Coughing up Blood

Wow. So sorry

Just not getting enough info.

Are you on a regimen of antibiotics or some thing?

Yes coughing blood is so scary.    Had three trips to the ER.       Four CT scans to check for clots in lungs.    Each time was told it’s BX.        Was told just be calm.    Easy for the doctor to say that.     This is part of our condition.     If you feel you need to go to the hospital go.   Hope you are feeling better.    

Forgot to add the ER did nothing was sent home.  Went to my doctor who sent me for the scans

I've been in the ER for hemoptysis a couple of times and in both instances, I was referred to pulmonologists for a chest x-ray, CT scan and bronchoscopy (and antibiotics--so many antibiotics). There actually wasn't much of anything done for me *in* the ER itself, other than labwork to check iron levels and  blood volume.

Do you have a pulmonologist? My current one (17 years and counting) gives me antibiotics any time I cough up significant blood--"significant" meaning, for me, more than 30ml--and hospitalizes/scopes me if it's more than 120ml. I have to keep a log between visits of when it happens and how much it is, and call in to the office if it's more than a teaspoon. (This is something I've experienced so much that it's gone from "scary" to "oh, it's Tuesday".)

When you say "maybe it resolves itself", I assume you mean "the bleeding will stop"? Because the answer to that is generally "yes, for now." If you're asking whether or not this symptom will go away on its own...probably not, I'm afraid, at least not in my experience. You may just get long gaps between happenings.

Coughing up blood is pretty much always unpleasant, so be realistic about it because it *can* get very bad/dangerous (and yes, life-threatening if it's a lot), but try *not* to think about the outcome. Know when to be concerned, but don't dwell on it, basically. 

It does not matter how many times I get hemoptysis, it is alarming every time.  It has never resolved without antibiotics, if that is what you are asking.  Unfortunately, I live very rurally and it took years to finally get a diagnosis.  Get well!

Debra, perhaps it helps to think of how the blood is portrayed in movies/tv. Quite often it is a pure blood appearance as in zero mucus, zero spittle, and often it just comes out, no coughing needed. It is fiction, but they in no way attempt to portray BX. Instead they're showing lungs filling with blood after they've been pierced by bullet or knife.

It is terrifying regardless. After the first few times we get a sense of what might be more (new) "normal" w/our BX so we can distinguish if something different occurs. Yes, the real-life medical profession tells us always to see a doc immediately if we cough blood, then they treat us like imbeciles for obeying that dictum. Very annoying, but at least we aren't bleeding in the way the actors do.

Hi Debra.  I am so sad you have to put up with such ghastly symptoms.  I must be lucky I haven't had that in all my years with Bx.  We all have different symptoms, I suppose.  Lately I have been learning how to meditate to help deal with my anxiety about shortness of  breath.  Maybe that could help you.  I hope you get support from all those with similar symptoms and wish you strength. 

Hi

Yes last month was in hospital because coughing up blood and fever. Over the yrs have you been admitted more frequently with this disease? Do you feel lonely often?

Kristy