Hi, my names Clarice, I'm 19 years old and I've had this forum for a while now, but this is my first write in it. My entire life my lungs have been incredibly healthy, always above the 100 percentile, but since I've gone to college, my lung function has significantly dropped because of my lack in doing treatments. A couple months ago I was hospitalized for having pnemonia and was put on antibiotics that brought my lung function back to about a 95 to 100. But since I left they dropped back down to a 70, and they found more bacteria, so now I'm back on antibiotics. My lungs hurt, I can't stop coughing and breathings becoming a challenge and has been for many months, and I just coughed up blood for the first time tonight. It wasn't a lot that came out, but it was enough to freak me out. I know I do a ***** job at taking care of myself, and I make very bad decissions that I don't understand why I do, but the fact that this just happened is terrifying me. I just want to be okay, and I need to know I can be okay, and the fact that I feel like I'm fighting this disease 100% on my own, is even worse. I just need to know what to do...
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I coughed up blood
- Thread starter cbelle531
- Start date
Hi, my names Clarice, I'm 19 years old and I've had this forum for a while now, but this is my first write in it. My entire life my lungs have been incredibly healthy, always above the 100 percentile, but since I've gone to college, my lung function has significantly dropped because of my lack in doing treatments. A couple months ago I was hospitalized for having pnemonia and was put on antibiotics that brought my lung function back to about a 95 to 100. But since I left they dropped back down to a 70, and they found more bacteria, so now I'm back on antibiotics. My lungs hurt, I can't stop coughing and breathings becoming a challenge and has been for many months, and I just coughed up blood for the first time tonight. It wasn't a lot that came out, but it was enough to freak me out. I know I do a ***** job at taking care of myself, and I make very bad decissions that I don't understand why I do, but the fact that this just happened is terrifying me. I just want to be okay, and I need to know I can be okay, and the fact that I feel like I'm fighting this disease 100% on my own, is even worse. I just need to know what to do...
G
giantsfan91
Guest
I'd say first if you just coughed up blood you should take it very easy for the next day or two. It would also be wise to inform your CF doctor that you experienced your first bleed and If you do pulmozyme or hypertonic saline don't do them for about 24 hours. I can't stress enough how important compliance is and even more important than that is keeping physically active. I know at college there is always temptation to drink and party and blow off your treatments but you gotta realize that how you treat yourself now is going to affect your health down the road. Letting loose is sometimes a good therapy for us CFers when we can handle it but knowing when to take it easy and take the time out to do all your treatments is even more important. Personally, I go to college close to home where I can commute so I can take care of myself better but this disease is manageable at a school farther away if your willing to make some sacrifices that your friends probably don't have to make. Hang in there and try to stay as compliant as possible.
G
giantsfan91
Guest
I'd say first if you just coughed up blood you should take it very easy for the next day or two. It would also be wise to inform your CF doctor that you experienced your first bleed and If you do pulmozyme or hypertonic saline don't do them for about 24 hours. I can't stress enough how important compliance is and even more important than that is keeping physically active. I know at college there is always temptation to drink and party and blow off your treatments but you gotta realize that how you treat yourself now is going to affect your health down the road. Letting loose is sometimes a good therapy for us CFers when we can handle it but knowing when to take it easy and take the time out to do all your treatments is even more important. Personally, I go to college close to home where I can commute so I can take care of myself better but this disease is manageable at a school farther away if your willing to make some sacrifices that your friends probably don't have to make. Hang in there and try to stay as compliant as possible.
Hi!
Of course you're scared, no wonder. Coughing up blood is also quite new to me, I think it happened the first time in 2009 after years of doing fine. (here I had moved back to humid climate, as when I was born, I'm wondering if that is affecting me so I moved back to dry)
Anyway, doctors told me 1) it's not of real concern unless you cough up 100 ml of blood. 2) coughing up blood is usually linked to bacterial growth so you might need antibiotics. And indeed, as Mike says, by all means STOP all treatments that make you cough in the 1-2 days following the event! The bleeding usually just stops on its own if you take it easy (if you keep bleeding you need to get to an ER and be embolized, though, so do take it easy!).
I've been there, but please see to make your health a priority, in spite of college life. Join swimming class and don't forget your meds! You overall waste much less time by keeping healthy (that's just 1-3 hours a day) than in those bouts of being totally sick and unable to do anything else (24 hours a day for weeks).
Of course you're scared, no wonder. Coughing up blood is also quite new to me, I think it happened the first time in 2009 after years of doing fine. (here I had moved back to humid climate, as when I was born, I'm wondering if that is affecting me so I moved back to dry)
Anyway, doctors told me 1) it's not of real concern unless you cough up 100 ml of blood. 2) coughing up blood is usually linked to bacterial growth so you might need antibiotics. And indeed, as Mike says, by all means STOP all treatments that make you cough in the 1-2 days following the event! The bleeding usually just stops on its own if you take it easy (if you keep bleeding you need to get to an ER and be embolized, though, so do take it easy!).
I've been there, but please see to make your health a priority, in spite of college life. Join swimming class and don't forget your meds! You overall waste much less time by keeping healthy (that's just 1-3 hours a day) than in those bouts of being totally sick and unable to do anything else (24 hours a day for weeks).
Hi!
Of course you're scared, no wonder. Coughing up blood is also quite new to me, I think it happened the first time in 2009 after years of doing fine. (here I had moved back to humid climate, as when I was born, I'm wondering if that is affecting me so I moved back to dry)
Anyway, doctors told me 1) it's not of real concern unless you cough up 100 ml of blood. 2) coughing up blood is usually linked to bacterial growth so you might need antibiotics. And indeed, as Mike says, by all means STOP all treatments that make you cough in the 1-2 days following the event! The bleeding usually just stops on its own if you take it easy (if you keep bleeding you need to get to an ER and be embolized, though, so do take it easy!).
I've been there, but please see to make your health a priority, in spite of college life. Join swimming class and don't forget your meds! You overall waste much less time by keeping healthy (that's just 1-3 hours a day) than in those bouts of being totally sick and unable to do anything else (24 hours a day for weeks).
Of course you're scared, no wonder. Coughing up blood is also quite new to me, I think it happened the first time in 2009 after years of doing fine. (here I had moved back to humid climate, as when I was born, I'm wondering if that is affecting me so I moved back to dry)
Anyway, doctors told me 1) it's not of real concern unless you cough up 100 ml of blood. 2) coughing up blood is usually linked to bacterial growth so you might need antibiotics. And indeed, as Mike says, by all means STOP all treatments that make you cough in the 1-2 days following the event! The bleeding usually just stops on its own if you take it easy (if you keep bleeding you need to get to an ER and be embolized, though, so do take it easy!).
I've been there, but please see to make your health a priority, in spite of college life. Join swimming class and don't forget your meds! You overall waste much less time by keeping healthy (that's just 1-3 hours a day) than in those bouts of being totally sick and unable to do anything else (24 hours a day for weeks).
Incomudrox
New member
I moved this thread hopefully we can help you better in here as this section gets much more traffic. I agree with everything that has been already said I don't have much else to add. I would say whatever you do, DO NOT rush to the ER unless you are drowning in your own blood. If you go in coughing blood they are likely to do drastic things to stop that bleed. Call your CF doctor let them know what's doing on and let them make the call. Use common sense. They may prescribe you Mephyton to help stop the bleeding, be sure not to take too much though! Usually they will have you taking 5mg as needed for bleeding but not more than one per day. If you have a semi-urgent issue with it and are in pain you should probably go back for IV abx or orals + Inhaled abx. You may continue to bleed but if it gets better it will stop.
<span>Also - can you give more detail was it blood mixed with mucus (pink and cloudy) or streaks of blood brighter red running through the mucus, or blood with no-mucus (bright red? dark red? thick or thin?)
So to summarize call your doctors let them know what's going on. They will help you. Always remember your health comes before anything else. I know you can do this, if you didn't think you could you wouldn't be here. Whenever you need help you can post here and someone will usually answer pretty quickly in the Adult main section. You can also message me anytime. If you have facebook you can add me if you like. www.facebook.com/incomudrox I can be gotten a hold of on there at anytime. -Frank/Moderator
<span>Also - can you give more detail was it blood mixed with mucus (pink and cloudy) or streaks of blood brighter red running through the mucus, or blood with no-mucus (bright red? dark red? thick or thin?)
So to summarize call your doctors let them know what's going on. They will help you. Always remember your health comes before anything else. I know you can do this, if you didn't think you could you wouldn't be here. Whenever you need help you can post here and someone will usually answer pretty quickly in the Adult main section. You can also message me anytime. If you have facebook you can add me if you like. www.facebook.com/incomudrox I can be gotten a hold of on there at anytime. -Frank/Moderator
Incomudrox
New member
I moved this thread hopefully we can help you better in here as this section gets much more traffic. I agree with everything that has been already said I don't have much else to add. I would say whatever you do, DO NOT rush to the ER unless you are drowning in your own blood. If you go in coughing blood they are likely to do drastic things to stop that bleed. Call your CF doctor let them know what's doing on and let them make the call. Use common sense. They may prescribe you Mephyton to help stop the bleeding, be sure not to take too much though! Usually they will have you taking 5mg as needed for bleeding but not more than one per day. If you have a semi-urgent issue with it and are in pain you should probably go back for IV abx or orals + Inhaled abx. You may continue to bleed but if it gets better it will stop.
<span>Also - can you give more detail was it blood mixed with mucus (pink and cloudy) or streaks of blood brighter red running through the mucus, or blood with no-mucus (bright red? dark red? thick or thin?)
So to summarize call your doctors let them know what's going on. They will help you. Always remember your health comes before anything else. I know you can do this, if you didn't think you could you wouldn't be here. Whenever you need help you can post here and someone will usually answer pretty quickly in the Adult main section. You can also message me anytime. If you have facebook you can add me if you like. www.facebook.com/incomudrox I can be gotten a hold of on there at anytime. -Frank/Moderator
<span>Also - can you give more detail was it blood mixed with mucus (pink and cloudy) or streaks of blood brighter red running through the mucus, or blood with no-mucus (bright red? dark red? thick or thin?)
So to summarize call your doctors let them know what's going on. They will help you. Always remember your health comes before anything else. I know you can do this, if you didn't think you could you wouldn't be here. Whenever you need help you can post here and someone will usually answer pretty quickly in the Adult main section. You can also message me anytime. If you have facebook you can add me if you like. www.facebook.com/incomudrox I can be gotten a hold of on there at anytime. -Frank/Moderator