@heathert It is very possible. One time I saw dark red specks in my sputum and was really scared. I thought MAC came back. Then I remembered that I had eaten some cherries earlier. Your colored specks could also from the post nasal drip from your nose.
heathert…… I've dealt with this only three years -- others have more experience, but I'm inclined to think if you feel okay there is probably not much infection. I would think you would not feel like yourself if there was much going on.
heathert…… I've dealt with this only three years -- others have more experience, but I'm inclined to think if you feel okay there is probably not much infection. I would think you would not feel like yourself if there was much going on.
@heathert I agree with @auntnanny, if you feel OK, don't worry about the color of your sputum too much. I have had excessive and thick sputum for 10+ years showing varying colors. But I feel absolutely fine. I've had it so long, it's become part of my life. I'm annoyed and wish I didn't have to deal with it. But because of my bronchiectasis, I know I most likely will have to live with it for the rest of my life. So I just ignore it and continue on with my life.
@ling thanks for that, it is very interesting, mine was clear but had a few small yellow specks in the clear, I am wondering if I am inhaling bits of orange that I eat for breakfast.
ling123 .……. I'm glad someone else feels the same as I do. I know what it is to be really ill from the bronchiectasis (before I was finally diagnosed.) I had some pounds to lose but I lost 70 and looked pathetic. I could not eat a bite of anything. Very ill. So, I have learned if I feel okay, I'm probably as good as it's going to get. Yes, I deal with thick and thin phlegm -- in all colors -- most of the time. I don't pay much attention to color but if there's a flare coming on, I don't feel well and then it's time to get a sputum sample diagnosed and get some antibiotics. That's my life at this time.
526laura Laura, this is what I think...…. if you have bronchiectasis, yes you have some infection. I doubt you will ever be totally free and clear of anything. They cannot cure bronchiectasis but Mayo's told me they could manage it. So, I truly believe it's never gone. Sometimes it flares and is worse than other times. If a flare causes debilitating coughing (which is what happens to me) and you are ill, you'll know it. Oftentimes it is not the same recurring infection. It varies and therefore, sometimes the prescribed meds are varied. I think I try to not worry as much as I originally did in that you will have some strong symptoms if you are having a flare. (Again, I'm not a doctor -- just another person with the disease.)
526laura Laura, this is what I think...…. if you have bronchiectasis, yes you have some infection. I doubt you will ever be totally free and clear of anything. They cannot cure bronchiectasis but Mayo's told me they could manage it. So, I truly believe it's never gone. Sometimes it flares and is worse than other times. If a flare causes debilitating coughing (which is what happens to me) and you are ill, you'll know it. Oftentimes it is not the same recurring infection. It varies and therefore, sometimes the prescribed meds are varied. I think I try to not worry as much as I originally did in that you will have some strong symptoms if you are having a flare. (Again, I'm not a doctor -- just another person with the disease.)
@526laura and @heathert Again, I agree with you, @auntnanny , bronchiectasis is incurable but can be managed. Because of bronchiectasis, the walls of the bronchi are thickened due to chronic inflammation and/or infection. This condition results in mucus/phlegm being accumulated/trapped inside the bronchi rather than being moved up and down freely. The accumulated mucus traps bacteria becoming hot bed for infections such as MAC. Here are the most common symptoms of bronchiectasis:
•Coughing up yellow or green mucus every day
•Shortness of breath that gets worse during exacerbations
•Feeling run-down or tired, especially during exacerbations
•Fevers and/or chills, usually developing during exacerbations
•Wheezing or a whistling sound while you breathe
•Coughing up blood or mucus mixed with blood, a condition called hemoptysis
Because bronchiectasis cannot be cured, we must try our best to clear out as much accumulated phlegm as we can on a daily basis. Many in this group are using devices to help with that. I have not used anything except diligent effort to cough up as much phlegm as I can manage everyday, especially in the morning. It is working for me. But if you are like some of the others who cannot cough up any phlegm, you may want to read through the postings here to find out what others are using.
@526laura and @heathert Again, I agree with you, @auntnanny , bronchiectasis is incurable but can be managed. Because of bronchiectasis, the walls of the bronchi are thickened due to chronic inflammation and/or infection. This condition results in mucus/phlegm being accumulated/trapped inside the bronchi rather than being moved up and down freely. The accumulated mucus traps bacteria becoming hot bed for infections such as MAC. Here are the most common symptoms of bronchiectasis:
•Coughing up yellow or green mucus every day
•Shortness of breath that gets worse during exacerbations
•Feeling run-down or tired, especially during exacerbations
•Fevers and/or chills, usually developing during exacerbations
•Wheezing or a whistling sound while you breathe
•Coughing up blood or mucus mixed with blood, a condition called hemoptysis
Because bronchiectasis cannot be cured, we must try our best to clear out as much accumulated phlegm as we can on a daily basis. Many in this group are using devices to help with that. I have not used anything except diligent effort to cough up as much phlegm as I can manage everyday, especially in the morning. It is working for me. But if you are like some of the others who cannot cough up any phlegm, you may want to read through the postings here to find out what others are using.
@526laura and @heathert Again, I agree with you, @auntnanny , bronchiectasis is incurable but can be managed. Because of bronchiectasis, the walls of the bronchi are thickened due to chronic inflammation and/or infection. This condition results in mucus/phlegm being accumulated/trapped inside the bronchi rather than being moved up and down freely. The accumulated mucus traps bacteria becoming hot bed for infections such as MAC. Here are the most common symptoms of bronchiectasis:
•Coughing up yellow or green mucus every day
•Shortness of breath that gets worse during exacerbations
•Feeling run-down or tired, especially during exacerbations
•Fevers and/or chills, usually developing during exacerbations
•Wheezing or a whistling sound while you breathe
•Coughing up blood or mucus mixed with blood, a condition called hemoptysis
Because bronchiectasis cannot be cured, we must try our best to clear out as much accumulated phlegm as we can on a daily basis. Many in this group are using devices to help with that. I have not used anything except diligent effort to cough up as much phlegm as I can manage everyday, especially in the morning. It is working for me. But if you are like some of the others who cannot cough up any phlegm, you may want to read through the postings here to find out what others are using.
However, I have to say, I don't have most of the symptoms listed in my previous posting. The only one I have is coughing up a lot of mucus of varying colors. I assume not everybody will have all of the symptoms. So I don't want anyone to get scared after reading my posting.
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@auntnanny I feel fine.
lling123 Thanks for telling me about the cherries, could be my orange then,very intersting. Could be post nasal drip for me also. : )
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1 Reactionheathert…… I've dealt with this only three years -- others have more experience, but I'm inclined to think if you feel okay there is probably not much infection. I would think you would not feel like yourself if there was much going on.
@heathert I agree with @auntnanny, if you feel OK, don't worry about the color of your sputum too much. I have had excessive and thick sputum for 10+ years showing varying colors. But I feel absolutely fine. I've had it so long, it's become part of my life. I'm annoyed and wish I didn't have to deal with it. But because of my bronchiectasis, I know I most likely will have to live with it for the rest of my life. So I just ignore it and continue on with my life.
I often have exactly what you described and I don’t eat oranges.
I’m thinking the yellow is an infection of some kind.
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1 Reactionling123 .……. I'm glad someone else feels the same as I do. I know what it is to be really ill from the bronchiectasis (before I was finally diagnosed.) I had some pounds to lose but I lost 70 and looked pathetic. I could not eat a bite of anything. Very ill. So, I have learned if I feel okay, I'm probably as good as it's going to get. Yes, I deal with thick and thin phlegm -- in all colors -- most of the time. I don't pay much attention to color but if there's a flare coming on, I don't feel well and then it's time to get a sputum sample diagnosed and get some antibiotics. That's my life at this time.
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2 Reactions526laura Laura, this is what I think...…. if you have bronchiectasis, yes you have some infection. I doubt you will ever be totally free and clear of anything. They cannot cure bronchiectasis but Mayo's told me they could manage it. So, I truly believe it's never gone. Sometimes it flares and is worse than other times. If a flare causes debilitating coughing (which is what happens to me) and you are ill, you'll know it. Oftentimes it is not the same recurring infection. It varies and therefore, sometimes the prescribed meds are varied. I think I try to not worry as much as I originally did in that you will have some strong symptoms if you are having a flare. (Again, I'm not a doctor -- just another person with the disease.)
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1 Reaction@526laura and @heathert Again, I agree with you, @auntnanny , bronchiectasis is incurable but can be managed. Because of bronchiectasis, the walls of the bronchi are thickened due to chronic inflammation and/or infection. This condition results in mucus/phlegm being accumulated/trapped inside the bronchi rather than being moved up and down freely. The accumulated mucus traps bacteria becoming hot bed for infections such as MAC. Here are the most common symptoms of bronchiectasis:
•Coughing up yellow or green mucus every day
•Shortness of breath that gets worse during exacerbations
•Feeling run-down or tired, especially during exacerbations
•Fevers and/or chills, usually developing during exacerbations
•Wheezing or a whistling sound while you breathe
•Coughing up blood or mucus mixed with blood, a condition called hemoptysis
Because bronchiectasis cannot be cured, we must try our best to clear out as much accumulated phlegm as we can on a daily basis. Many in this group are using devices to help with that. I have not used anything except diligent effort to cough up as much phlegm as I can manage everyday, especially in the morning. It is working for me. But if you are like some of the others who cannot cough up any phlegm, you may want to read through the postings here to find out what others are using.
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2 ReactionsVery well said Ling!
However, I have to say, I don't have most of the symptoms listed in my previous posting. The only one I have is coughing up a lot of mucus of varying colors. I assume not everybody will have all of the symptoms. So I don't want anyone to get scared after reading my posting.
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