Coughing up blooc

[anonymous]

Ooh, sorry to be gross. My husband's never coughed up blood before, now he is frequently. Dr. put him on antibiotics, said if it didn't quit they'd have to go in. Ever have this? Did you get it to stop on your own? Did you have to get it cauterized? Thanks for the info. - j

 

[anonymous]

Coughing up blood can be scary if you don't do it often, but it is normal. You should be concerned if it gets worse, increases. Give the antibiotics some time to work.Debbie22 w/ CF

 

[anonymous]

Hello, I have had much experience in this area. I coughed up blood a lot in the last 20 years or so. Usually it is caused by an infection that has gotten a bit out of hand. Antibiotics usually always help in that case. A year and a half ago i coughed up a very large amount of blood ( more than once) that required me to have 2 pulmonary embolizations , that definitely saved my life. It usualy doesnt get to that point for most cf patients, but for some it does, and thank God we have a way to treat it effectively. Coughing up blood is scary, but keep in mind that it almost always stops on its own. Keeping calm is the most important thing to rememer if it happens, you dont want to raise the blood pressure which could make you bleed more. Also make sure to take notice if it is happening more frequently and more amounts. If he is experiencing it more than usual ,,,, its time to call the doctor and let him know.. Your doctor may also prescribe Vitamin K ( mephyton) which could be of help. If it ever comes down to your husband having to have an embolization, reassure him that it isnt that bad. If you have any questions feel free to email me anytime....... jinxnick@aol.com~Diane 39 / cf / diabetes / b.cepacia

 

[anonymous]

<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0"> The first time i coughed blood I was at hospital, and I freaked out. It happened that the DR was giving me heparin injections so it worsened things up. So we kept calling the doc and it was around midnight. he finally arrived to hospital @2:30 Am and was very angry for interrupting his sleep. Surprisingly he shouted at us instead of making me relieved... Don't worry, I dumped this doc later. However, now it happens occassionally and i got used to it. I hope yor husband recovers quickly. Rami 21 w/CF

 

[Diane]

Hi Rami, Im glad to hear you arent going to that doctor anymore. Hemoptysis ( coughing up blood) is bad enough by itself, but getting yelled at for it, is worse. Diane 39 / cf / diabetes / b.cepacia

 

[anonymous]

Hi,he should try to take vitamin K, that can help.Uli, 41, from Germany

 

[anonymous]

Hey, when they do the procedure, [embolism] do they put you out, or are you awake? I've always said, I can endure just about anything as long as I'm out of it! By the way, my wife was the one that asked, I'm the one that sounds chicken! Ha!If you've got time, what does the procedure involve? Our Nurse Practitioner mentioned possibly cauterizing, I'm just wandering if you're both talking about the same thing?Greg

 

[Diane]

Hi Greg, I think your nurse and i are talking about the same thing. This is how the procedure goes. The procedure is done by an "intervention radiologist". There is a nurse anesthetist there and a few other nurses or maybe another radiologist. You will be laying flat on a table under whatlooks like a large x ray machine.The usual procedure is to have some sedation, but i refused. Im an idiot that whats to know exactly what is going on at all times....lol. They first shave the groin area and then numb the area three seperate times. First time numbs closest to the surface, the next two are deeper. ( hurts a little ,not much) Then again if you are sedated you probably would not feel it at all. Then they inject dye into your blood stream, it feels really warm and almost like you pee'd yourself.Then the radiologist inserts a catheter that goes into your blood vessels in your lungs . He will then look around and watch on the xray screen to spot the damaged vessel .He will reinject some more dye from time to time as it wears off. If he sees anything that may be what he thinks is the bad area, he will ask the nurse to "take a picture" (which is basically freeze framing the image) and he went into the other room to look it over. When he finds the problem area he will insert this neat looking liquid ( almost looked like glitter) thru the catheter and it hardens instantly to block off all blood flow to that area. This whole procedure took about 3 hours both times. My second embolization was slightly different because he couldnt get in to the area that was bleeding because it was so small , so he inserted a coil into the problem area, which is also supposed to block off the blood flow to that area. Although 3 hours sounds long, it really isnt, it goes by very fast. When all is done he will remove the catheter and have to stand there applying hard pressure to the area for a full 15 minutes. Then you will get a pressure bandage on the area and will have to lay flat for 6 hours afterward to give the blood vessel time to closeup and heal. It really isnt as bad as you would think, and if you ever get to a point where you need to have it done, you will thank God for it everyday. I hope you are doing well<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> ~ Diane 39 / cf / diabetes / b.cepacia

 

[anonymous]

Greg, If you get nervous before having the procedure done, ask your doc ahead of time about taking a low dose seditive like codine. Even though I've had a dozen picc lines put in, sometimes I get jittery and some tylenol 3 helps me relax.Debbie22 w/ CF

 

[anonymous]

Thanks for the info! I'll share it with Greg. I think his NP was talking about something else. A scope down his throat and then cauterizing the broken blood vessels. Neither thing sounds pleasant.He's never coughed up blood before. It started one night, then went on for about a week, off and on, when he coughed, etc. Sometimes a lot, sometimes just streaks. However, right after the NP put him on home IV's he woke up two nights in a row, coughing from the blood, not bleeding from a cough, and must have coughed out over 1/4 cup straight blood each time. We had to decide whether to wait, go to our local hospital where they probably don't have this situation that often and we'd have to go through the whole frustrating process of bringing them up to speed on his situation, or traveling over two hours to Indianapolis where his specialist is, not being sure what would happen on the two hour drive if he didn't stop coughing up blood. Anyway, THANKFULLY, he has not coughed up any blood for 48 hours, so we are VERY relieved. Thank you so much for your caring and information. We will ask our NP about it the next time we see her. We don't feel like we have a good game plan for this situation if it comes up again. - Greg's wife, Jan

 

[anonymous]

Thanks for the info! I'll share it with Greg. I think his NP was talking about something else. A scope down his throat and then cauterizing the broken blood vessels. Neither thing sounds pleasant.He's never coughed up blood before. It started one night, then went on for about a week, off and on, when he coughed, etc. Sometimes a lot, sometimes just streaks. However, right after the NP put him on home IV's he woke up two nights in a row, coughing from the blood, not bleeding from a cough, and must have coughed out over 1/4 cup straight blood each time. We had to decide whether to wait, go to our local hospital where they probably don't have this situation that often and we'd have to go through the whole frustrating process of bringing them up to speed on his situation, or traveling over two hours to Indianapolis where his specialist is, not being sure what would happen on the two hour drive if he didn't stop coughing up blood. Anyway, THANKFULLY, he has not coughed up any blood for 48 hours, so we are VERY relieved. Thank you so much for your caring and information. We will ask our NP about it the next time we see her. We don't feel like we have a good game plan for this situation if it comes up again. - Greg's wife, Jan

 

[anonymous]

My neice has had one pulmanary embolization due to coughing up alot of blood one morning. I kept her very calm, grabbed alot of red towels so she couldn't see it as well & went to the hospital. It is a very common procedure and for her & us it was scarier before the surgury not being familiar with what was happening. They increased her vitamin K to one a day opposed to one every other day & it hasn't happed again. Sometimes she coughs up a little blood from her sinuses. Thankfully there is a solution to that problem. There are many hurdles along the way for us.

 

[Diane]

Hi Jan ( gregs wife), I wanted to respond to something you had mentioned about being awakened by hemoptysis ( coughing up blood) Its ironic you brougt that up because i was going to mention something about not laying down flat , while he is having problems with hemoptysis. I noticed a direct correlation to laying down flat and hemoptysis. It seemed like the most times i have ever had a problem was while lieing down, or bending over too far, you know, normal things we do every day. I dont sleep flat anymore after my experiences. I sleep on my couch propped up with a few pillows and was surprised at how comfortable it can be.Here is what my doctor told me once about what to do if you are coughing up a lot of blood that wont seem to stop. He said if you can feel which lung it is coming from, lay on that side so your good lung will not fill up with blood. Sounds crazy to know which lung it is coming from But i knew both times where it was coming from, bcause i had some pain, on the left side and i also could feel a kind of bubbling sensation there as well. During my second embolization ( while laying flat of coarse), the bleeding started again, and they rolled me onto my left side ,while he proceeded with the procedure. The bleeding helped in some form because he was then able to see a dot on the screen ( he showed it to me) where the bleeding was coming from. If this is the first time your husband has had hemoptysis, i know how scary it is for him and you. Unfortunately it is common with cf, and very frustrating. I still have hemoptysis here and there. I thought after the embolization i would have seen the last of it, but that didnt happen. Remember two things in times of hemoptysis.... Try to stay calm, its very important.... and try to remain upright for at least 2 hours afterward , if not longer. If the bleeding is real bad go to any nearest hospital. They will know what to do, and they will contact his doctor . Im glad to hear he is feeling better and the bleeding has stopped. Ill keep you both in my prayers, Take Care ~ Diane / 39 / cf / diabetes / b.cepacia