@imeehaigt Just
keep an eye out. Infections can sneak up because they are slow growing. I had
recently watched a video that explained why we have occassional bleeds in our
lungs. It said it is due to an infection in the air sacs. It causes the tiny
vessels to burst. It is localized, that is why the bleeds are mainly small.
Don't bet that because you do not feel or smell something that it is not
brewing. I was diagnosed with pseudomonas a. which is supposed to have a
distinct odor. I did not smell anything. I don't want to get you alarmed, just
be careful.
 

Thanks! Im keeping an eye on it.

@imeehaigt .. imee you said "I noticed a blood in my sputum I got alarmed again" .. I can only tell you .. the first time I spoke with my Mayo doctor about coughing up blood .. he REALLY did not react much at all .. his response "What was the quantity .. a quarter cup .. a tablespoon .. a teaspoon?" Hmmm! Mine was merely at different times a blood clot perhaps the size of less than a dime .. and/or the sputum MIXED with blood .. NEVER the quantity he was speaking of! So my question to you is judge by the quantity of blood and the frequency. Then evaluate from some of the information I am going to give you below from my File Cabinet. Keep us posted .. let us know what your thoughts are after you have evaluated. Hope you find this helpful! Hugs to you! Katherine

1. BLOOD/BLEEDING- BRONCHIECTASIS Coughing up of blood (hemoptysis) is common because the damaged airway walls are fragile and have increased numbers of blood vessels. Hemoptysis may be the first or only symptom of Bronchiectasis.

2. From Member @colapyrus, Jan I have also had hemoptysis (Hemoptysis is the coughing up of blood or blood-stained mucus from the bronchi, larynx, trachea, or lungs) – several times this past year. It usually lasts about 15 minutes and then stops on its own. When I was at NJH in May they said it will stop about 80% of the time on its own and 20% of the time you need some help. In my case I was told to lie on my right side (because my bronchiectasis is in my right middle lobe) then go to a hospital with intervention radiology. They can stop the bleeding by ‘plugging’ the blood vessel. Just wanted to pass that on.

@imeehaigt .. imee and @windwalker Terri .. great advice! Imee, from my File Cabinet below .. please give it some thought! Hugs to you both! Katherine

From my File Cabinet
I can ONLY speak for myself about what testing is correct .. but WITHOUT periodic testing you DO NOT know if those nasty critters are colonizing .. getting ahead of you without you knowing about it! Personally I had quarterly check ups with my doctor including sputum cultures initially .. then as he put the 'puzzle' together based on the results of the sputum culture/Xray/Pulmonary Testing ..deciding when to go to semi annual .. then to annual .. sometimes then back to semi annual. It is ALL up to your GOOD Infectious Disease doctor who is KNOWLEDGEABLE about MAC and Bronchietasis. But it is my understanding there SHOULD be follow up check ups to CONFIRM that the MAC/Bronchiectasis STILL NOT in need of antibiotics. Without CONTINUING checkups (I expect for my life time) we have NO idea if the MAC is colonizing .. OR IF we are still negative! Those nasty critters DON'T disappear .. just lie there in waiting .. that is why it is so important to take good care of ourselves .. eat healthy .. exercise .. stay positive .. be serene!

Thanks @katemn, i do have bronchaectasis and the blood is just a stain in mucus that was last sunday only. Ive been deligently doing my regular check ups and lab test my lab test result last jan was negative of NTM. As of now im not taking any meds except for my multi vitamins I continued to produce sticky phlegm and I noticed that it stopped when I started to exercise everyday. My doctor is very far from here so he prescribed me a reserve antibiotics in case I cough up blood. As of now I feel like there are lots of phlegm in my lungs but Im afraid to cough it out since I might cough blood. But im doing Ok still going to work everynight.
Hugs and kisses to everyone

@imeehaigt .. imee, when you say " I feel like there are lots of phlegm in my lungs but I'm afraid to cough it out since I might cough blood." Imee, I hate to bug you BUT IF you had been doing YOUR "due diligence" and READING the past pages of our Forum .. you would ALREADY know "lots of phlegm in my lungs" is a TERRIBLE breeding ground in your LUNGS for all kinds of mycobacterium AND bacteria .. AND your unbased fear of some blood is going to potentially lead you to some WAY WORSE things like MAC/MAI and serious Bronchiectasis! Mama Katherine is telling you .. WAKE UP!! Your fear is NOT based on logic .. you SHOULD be afraid of NOT doing "Lung Clearance" like we talk about on our Forum! Get all that mucus OUT of your lungs .. do NOT worry about the blood!! I am going to give you more information on the blood below .. BUT you need to get reading the past pages .. Knowledge is Power .. it TAKES AWAY fear! Take heart .. we WILL be here for you .. President Roosevelt said "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself" .. sending you a Big Hug! Katherine

From my File Cabinet:
BLOOD/BLEEDING- BRONCHIECTASIS Coughing up of blood (hemoptysis) is common because the damaged airway walls are fragile and have increased numbers of blood vessels. Hemoptysis may be the first or only symptom of Bronchiectasis.

you said "I noticed a blood in my sputum I got alarmed again" .. I can only tell you .. the first time I spoke with my Mayo doctor about coughing up blood .. he REALLY did not react much at all .. his response "What was the quantity .. a quarter cup .. a tablespoon .. a teaspoon?" Hmmm! Mine was merely at different times a blood clot perhaps the size of less than a dime .. and/or the sputum MIXED with blood .. NEVER the quantity he was speaking of! So my question to you is judge by the quantity of blood and the frequency. Then evaluate from some of the information I am going to give you below from my File Cabinet. Keep us posted .. let us know what your thoughts are after you have evaluated. Hope you find this helpful! Hugs to you! Katherine

From Member @colapyrus, Jan I have also had hemoptysis (Hemoptysis is the coughing up of blood or blood-stained mucus from the bronchi, larynx, trachea, or lungs) – several times this past year. It usually lasts about 15 minutes and then stops on its own. When I was at NJH in May they said it will stop about 80% of the time on its own and 20% of the time you need some help. In my case I was told to lie on my right side (because my bronchiectasis is in my right middle lobe)

@imeehaigt , if you feel that there is a lot of phlegm in your lungs, you need to try your best to get it out. Keep it in will cause the bacteria to be caught in your lungs. That is how a lot of people get MAC. Since you have been tested negative for NTM, you really want to keep it that way. I try to cough it out throughout the day everyday. If you are afraid of coughing up blood or being too noisy, you can use the equipment that has been recommended on this forum by several people to thin the phlegm so it comes out more easily. Do whatever you have to, just not keep the phlegm in your lungs. Ling

Thanks @ling123 and @katemn, I agree on what you said Katherine I am actually doing it everyday, but these past days since I started to have blood stain in my mucus that was the time that I did not do my daily routine to expel mucus everyday. Im still doing my daily deep breathing excercise. I will do what you say to make sure to clear my lungs everyday I just make to always have tranexamic acid ready in case I will cough up blood. I HOPE NOT. I continued taking fresh gloves of garlic everyday this is my daily antibiotics lol. Good night everyone!

@imeehaigh, my experience tells me that trying to clear the phlegm out of your lungs should not cause the bleeding. When you cough up blood, something is going on in your bronchi to cause it. So if there is blood, it will try to come out whether you cough or not. Don't be too concerned about seeing blood. It is pretty common with people who have brochiectasis and/or MAC. It should be pretty short lived.

@imeehaigt I
used to consume garlic on a regular basis for health, plus I love it. I would
have to listen to my husband whine about smelling it on me for DAYS. He hates
garlic and says the smell makes him nauseous. But yes, it is very beneficial to
good health. I may take up eating it again and watch tv upstairs away from him.
LOL!    - Terri M.