Small Amount Bright Red Blood in Sputum Mixed with Clear

@healthybon The term for blood in your sputum is "hemoptysis" and can happen whenever we have lung issues that result in much coughing and mucus clearance.
Here is an excellent video regarding hemoptysis - what, why, and when to contact your doctor:

Sue, thanks so much for this info...I'm going to watch the video.......Bon

I have had 5 hemoptysis episodes from February through September of this year. Blood in the sputum is not uncommon for people with bronchiectasis/MAC. The coughing causes the vessels to become weak and sometimes break. Unless you see half a cup to a cup of pure blood, which would indicate a possible pulmonary embolism, there is no need for concern. My episodes are not just pink sputum but the coughing up of fair sized deep red clots, the coughing lasting up to 10 minutes each episode. The first time in February scared me to death as I viewed the clots in my white sink and, since it was nighttime, I called my insurance company's tele-nurse who told me to go to the ER. My pulmonary doctor ordered a bronchoscopy, which showed no major damage but, because of the bronchoscopy, that was the moment I learned I had MAC along with my already diagnosed bronchiectasis. So, try to relax and accept that this is part of our disease. Best wishes!

pmmar1 thanks so much for your comforting comments. I'm sending a sputum sample to NJH just in case...I went there in the past year, so they will test my sputum for me as well as Dr. Swenson's office too. Seems to be light green/yellow too..so it makes me feel better to have the sputum tested. Anything that will help get rid of anxiety with this disease.

Hello Bon, Did the hemoptysis stop after that single episode? If so, I don't know what you might learn from a sputum culture. The usual diagnostic tools for continued or severe hemoptysis are a CT, followed if necessary by a bronchoscopy (not a fun test) to see if there are any areas with clusters of weakened blood vessels.

I'm surprised you were able to get orders from both NJH and Dr. Swenson to do sputum cultures for hemoptysis. Also, did you let both NJH and Dr Swenson know you stopped the antibiotics? That would be an important piece of information for them to have, because if the hemoptysis continues it may mean your MAC is getting worse.

Sue

Hi Sue,
yes, the blood stopped after a tiny tinge in my clear sputum. no more.
I am having some light green sputum, and clear. (its usually always clear). My costochondritis is flaring and my front ribs hurt (not unusual), and I feel like there is phleghm in my throat.
I sent the sample to NJH on my own..which is what I always do, because I saw the green sputum. I wrote to dr swenson about the tinge of blood, have not heard back. a lot of our members tell me they frequently get that, only much more and more often than I, and not to worry unless it's a tablespoonful...Mine was miniscule. I am attributing it to coughing too hard the other day (which I did). I have a portal message into dr swenson letting him know about it and asking his opinon.
dr swenson said to send him sputum samples every three months, and I do that with NJH also. He never approves each sample, per se!
Dr. swenson is aware I did not continue the antibiotics, that was close to the onset of me seeing him......I have been doing really great, nebulizing 2 x daily with 7% saline and then doing the drainage afterwards. I never miss a session.
I really appreciate your writing to me and your concern.....you have always helped me from day one on this blog..and it means a lot to me. you are very wise. I'll let you know how the sputum sample comes out from Jewish. I keep in touch with dr swenson on the portal and if I see any more blood I''m going to call him. Bon

sue this morning some blood tinged mucus came out when I blew my nose. i think the blood i saw was from my sinuses....they have been very dry lately and am using saline spray into my nostrils. so...it probably wasn't from my lungs. phew.

Thank you so much for posting this. As someone who had life-threatening hemoptysis in 2012, it was a perfect webinar for me. < 3