Blood in Sputum

Mmm, it's  never normal, but it's pretty common. If you're having hemoptysis (coughing up significant amounts of pure blood), that's something to have checked out, but if you're straining to cough and your phlegm comes out bloody, that's probably a sign that either your airways are irritated, or you need something to loosen the phlegm so you don't have to cough so hard. Sometimes a straining cough will rupture the some of the little capillaries in the bronchi and you'll have a little blood. If it's infrequent and isn't very much, mention it to your doctor but don't worry too much.

Yes it’s very scary.       But that is part of BX.  You need to tell your doctor and he might send you for a ct scan.         Hope all works out.  

This has happened to me and my doctor said that as long as it's only a small amount and not often, then it's not a big deal.

Also, Great Britain offers several great websites about BX and they mention how a bit of blood is nothing to worry about. Just google bronchiectasis sites that ends in .uk and you'll find a lot of good information.

 

Yes, Tony, I have and it’s very frightening isn’t it. My doctor says it’s is just from the straining but I’ve often had it after flying. Don’t know why that is.

That hasn't happened to me but does sound like it's occurred because of the hard coughing. 

Yes, while in the grip of infection and coughing tons, working very hard to get the gunk up, I've coughed up blood for as much as 9 hours straight, by which time I was in the ER. After that, everyone paid more attention and worked harder to help me. It took many months to get the infection stopped. But long before that happened, a new pulmo worked hard to reduce my coughing and make it easier to get phlegm up. Life became much easier on me after that.

So ask for help on the coughing issue. Medicines can help with the cough & with loosening the stuff. Postural drainage & various appliances also help get it up & out.