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coughing up streaks of blood

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mikeaust
mikeaust

Hi, ive been spitting out small streaks of rusty colored sputum for about 5 months which seems to go away when i use my steroid asthma inhaler. I started smoking a year ago only having 1 to 2 a day, 6 months ago i increased to 3 to4 and that seems to be when this started, i also get a pain in the center of my chest when there is a bit more blood. For a while i thought it was tar or something from the cigarettes?? i bought an e cig a month ago and this made the problem worse.  I gave up smoking a week ago and now the sputum is clear and no chest pains. Im awaiting the results from a chest xray. The strange thing is ive never had a cough??? what do you thing is going on and should i get a refferal to a specialist?  thankyou

0 likes, 19 replies

19 Replies

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  • Vee2
    Vee2 mikeaust

    Posted

    You should speak with your doctor initially communicating you have been coughing up streaks of blood in your sputum if you haven't already done so.

    Perhaps you already have and the result is your chest xray, in which case wait to see what your results show.

    Coughing up blood needs ivestigating especially as it has been going on for 5 months.

    No doubt your doctor will say if the coughing up blood only started when you started smoking again..... yep you guessed, try stopping smoking to see if that makes any difference.

    Just hope the continued smoking while this coughing up blood has been going on has not resulted in unecessary damage to lungs or airways.

    Best wishes for your chest xray results and hope that the coughing up blood is not a serious issue for you.

    • mikeaust
      mikeaust Vee2

      Posted

      Hi, thanks for the reply.  I stoppd smoking a week ago and the blood streaks have complete stopped. Im confused as i thought  3 or 4 cigarettes a day was pretty minor. Im worried ive done some serious damage
    • robertgreynomad
      robertgreynomad mikeaust

      Posted

      Robert ( oz) Hi Mikeaust.

      I agree with Vee2. Get the results before you start letting your mind run wild.

      Dont forget, there are other things apart from smoking that can cause lung complaints.

      I have no knowledge of e cigs so can't really comment on what they might or might not do. Just get real and just stop smoking anyway, its the only way. I had a friend that was a doctor and he tried patches and nicorete's. Got hooked on those too, so thats not the answer either.

      Have they been doing a lot of " burning off " near you  lateley? could be a contributing factor.

       Regards robert

    • mikeaust
      mikeaust robertgreynomad

      Posted

      Thanks for the reply Robert! i stopped smoking a week ago, super addictive stuff tobacco, it should be banned! i saw the dr today and the x ray hasnt turned up. He thinks the bleeding is coming from my bronchi as a result of inflammation from the tobacco, he doesnt think its anything to worry about
    • robertgreynomad
      robertgreynomad mikeaust

      Posted

      Hi Mikeaust 

      Stay off those coffin nails !! took me years to do it and I am now paying the penalty.!

      With the various other health problems we seem to get as we get older

      ( I am 73 ) copd is the one that I really should have been able to avoid, but no, it won't happen to me kicked in like so many more. Just keep on top of it and if in doubt, get a second opinion.

      I wish you well.

      Robert

    • mikeaust
      mikeaust robertgreynomad

      Posted

      Thanks Robert, i intend to give them up, its been 9 days so far. Even at 3 to 4 cigs a day they are very addictive
  • mikeaust
    mikeaust

    Posted

    They found a 5mm lung nodule on the xray sad am freaking out sad

    • Vee2
      Vee2 mikeaust

      Posted

      So sorry mikeaust, I do hope further tests will rule out any more serious issue.  Do wait to hear what the respiratory consultant has to say, and hope you can get a referral asap.

      Best wishes V

    • mikeaust
      mikeaust Vee2

      Posted

      thanks vee2! just got the results of the ct back and it is normal with no nodule??? the dr thinks they made a mistake reading the x ray. Wow ive been panicing like crazy thinking i had lung cancer for sure!!!! im still coughing out bits of blood but the dr said it could be from the 3 or 4 cigs a day and to see him in a month of no smoking smile

  • mikeaust
    mikeaust

    Posted

    i asked if i should see a lung speacialist about the blood but he said to come back in a month???
    • Vee2
      Vee2 mikeaust

      Posted

      If the CT scan report comes back normal there would have been recommendations on the report relating to the CT scan (from the specialist at the hospital sent to your GP) 

      I suspect your GP wants to wait and see what happens when you stop smoking.

      Also repeated coughing can cause strain resulting in streaks of blood being coughed up, so it makes sense to stop all cigs to see if the coughing will stop etc.

      Good luck.

      Congrats with ct results being normal.

    • mikeaust
      mikeaust Vee2

      Posted

      Hi Vee2, the radiologists report said a normal chest ct, the thing is i have ho cough and the blood was coming out in sputum when i clear my throat. When i coughed harder on purpose there is more blood coming out. It seems worse when i first wake up then is almost gone during the day apart from some streaks. Im wondering if i should see another GP and get referred to a pulmologist or just wait a month and see? thanks for you advice smile

    • Vee2
      Vee2 mikeaust

      Posted

      Well I am guessing you are not in the UK. GPs don't refer to specialising respiratory consultant (pulmonologist) if patient's CT scan show clear, because the CT scan would have already been reviewed by the specialist and his report along with CT scan result would include recommendations to the GP.

      So its entirely up to you what you believe or accept about your CT results and GPs suggestions.

       

    • mikeaust
      mikeaust Vee2

      Posted

      thanks for the reply vee2, im in australia. Over here the radiological scans are first looked at and a report is written by the radiological specialist.

      Maybe this is in the wrong forum??

      Im trying to decide on insisting on seeing a specialist or waiting as my gp suggests??

    • robertgreynomad
      robertgreynomad mikeaust

      Posted

      Hi mikeaust.

      NO you are in the right forum.

      Please just read what we have all been trying to tell you.

      I am also in australia and what you have eperienced is NORMAL.

      The report will be sent to your doctor with a FULL explanation and a recomendation for further follow up action that needs to be taken.

      This would almost certainly include you seeing a specialist.

      You do NOT have to INSIST on seeing a spacialist, that will happen IF that is the recommendation.

      If you try and INSIST you are virtually saying that you do not trust your doctor, and believe me, that the last thing you need to do.

      JUST CALM down and let these things take there own course. You WILL be kept informed and a course of action WILL happen.

      Apart from that you can't just barge into a specialists without a  doctors referal anyway.

      Stop trying to " reinvent the wheel !"

    • mikeaust
      mikeaust robertgreynomad

      Posted

      haha thanks robert! ive calmed down alot after the xray scare, the blood streaks continued for 11 days after quitting smoking and now the blood has totally stopped smile i worked with fiberglass for ten years, so that had me worried also

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