Is coughing up a little blood, bad news?

[65rosessamurai]

I'm serious, I got this nasty taste of blood, but had coughed up mucus with a little bit of, what seems to be, spots of fresh blood.
I don't know if it could have come from my sinuses, due to the dry air here, or if when I really coughed hard the first time that hurt my chest, is when I may had overdone the coughing force.
I can't say it's happened to me more than once, but just wondering if even the 'not so bad off' cf'rs had this much happen, and if it's not alarming at this moment.

I'd been coughing up a lot in the past few months, but didn't have this result. The color (for those of you who won't get grossed out I hope) was a dark green. I thought the light yellow, or white was bad news, but forgot if it was the opposite, or the dark green is a stage before the yellow/white stage.

Anyway, any feedback is surely needed.

Ok, coughed up another tissue full, not as dark as the last one, and no blood--could I just be overconcerned?

 

[Emily65Roses]

A little bit of blood, especially when among the mucus, is no big deal. Generally even a little bit of pure blood is nothing to have a heart attack over. I coughed up pure blood in February for the first time, and let my doc know (at Mike's insistence, actually haha). And he said as long as it doesn't continue/become more (it was only a teaspoon or two), he's not even going to change anything. Leave my meds as they are, etc.

But I'd still suggest letting your doc know, just for his/her information.

 

[65rosessamurai]

Thanks for the tip, Em!
It was happening to me around 6pm at work, and I was already feeling exhausted from the past two weeks-working too hard again (cause of those pesky workaholics, here!).
Didn't even have time to make it to my doc's if I had to, but I'm sure he'd come a runnin' if it were an after hours emergency call! Since he took care of my wife's father, the doc knows where we live, and he lives close by, too!
So, the concern was whether to make such a fuss, or even mention it next time.

 

[JazzysMom]

You are starting to worry me a bit Fred...The blood in itself is not uncommon or necessarily anything to worry about. I have a long history of hemoptysis (bleeding) & it has come due to various things which include physical exertion or strain, stress, too much caffein & infection. The fact that you have such a dark color sputum with or near the time of the blood is an indication that something is starting. There is a good chance the blood will get worse such as changing from a bit mixed with sputum to full blood. I am only saying this so if it does happen you have a heads up. Since your healthcare & knowledge is so limited in Japan, I would definitely catch it now before it gets too bad! Good Luck!

 

[NoExcuses]

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[thelizardqueen]

I've been coughing up bits of streaks of blood lately, but I think its due to the fact that I've recently started Tobra long term, and its a little harsh on my lungs. I had a couple of severe hemoptysis episodes a couple of years ago that required an embolization, and to this day I've only coughed up a couple of teaspoons about 4 times. Again, it could be a sign of infection due to the fact that you're coughing up dark green. If I were you, I would go to the doc, and at least have this looked at, before it gets any worse.

 

[Diane]

I vividly remember the first time i coughed up blood. I was 21 in great health, 100%pft's . I was walking home from the store ( didnt have a car then) when i got home i noticed on my bag there was pure red blood. I remembered coughing and spitting out what i coughed ( whikle walking home)but i had no idea it was blood. To be sure i spit into the sink and sure enough there were traces of blood so i knew it was from when i coughed and spit. I called my nurse and she told me, that the blood is telling us something we already know, that i have infection in my lungs. i am guessing it must have been psudomonas, since i dont remember ever hearing i had anything back then. She said unless it gets worse or i start feeleing sick there was no need for any changes. It didnt happen for a long time after. now at 41 , i have had many many episodes of hemoptysis and still do. I have had 2 massive episodes that required pulmonary embolization and almost took away my sanity..........lol . The fact that you mention yuo have dark green sputum is a indication like everyone else said that there may be something going on. I would definitely mention it to your doctor and try to nip it in the bud now. I want to say that.... chances are ....a lot of my hemoptysis problems may been caused by my lack of knowing that prevention is the key to keeping cf in check.I never did any treatments because i was mild and felt i didnt need them. Chances are this led to infections to go haywire and do damage that i may have been able to prevent. Infection is usually the first culprit in hemoptysis. Now my culprits are many....laying flat, laying on my side, infection going haywire, coughing too hard, menstrual cycle, leaning over too far, too cold.. etc. etc. etc. Like i said....nip it in the bud now , while things are going well.

 

[65rosessamurai]

Thanks for the replies, everyone.
Apparently, my inquiry seemed "productive" for me.
I figure I have two options:
1 Monitor my sputum for the day, and if no more blood (or dark green sputum), wait til next time to see the doc.
2 Go see the doc after work today, and if the boss asks me why I'm leaving at regular time, tell him because I had been coughing blood up yesterday, and need to see the doc!
Since I also went home and gargled last night, I also had some blood from blowing my nose, which is more than likely due to the dry humidity at work!
Of course, it could all be related to the unknown amount of kerosene and white gasoline fumes being used for the printing machines on the first floor (I'm on the second)! Something to add to my list of asking the doc the efffects of! Worse case, I may have to leave this joint cause of the fumes!!
And, yes I may be having this problem due to stress, and being overworked the past two weeks, a major sign to what may happen when this place really gets busy!

I picked a bad week to CUT CAFFEINE!!

 

[anonymous]

I have been coughing up blood on and off the past couple days. it is weird because i feel like it must be coming from deeper in my lungs, because i cant "feel" it, and also it is often not pure blood- but mixed it with sputum. I have had a cold the past week- and i was wondering if anyone else finds that they cough up blood at the end of a cold/virus.

I am trying not to be too concerned about say having a big infection---i hope it is just that my airways are irritated from the cold, and that there is a little bit of cold infection going on...

my sputum is still yellow...what do you all think?

caitlin

 

[anonymous]

I'm one of the "not so bad" CFers.
With me the dark green along with the streaking is when the pseudo has grown out of control. It happened to me recently and I'm now on another course of TOBI.

AttyMomWithCF
Laura
36 w/CF

 

[thelizardqueen]

Caitlin - most likely its irritation that causeing your streaks of blood. I'm one of the "pretty mild lung involvement" CFers, and I find I cough blood when I'm around irritants - smoke, cold, or even at the end of an infection. PLus the blood could simply be from coughing fits and breaking small blood vesssels.