Couging up blood

[JazzysMom]

Given that this is his first real bleed and he has been having difficulties I would contact the clinic immediately.</B> For me its just part of the routine and anything can trigger it from an actual infection to too much caffeine. Stress & lack of sleep are the top triggers for me. He needs to be careful about going to the gym & lifting weights until he has a better idea of what is triggering this. Strenuous activities like lifting weights will only aggravate it at this point. Has he needed to have Vitamin K supplements before? He might need them now. Its not something he should overlook because it might mean a real problem for him versus just broken blood vessels. Keep us updated!

 

[Jem]

You have already received very good advice about why & what to do so I will just add that I agree that coughing up pure blood is something that should be brought to Mark's doctor's attention, especially if it was a teaspoon or more just to be on the safe side. Hemoptysis has been part of my life since I was 18 and anything more that a teaspoon of pure blood gets immediate attention from my doctor whether or not I am feeling well. Coughing up blood is scary...I don't think anyone ever gets used to it...I know I don't like seeing red. Your a good wife to be concerned and to want to seek advice. I hope Mark will be feeling better soon.

 

[Jem]

You have already received very good advice about why & what to do so I will just add that I agree that coughing up pure blood is something that should be brought to Mark's doctor's attention, especially if it was a teaspoon or more just to be on the safe side. Hemoptysis has been part of my life since I was 18 and anything more that a teaspoon of pure blood gets immediate attention from my doctor whether or not I am feeling well. Coughing up blood is scary...I don't think anyone ever gets used to it...I know I don't like seeing red. Your a good wife to be concerned and to want to seek advice. I hope Mark will be feeling better soon.

 

[Jem]

You have already received very good advice about why & what to do so I will just add that I agree that coughing up pure blood is something that should be brought to Mark's doctor's attention, especially if it was a teaspoon or more just to be on the safe side. Hemoptysis has been part of my life since I was 18 and anything more that a teaspoon of pure blood gets immediate attention from my doctor whether or not I am feeling well. Coughing up blood is scary...I don't think anyone ever gets used to it...I know I don't like seeing red. Your a good wife to be concerned and to want to seek advice. I hope Mark will be feeling better soon.

 

[NoExcuses]

I haven't read other posts so forgive me if I'm repeating anything.

The goal of the lungs is to get oxygen in the blood stream. So the lungs are incredibly vascular so that this gas exchange can occure. Airways can rest right on top of blood vessels and the weight of sputum can sometimes break the airway and boom! there is the blood vessel is leaking blood into the airways. Additionally bacteria can eat away at the airway to give way to a bleeder.

Blood is extremely irritating to the lungs - which causes the coughing up of the blood right away. You alsmost never have to worry about having hemoptasis and not knowing it because the lungs will do anything possible to rid itself of the irritating blood.

My doc has me go to the ER if the blood doesn't stop right away because embolization may be required. Yes, it is possible to have the lungs fill up with blood and to die. It's rare, but it's possible. So being at the ER gives you quick access to a radiologist who can embolize.

As with anything with CF, the goal is to stop damage right away. If he's coughing up blood, his clinic needs to know and something needs to be done. Perhaps IV's, perhaps increased CPT. It's often those patients who haven't had many problems throughout their lives and suddenly have problems that go downhill quickly with CF because they're not used to paying close attention to CF signs of problems going on.

I hope he feels better soon.

 

[NoExcuses]

I haven't read other posts so forgive me if I'm repeating anything.

The goal of the lungs is to get oxygen in the blood stream. So the lungs are incredibly vascular so that this gas exchange can occure. Airways can rest right on top of blood vessels and the weight of sputum can sometimes break the airway and boom! there is the blood vessel is leaking blood into the airways. Additionally bacteria can eat away at the airway to give way to a bleeder.

Blood is extremely irritating to the lungs - which causes the coughing up of the blood right away. You alsmost never have to worry about having hemoptasis and not knowing it because the lungs will do anything possible to rid itself of the irritating blood.

My doc has me go to the ER if the blood doesn't stop right away because embolization may be required. Yes, it is possible to have the lungs fill up with blood and to die. It's rare, but it's possible. So being at the ER gives you quick access to a radiologist who can embolize.

As with anything with CF, the goal is to stop damage right away. If he's coughing up blood, his clinic needs to know and something needs to be done. Perhaps IV's, perhaps increased CPT. It's often those patients who haven't had many problems throughout their lives and suddenly have problems that go downhill quickly with CF because they're not used to paying close attention to CF signs of problems going on.

I hope he feels better soon.

 

[NoExcuses]

I haven't read other posts so forgive me if I'm repeating anything.

The goal of the lungs is to get oxygen in the blood stream. So the lungs are incredibly vascular so that this gas exchange can occure. Airways can rest right on top of blood vessels and the weight of sputum can sometimes break the airway and boom! there is the blood vessel is leaking blood into the airways. Additionally bacteria can eat away at the airway to give way to a bleeder.

Blood is extremely irritating to the lungs - which causes the coughing up of the blood right away. You alsmost never have to worry about having hemoptasis and not knowing it because the lungs will do anything possible to rid itself of the irritating blood.

My doc has me go to the ER if the blood doesn't stop right away because embolization may be required. Yes, it is possible to have the lungs fill up with blood and to die. It's rare, but it's possible. So being at the ER gives you quick access to a radiologist who can embolize.

As with anything with CF, the goal is to stop damage right away. If he's coughing up blood, his clinic needs to know and something needs to be done. Perhaps IV's, perhaps increased CPT. It's often those patients who haven't had many problems throughout their lives and suddenly have problems that go downhill quickly with CF because they're not used to paying close attention to CF signs of problems going on.

I hope he feels better soon.

 

[debs2girls]

Julie, I agree with Melissa...call them asap. I will be praying for all of you. Let us know what they say and how Mark is feeling.

 

[debs2girls]

Julie, I agree with Melissa...call them asap. I will be praying for all of you. Let us know what they say and how Mark is feeling.

 

[debs2girls]

Julie, I agree with Melissa...call them asap. I will be praying for all of you. Let us know what they say and how Mark is feeling.

 

[Diane]

Julie, I also irror what Melissa has said. He should call the Dr. since this isnt the "norm" for Mark. It may be an indication that there is something more going on. If he wasnt on Vit. K before now would be a good time for him to start it. Hempotysis can be caused by quite a few things. Blood vessels that have enlarged...... ones that become tortured ( bending and winding ) and the bends in the vessel are usually the weakest .......and sometimes the wall of the lung itself can bleed from irritation from coughing or infection or both. I also recently found out that a fungus ball is a big culprit in hemoptysis. If i wasnt recently diagnosed with one, i would have never known this. Lifting weights isnt a good idea when there is hemoptysis, he should definitely take a few days off from that. You didnt mention an amount of blood he coughed up, but if he should cough up any more than 2 table spoons he needs to go to the ER. Here is a link to read about hemoptysis...............

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://personal.nbnet.nb.ca/normap/hemoptysis.htm
">http://personal.nbnet.nb.ca/normap/hemoptysis.htm
</a>
I hope Mark is feeling better real soon.

 

[Diane]

Julie, I also irror what Melissa has said. He should call the Dr. since this isnt the "norm" for Mark. It may be an indication that there is something more going on. If he wasnt on Vit. K before now would be a good time for him to start it. Hempotysis can be caused by quite a few things. Blood vessels that have enlarged...... ones that become tortured ( bending and winding ) and the bends in the vessel are usually the weakest .......and sometimes the wall of the lung itself can bleed from irritation from coughing or infection or both. I also recently found out that a fungus ball is a big culprit in hemoptysis. If i wasnt recently diagnosed with one, i would have never known this. Lifting weights isnt a good idea when there is hemoptysis, he should definitely take a few days off from that. You didnt mention an amount of blood he coughed up, but if he should cough up any more than 2 table spoons he needs to go to the ER. Here is a link to read about hemoptysis...............

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://personal.nbnet.nb.ca/normap/hemoptysis.htm
">http://personal.nbnet.nb.ca/normap/hemoptysis.htm
</a>
I hope Mark is feeling better real soon.

 

[Diane]

Julie, I also irror what Melissa has said. He should call the Dr. since this isnt the "norm" for Mark. It may be an indication that there is something more going on. If he wasnt on Vit. K before now would be a good time for him to start it. Hempotysis can be caused by quite a few things. Blood vessels that have enlarged...... ones that become tortured ( bending and winding ) and the bends in the vessel are usually the weakest .......and sometimes the wall of the lung itself can bleed from irritation from coughing or infection or both. I also recently found out that a fungus ball is a big culprit in hemoptysis. If i wasnt recently diagnosed with one, i would have never known this. Lifting weights isnt a good idea when there is hemoptysis, he should definitely take a few days off from that. You didnt mention an amount of blood he coughed up, but if he should cough up any more than 2 table spoons he needs to go to the ER. Here is a link to read about hemoptysis...............

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://personal.nbnet.nb.ca/normap/hemoptysis.htm
">http://personal.nbnet.nb.ca/normap/hemoptysis.htm
</a>
I hope Mark is feeling better real soon.

 

[julie]

I'm putting in a call to them today, against Mark's wishes. That's what good spouses do right <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Luke, he doesn't do HS but he does do Pulmozyme every day and just finished (3 days ago) a month ON of Tobi. He was also on Prednisone for 5 days and Cipro for 10 days for his most recent trip to the ER, but the cipro was done about 5 days ago and the Prednisone about 10.

Should he hold off on the pulmozyme for a few days?
How about the vest? Would that be irritating it? He is working out, but just doing weights.... should I tell him to take it easy at that too?

Thanks to everyone for all the advise thusfar, I really appreciate it. This is very new to both of us are we aren't sure about it, so I really appreciate it.

 

[julie]

I'm putting in a call to them today, against Mark's wishes. That's what good spouses do right <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Luke, he doesn't do HS but he does do Pulmozyme every day and just finished (3 days ago) a month ON of Tobi. He was also on Prednisone for 5 days and Cipro for 10 days for his most recent trip to the ER, but the cipro was done about 5 days ago and the Prednisone about 10.

Should he hold off on the pulmozyme for a few days?
How about the vest? Would that be irritating it? He is working out, but just doing weights.... should I tell him to take it easy at that too?

Thanks to everyone for all the advise thusfar, I really appreciate it. This is very new to both of us are we aren't sure about it, so I really appreciate it.

 

[julie]

I'm putting in a call to them today, against Mark's wishes. That's what good spouses do right <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Luke, he doesn't do HS but he does do Pulmozyme every day and just finished (3 days ago) a month ON of Tobi. He was also on Prednisone for 5 days and Cipro for 10 days for his most recent trip to the ER, but the cipro was done about 5 days ago and the Prednisone about 10.

Should he hold off on the pulmozyme for a few days?
How about the vest? Would that be irritating it? He is working out, but just doing weights.... should I tell him to take it easy at that too?

Thanks to everyone for all the advise thusfar, I really appreciate it. This is very new to both of us are we aren't sure about it, so I really appreciate it.

 

[julie]

Diane, is that 2 tablespoons in one day, or in one coughing session? He is couging up about 1 tablespoon anywhere from 2-6 times a day.

He was culturing 2 different types of Staph at his last ER trip (which was about 2.5 weeks ago) and was put on cipro and told to stay on his month of TOBI for that.

 

[julie]

Diane, is that 2 tablespoons in one day, or in one coughing session? He is couging up about 1 tablespoon anywhere from 2-6 times a day.

He was culturing 2 different types of Staph at his last ER trip (which was about 2.5 weeks ago) and was put on cipro and told to stay on his month of TOBI for that.

 

[julie]

Diane, is that 2 tablespoons in one day, or in one coughing session? He is couging up about 1 tablespoon anywhere from 2-6 times a day.

He was culturing 2 different types of Staph at his last ER trip (which was about 2.5 weeks ago) and was put on cipro and told to stay on his month of TOBI for that.

 

[Diane]

Julie,
A tablespoon 2 to 6 times a day is reason for calling the Dr. right away. When i said 2 tablespoons i meant at one time, but if he is coughing up blood 2 to 6 times a day something is going on and you dont want to ignore the signs. He has to STOP lifting weights, and stop the vest, at least for a few days. Im not sure about the Pulmozyme....some say it contributes to their hemoptysis . Any time you have hemoptysis several times in a day is a sign that somethings going on. You absolutely do NOT want to ignore it.