Coughing up Blood

[purpleangel28282]

My friend coughs up blood a lot. The doctor's say it could be from an infection, or it could be because he coughs so much and strains his lungs and makes him cough it up, which has happend to me, but not that often. It seems that he's always coughing up blood. I'm just curious to see if anybody else coughs up blood and how often. It just seems so odd to me that he seems to be coughing it up SO much, when I'll only cough up blood once every few months and not a lot, just a little bit.

 

[littlepinkstar]

I cough up blood sometimes, My doctors said that pulmozyme can sometimes start this. I don't take pulmozyme anymore, and I don't cough up blood either. I don't think you should worry unless it's more than a few tablespoons full at a time.. other wise, you're okay.

 

[Faust]

Here is the problem with hemoptysis:


Trying to seriously diagnose why it happens is a huge hit or miss. Some people cough up blood due to an infection, some do it just because they go into smokey bars and have no infection, some do it for little to zero previous reason. Some do it due to exertion (running out of the blue), while others do it just for laying down (has happened to me a few times).


Take your pick. The one universal aspect is, if you go from bleeding often, to not bleeding at all, that can mean that your lungs are so fried (bad), that they have lost the capacity to bleed (bad). I have had 2 bleeds this whole year, and last check I was at 99% lung capacity. I might be lower now % wise, I know my lungs have damage, but i'd like to think that i'm still capable of bleeding.


BTW, late teens and early 20's in a CF, are the years (if you are healthy) where you will probably bleed a ton, especially if you are social and drink, smoke joints, or go to bars/house parties with smoke etc. I bled like a madman growing up. Some people have BAD problems with hemoptysis while growing up, some level out, some never get past it...I hope he gets past it and chills out.

In general, the ultimate reason why we bleed is due to bacteria, and inflamation. If he can control some part of those aspects, there is a good chance his bleeds will lessen.

 

[Diane]

I have a lot of problems with hemoptysis. I have had 2 embolizations to stop 2 separate massive hemoptysis episodes. Its has been almost 4 years since and i still have lung bleeding issues. I can't lay flat to sleep, cant lean over too long, cant cough too hard for too long, these all cause hemoptysis. I barely go a month without having some blood. My new doctor just requested i consider having another embolization done to try to find the offending areas and cauterize them. One thing to keep in mind about hemoptysis.... if it's always small amounts keep a watch on it, if it tends to be more and more often, and larger and larger amounts each time, it's time to do something about it. Our blood vessels get bent and twisted and the areas that twist and bend the most are the ones that are more prone to breaking. We also have some blood vessels that can become enlarged from damage to the lung or lungs, and that can cause a breaking problem. When i had my first embolization done, the intervention radiologist that did it, told me i had a very large broken gaping hole in my one enlarged vessel that was the reason for the massive bleed. I had warnings it was about to come, but i ignored them....... I started having hemoptysis steadily each day for about a week ( about a table spoon or two each time), then one night while doing laundry i had a larger amount ( about 3-4 table spoons), (didnt call the Dr.) Then the next night while laying down in bed, i had a big amount ( about 7 or 8 table spoons) ( still didnt call the Dr.) Then the very next night while sleeping, i had the massive bleed. ( called 911 ). The point of telling you this is to show that there was an obvious warning that i totally ignored. My doctor told me recently that if i cough up blood now a-days i need to keep a watch on the amount. If it happens too consecutively and the amounts get larger its time to do something about it asap.