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DAILY SPUTUM VOLUME

Posted , 8 users are following.

terry03242
terry03242

I keep a daily dairy linked to my bronchiectasis. I frequently see postings in this forum about pleghm oroduction and how to handle it. I am curious about the amount of sputum each one of you produces on a daily basis. My diary is a printed pro forma with a scaling:

0 = none; 1 = less than a teaspoon; 2 = teaspoon to egg-cup; 3 = egg-cup to cup; 4 = more than a cup.

Do these scales bear any relation to your daily sputum production? My gunk is consistently at level 1.  Naturally you may well ask about the purulence of your sputum as well but maybe we don't want to go into that in any graphic detail?

Terry

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • Operalyn
    Operalyn terry03242

    Posted

    Hi Terry - mine is very variable but its between 2 and 3 mostly.  Level 1 eh?  Jolly good!
  • broadsword
    broadsword terry03242

    Posted

    Mine is a 1 and diagnosed as mild. Even so, lots of difficulties when I have a cold in particular. 
  • Sparkright
    Sparkright terry03242

    Posted

    Hi Terry

    what a good idea to keep a diary - at least that way you can see whether it is getting more or less.

    I am so pleased that you are at level one on your scale.  My daily production is well outside your range - around 50 ml (yes 50ml). When I am unwell, it goes up to 70 - to 80ml a day!

    Consistently yellowish or brownish.

    Keep well and best wishes

    • terry03242
      terry03242 Sparkright

      Posted

      Thanks Sparkright (Broadsword, Operalyn and dancing queen) for your prompt responses. So far I appear to be 'normal' in sputum production but 50ml...that's frightening!(facepalm). To be honest Sparkright, my diary is issued by my local NHS Scotland respiratory group and has six categories - Breathlessness, Fatigue, Daily Sputum Volume, Sputum Purulence, Cough, Colds and flu symptoms -  Monday to Sunday columns in which I place my numbers, and 1-5 numerical range of severity.  Yes, the general idea is to help one focus on the daily experience, as well as maintaining a record. The diary is very apposite and functional.
    • Operalyn
      Operalyn terry03242

      Posted

      That's such a sensible idea.When I visit my specialist she always wants to know how much and as it varies so much I'm never sure how much to say.
  • 4jean
    4jean terry03242

    Posted

    Mine is also 1. This is useful & reassuring. Thank you. How do you measure purulence, or do you just describe it?
    • terry03242
      terry03242 4jean

      Posted

      Hello Jean,     The form that I use describes purulence as

      0 = clear or no sputum

      1 = white

      2 = yellow

      3 = green

      4 = dark green

      5 = blood stained

      I hope that this is of some help.

      Terry

       

    • 4jean
      4jean terry03242

      Posted

      Thanks Terry. Scottish NHS seems ahead of us in England!
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