Ok I was going along fine today minus some problems that I though were do the recent wet/humid weather. I posted messages & doing my usual thing. I just put laundry away & BOOM I feel a gurgle in my chest. I am bleeding. It is mixed with some sputum, but mostly blood. My cough has increased since the weather has been humid, but I havent felt bad & I have done treatments as scheduled. My question to those who are prone to hemoptysis, do you feel that humidity where its harder to breath straines the blood vessels enough to rupture? I dont understand how it just came out of nowhere. Although I have been a little more tired than usual. Again only since the humiditiy so I figured the heat was taking a toll. By now I thought I had my body figured out. I guess not!
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Hemoptysis & Humidity
- Thread starter JazzysMom
- Start date
Melissa
Is it common for you to sometimes cough up blood, or is this a first?
The reason I ask is....my doctor says if I cough up more than approx a quarter of a cup of blood then I need to go in to have it checked.
I can't answer your question about humidity, that's a hard one to call. Hopefully someone else here will have some info for you on that. Hope it gets better, I know that can definitely be stressful!
Elle
Is it common for you to sometimes cough up blood, or is this a first?
The reason I ask is....my doctor says if I cough up more than approx a quarter of a cup of blood then I need to go in to have it checked.
I can't answer your question about humidity, that's a hard one to call. Hopefully someone else here will have some info for you on that. Hope it gets better, I know that can definitely be stressful!
Elle
Hi Melissa,
I have had hemoptysis for 25 years or so and have never figured out what sets it off. Hot weather, cold weather, dry or humid weather, activity or at rest..... The familiar gurgle and then I know it is coming! Luckily, I have only had a couple minor episodes in the past 5 years. For me, I think it is often related to an infection. Our blood vessels are very delicate and brittle from the scarring, bronchiectasis and damage that cf causes and they tend to spontaneously rupture. As the previous poster mentioned, if this is a new thing for you, I would definitely check in with your doctor to let them know. Mine always wants to know about it, but since it stops on its own, I have never needed any intervention, such as embolization. I know this doesn't answer your question, but I hope it helps to know that you are not alone.........Good luck.
Kim
40 w/cf
I have had hemoptysis for 25 years or so and have never figured out what sets it off. Hot weather, cold weather, dry or humid weather, activity or at rest..... The familiar gurgle and then I know it is coming! Luckily, I have only had a couple minor episodes in the past 5 years. For me, I think it is often related to an infection. Our blood vessels are very delicate and brittle from the scarring, bronchiectasis and damage that cf causes and they tend to spontaneously rupture. As the previous poster mentioned, if this is a new thing for you, I would definitely check in with your doctor to let them know. Mine always wants to know about it, but since it stops on its own, I have never needed any intervention, such as embolization. I know this doesn't answer your question, but I hope it helps to know that you are not alone.........Good luck.
Kim
40 w/cf
lovingBenandCambree
New member
Melissa
I can totally relate with your frustration. As for the humidity, I am not sure that is a key factor. I live in a very dry area and I have had some severe bleeds. I have come to realize that I don't always know when an infection is getting worse. For me being more tired is a big factor. If you have been coughing more that could be the reason for coughing up blood. When you get infection your blood vessels get bigger and are closer to the surface so they are easier to break. I hope that helps. I have been told to see a Dr. if I cough up more than 2 tablespoons. Have you ever had to have an embolization? I have had to have this done 3 times. I am only stating this because when I would cough up a little bit of blood nobody would ever do anything for me so I got to the point where I didn't think it was a big deal. Then I began to cough up a ton of blood and it got pretty scary. Anyway, if you have any questions feel free to ask. My e-mail is tigger_babe32@hotmail.com. Have you known that you have CF all of you life or where you diagnosed later?
Emilee with 2 E's
I can totally relate with your frustration. As for the humidity, I am not sure that is a key factor. I live in a very dry area and I have had some severe bleeds. I have come to realize that I don't always know when an infection is getting worse. For me being more tired is a big factor. If you have been coughing more that could be the reason for coughing up blood. When you get infection your blood vessels get bigger and are closer to the surface so they are easier to break. I hope that helps. I have been told to see a Dr. if I cough up more than 2 tablespoons. Have you ever had to have an embolization? I have had to have this done 3 times. I am only stating this because when I would cough up a little bit of blood nobody would ever do anything for me so I got to the point where I didn't think it was a big deal. Then I began to cough up a ton of blood and it got pretty scary. Anyway, if you have any questions feel free to ask. My e-mail is tigger_babe32@hotmail.com. Have you known that you have CF all of you life or where you diagnosed later?
Emilee with 2 E's
I am in the same boat. I've lived in NM and CA and have continued to cough up blood. However, since moving to coastal CA it has become much worse and quite a bit more frequent.
As a side note, what irritates me is that the doctors say, "when you cough up more than 4 oz. let us know." What is wrong with them and their priorities when coughing up blood at all isn't a priority worthy of either research or response, but some how when coughing blood "seems" uncontrolled (like anything less than 4 oz. is controllable) a response is warranted.
How about they find out why we cough up blood at all and fix that problem before it happens, rather than waiting till we are percolating blood from our mouths?
Lance
CF/33
As a side note, what irritates me is that the doctors say, "when you cough up more than 4 oz. let us know." What is wrong with them and their priorities when coughing up blood at all isn't a priority worthy of either research or response, but some how when coughing blood "seems" uncontrolled (like anything less than 4 oz. is controllable) a response is warranted.
How about they find out why we cough up blood at all and fix that problem before it happens, rather than waiting till we are percolating blood from our mouths?
Lance
CF/33
I find that in my case, humidity often is the cause. This past June I was in Florida and we were at Disney. I leaned over to give something to my baby and boom. Blood out of no where. It was pretty bad and I had to have an embolization but living in the South doesn't help my condition.
Emily65Roses
New member
Lance- I always wondered that too!
And the 1st time you do it, they care more than the 5th or 6th, because by then it's "normal" for you. So weird.
And the 1st time you do it, they care more than the 5th or 6th, because by then it's "normal" for you. So weird.