and his energy is still the same, which he says is good news. So it's a wait and see, we're hoping and praying that the antibotics do the trick and his numbers come back up. Atleast his spirits were up today, which is a good thing for both of us and he was more willing to share information today than before which makes me very happy.
<br />
<br />Thanks again for all the support, it really helps.
<br />
<br />Hope your kids are doing well.
<br />
<br />Geri
 

nmw615

New member
I went through this for a few years before I finally solved the problem. Every three months, practically like clockwork, I'd be coughing up between a cup to three cups of blood within a 24 hour time period. It really is one of the scariest things I've ever gone through. Honestly, Just having someone appear calm helped tremendously. Even if whoever was with me needed to leave the room every few minutes to have a little freakout, as long as he/she looked calm to me, I could hold on.

Thankfully I haven't gone through this since September of '08, after I had my lower right lobe removed. That was were the major problem was.

I really hope the meds work for him and he gets right back to normal, and you're doing a wonderful job helping him through it all, just by being there.
 

nmw615

New member
I went through this for a few years before I finally solved the problem. Every three months, practically like clockwork, I'd be coughing up between a cup to three cups of blood within a 24 hour time period. It really is one of the scariest things I've ever gone through. Honestly, Just having someone appear calm helped tremendously. Even if whoever was with me needed to leave the room every few minutes to have a little freakout, as long as he/she looked calm to me, I could hold on.

Thankfully I haven't gone through this since September of '08, after I had my lower right lobe removed. That was were the major problem was.

I really hope the meds work for him and he gets right back to normal, and you're doing a wonderful job helping him through it all, just by being there.
 

nmw615

New member
I went through this for a few years before I finally solved the problem. Every three months, practically like clockwork, I'd be coughing up between a cup to three cups of blood within a 24 hour time period. It really is one of the scariest things I've ever gone through. Honestly, Just having someone appear calm helped tremendously. Even if whoever was with me needed to leave the room every few minutes to have a little freakout, as long as he/she looked calm to me, I could hold on.
<br />
<br />Thankfully I haven't gone through this since September of '08, after I had my lower right lobe removed. That was were the major problem was.
<br />
<br />I really hope the meds work for him and he gets right back to normal, and you're doing a wonderful job helping him through it all, just by being there.
 

KMV77

New member
Ive done the coughing blood thing a good bit in the past. The way it was explained to me is that sometimes when a mucous plug is close to the lung wall and comes loose it can cause bleeding. But it can also be associated with bad infection. I have sometimes felt an associated sharp pain with it and sometimes no pain but I cough and immediately can tell I will cough up blood. My Dr had me on viatmin K 2x a week for a while when I was younger but I am no longer on it. I do have some on hand incase it is needed. Hi potency vit K helps with clotting.
 

KMV77

New member
Ive done the coughing blood thing a good bit in the past. The way it was explained to me is that sometimes when a mucous plug is close to the lung wall and comes loose it can cause bleeding. But it can also be associated with bad infection. I have sometimes felt an associated sharp pain with it and sometimes no pain but I cough and immediately can tell I will cough up blood. My Dr had me on viatmin K 2x a week for a while when I was younger but I am no longer on it. I do have some on hand incase it is needed. Hi potency vit K helps with clotting.
 

KMV77

New member
Ive done the coughing blood thing a good bit in the past. The way it was explained to me is that sometimes when a mucous plug is close to the lung wall and comes loose it can cause bleeding. But it can also be associated with bad infection. I have sometimes felt an associated sharp pain with it and sometimes no pain but I cough and immediately can tell I will cough up blood. My Dr had me on viatmin K 2x a week for a while when I was younger but I am no longer on it. I do have some on hand incase it is needed. Hi potency vit K helps with clotting.
 

jpetersen

New member
For some, it's a regular part of life. For others, it's a sign that there is something going on with either an infection or clearing out gunk that is sitting on top of an old infection that exposes damaged tissue. The first few times are some of the most frightening moments in a CFer's life, but it soon becomes a normal part of discussion as stools and mucus color always have. I've stopped hemoptysis completely since going 100% compliant, but I know it might sneak up on me at any moment again.

CF is a disgusting disease, but if it's taken in stride, you'll get used to patterns and become an even better predictor of his health than he is because CFers become used to their condition easier than those around them get used to changes in condition. My wife can predict 4-8 weeks out if I'm going to need to be on IVs. Sometimes I think I'm going to need IVs, she says I'm crazy, and my numbers end up being higher than before.

You'll feel much better about things once you're married and together all of the time.
 

jpetersen

New member
For some, it's a regular part of life. For others, it's a sign that there is something going on with either an infection or clearing out gunk that is sitting on top of an old infection that exposes damaged tissue. The first few times are some of the most frightening moments in a CFer's life, but it soon becomes a normal part of discussion as stools and mucus color always have. I've stopped hemoptysis completely since going 100% compliant, but I know it might sneak up on me at any moment again.

CF is a disgusting disease, but if it's taken in stride, you'll get used to patterns and become an even better predictor of his health than he is because CFers become used to their condition easier than those around them get used to changes in condition. My wife can predict 4-8 weeks out if I'm going to need to be on IVs. Sometimes I think I'm going to need IVs, she says I'm crazy, and my numbers end up being higher than before.

You'll feel much better about things once you're married and together all of the time.
 

jpetersen

New member
For some, it's a regular part of life. For others, it's a sign that there is something going on with either an infection or clearing out gunk that is sitting on top of an old infection that exposes damaged tissue. The first few times are some of the most frightening moments in a CFer's life, but it soon becomes a normal part of discussion as stools and mucus color always have. I've stopped hemoptysis completely since going 100% compliant, but I know it might sneak up on me at any moment again.
<br />
<br />CF is a disgusting disease, but if it's taken in stride, you'll get used to patterns and become an even better predictor of his health than he is because CFers become used to their condition easier than those around them get used to changes in condition. My wife can predict 4-8 weeks out if I'm going to need to be on IVs. Sometimes I think I'm going to need IVs, she says I'm crazy, and my numbers end up being higher than before.
<br />
<br />You'll feel much better about things once you're married and together all of the time.
 

Jeana

New member
I remember how freaked out I was the first time that I coughed up blood. Now, I'm used to it happening every so often and it just makes me sit up and pay attention.

Sometimes it means I need more Vitamin K to help with clotting. Other times it justs means that my sinuses/allergies are making me cough a lot and irritating my throat and still other times it is the predictor of needing some heavier duty antibiotics.

Most important I think would be to help your fiancee figure out what is causing the blood and to be supportive. It is scary now, but soon it will become old hat and not a very big deal.
 

Jeana

New member
I remember how freaked out I was the first time that I coughed up blood. Now, I'm used to it happening every so often and it just makes me sit up and pay attention.

Sometimes it means I need more Vitamin K to help with clotting. Other times it justs means that my sinuses/allergies are making me cough a lot and irritating my throat and still other times it is the predictor of needing some heavier duty antibiotics.

Most important I think would be to help your fiancee figure out what is causing the blood and to be supportive. It is scary now, but soon it will become old hat and not a very big deal.
 
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