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Black things in my mucus

Posted , 23 users are following.

mahbub25764
mahbub25764

I'm a nonsmoker & 22 years old. From last December I am observing some black hairy things when I cough up.... I was given a Chest X-ray which came out clear  the doc said the black things could be dirt and I also had back pain back xray showed it was muscle spasm....  But I still observe those black things in my mucus... I want add I'm quite healthy and didnt loose any weight recently... What may be the reason... Should I conduct my GP again???

0 likes, 32 replies

32 Replies

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  • aitarg35939
    aitarg35939 mahbub25764

    Posted

    What you're coughing up doesn't sound like much fun! It does sound like you need to go back to the doc. Despite 30+ yrs of 1 pack/day non-filter smoking, the only time i've had dark mucus from my lungs was after 48 hrs. of standing around a paper fire. That cleared up very shortly.

    Are you sure this isn't mucus which originates from your sinuses? If so, ask doc if you could have a sinus fungal infection. Gross as it sounds, save some of this in a jar for the doc. (Used tissue or hanky saved in jar is fine) Keep it in the fridge if it will be more than 4 hrs before you see the doc.

    Hope this clears up on its own.

    • mahbub25764
      mahbub25764 aitarg35939

      Posted

      I had polyp in my sinus  and recently I had the surgery 10 days back.... I also suspected fungal infection and asked the doctor again & again ..but he ruled out my opinion and said if there any it would show up in Lung Xray ..but Lung xray came back normal..Planning to see a chest specialist soon....I want to add one more thing my noses were congested and also had septoplasty prior that i was inhaling through mouth while sleeping
    • lill83898
      lill83898 mahbub25764

      Posted

      I should have read this post before I replied.

      Surgery ten days ago would produce 'black' things because there would still be old blood there.

      Old blood is black and this will go away soon.

      I would not be concerned as it is coming from the sinus.

  • lill83898
    lill83898 mahbub25764

    Posted

    Next time, when you cough them up, spit them into a readied, clean container and take it to your doctor or clinic.

    They can look at it, or if needed, send it for analysis.

    I doubt you would be coughing anything up from your lungs that are 'hairy'....but coughing up 'black things' is not normal. Old blood is black.(NOT saying that is what it is)

    Perhaps this is coming from the back of your throat.

    Best to bring a sample.

    • mahbub25764
      mahbub25764 lill83898

      Posted

      It's definitely coming from lungs  .... the black things were there prior to the surgery and still is present .... I hoped this black things would go away after surgery but didn't ... I insisted my ENT specialist to give a CT of chest and also analyze my mucus  before septoplasty and sinus surgery  but he didn't listen to me... as black mucus can be a serious thing  I'm getting scared.... I'll soon try to contact a specialist soon
    • aitarg35939
      aitarg35939 mahbub25764

      Posted

      I can only speak for myself as one with chronic sinusitis, chronic rhinitis and chronic bronchitis-COPD: i had to hear it repeatedly from gp, ENT & pulmo before i accepted it, that the mucus i cough up comes from my throat/sinuses.

      That may not be true of anyone else, but it's true for me.

      If you're in the states and can afford it, here's what i'd do.

      1. Cough up some black stuff into a container and go to an emergency room (do not go to minor emergency or urgent care, they'll be worse than a gp).

      2. Let them see that you're concerned about this black gunk but only that you're concerned.

      3. Do not say that you've already seen your doc about this, in fact don't even tell them that you have a doc. Offer as little info as possible -- "forget" about the septoplasty unless they bring it up after exam -- and do not tell them what you think it might be.

      4. When they ask how long you've been coughing up the black stuff, here's the only correct answer: [pause and look into the distance as if thinking] "I'm not sure, a few days."

      (if you're Quaker or some other adorer of there being only one single Truth, keep in mind that "a few days" is true when viewed from the totality of all the days you've already lived)

      See what they can come up with. Since it's the weekend you've got a legit reason for not seeing your gp. If you're in the UK, i have no idea whether you should try this tactic; i offer no guarantees about it working in the states, but it is something that occasionally works for some folks.

      Others here have asked about what kind of work you do because so many jobs are so bad for our respiratory systems. The same goes for living situations such as living/working in a house with "hair" mold (looks like human hair on the walls) or in a rural area with blowing dirt, chaff and/or insecticides etc.

      I would add another consideration: colorblindness, which sometimes starts around your age.

      If you are in the states, please make sure that you know what it will cost you before trying the ER. it will cost even more than what you think it will unless you've got great insurance.

      Good luck.

    • naila17308
      naila17308 aitarg35939

      Posted

      Hi aitarg

      I fully agree with your tactics. i am patient of asthma and 6 year before i am diagnosed with bronchiectasis (not bronchitis) 60% of my lungs has already damaged. so I have a broad experience of how to deal doctors. now i am 51 years old. having same problem black thread like structure in my sputum. it is definitely coming from lungs. patients like me have usually bacterial colonies in their lungs easily have infections . this black thing does not look blood. i am searching for the answer on google but got no satisfactory answer.

    • nina64444
      nina64444 mahbub25764

      Posted

      Hello not sure if this thread is still tended too but I am 22 I am a non smoker as well and have also had a nose surgery for months now i have ocasionally been hacking up these black long hairlike things along with very very thick clear stringy mucous. I also noticed that these hairs aren't continuous as in there is breaks in the "hair" I am wondering if you ever did find out what these were or the cause?

      I have looked all over google:Reddit and You-tube still no answer. Any insights into this would be helpful.

      Thank you.

    • halattt52597
      halattt52597 nina64444

      Posted

      hi

      i am having a similar issue and i think possible it may be due to burning charcoal for incense apparently this issue is mostly seen in coal miners and when i thought about my recent activity i had been burning incense in a small room with slef lighting charcoal and i was definitely inhaling that through my nose more than i realise.Had you been burning any incense or bear barbecues at the time?

    • halattt52597
      halattt52597

      Posted

      *near any barbecues not bear barbecues!!

  • kevin53196
    kevin53196 mahbub25764

    Posted

    Hi mahbub

    I would be interested what you do for a living whether its industrial or not.

    It is a well known fact that standard X-Rays do not show everything, I'm not trying to scare you, it's just a fact.

    Personally speaking, I would go back to your GP and ask if you could be sent to have a MRI scan, you might have to wait awhile, but at least you will know for sure if there is anything going on.

    Have you been vomiting lately ?

    Try not to worry to much.

    Type to you soon and best wishes.

    Kev  (UK)  smile

  • kevin53196
    kevin53196 mahbub25764

    Posted

    Hi Mahbub

    Is it possible that you might have "STREP THROAT"

    This is a condition, I think,  is like a sore throat but slightly bleeds. I'm not saying it is, but it is worth looking into.

    Kev (UK)

    • mahbub25764
      mahbub25764 kevin53196

      Posted

      May be I had pain in my throat ...and my cervical lymph node was swallowed a few days ago....it's better now but black things come up only when i cough up from lungs ....there is nothing when i clear throat mucus
  • mahbub25764
    mahbub25764

    Posted

    Thanks everyone for replying.... I'm a student and live in the dorm and I'm not from U.K ... I'm non smoker but exposed to passive smoking as most of my friends are smoker. Someone asked if I had strep throat  yes I had and I was clearing up my throat continously...   after septoplasty it is better now... btw I'll try to convince my GP for a MRI when I next visit him
  • erika1985
    erika1985 mahbub25764

    Posted

    Hi, I'll be 31 this year am a non smoker and I've been coughing up BLACK hair like mucus/phlegm as well for about 9 months now.. I've been working in an office which I just found out has a lot of mold and is very old. Thats the reason I went to get xrays-which lead to 4 other blood tests and two samples of sputum to another laboratory with the black content.. The Pulmonologist Dr. Prescribed a combivent inhaler and I dont know what to expect as a result. My next appointment is in 2 weeks. I have pictures but I'm not sure how to upload them here..

    Were you able to determine what the prognosis was?

    • aitarg35939
      aitarg35939 erika1985

      Posted

      You may want to get your sinuses checked out, too. Very easy to get fungus growing there.

      We don't really have to see the pix, we're not docs. Good luck.

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