Coughing up blood with mucus

Posted by ReRE @jcwest211, Nov 13, 2023

I have bronchiectasis & MAC. I recently moved to Florida and have noticed an increase in coughing and mucus. I noticed a small amount of blood in mucus last couple of days. I went to the ER at TGH and ER doctor ruled out pneumonia and pulmonary embolism. He said coughing up blood with bronchiectasis can happen.
Has anyone experienced this?

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@janemiller

I also had a ct scan with contrast. I did not have an embolism. My Dr just wanted the bleeding to stop. It stopped on it's own. I would check your showerhead. Southern coastal states have higher mac rates.

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How many days were you coughing up blood?

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@reneemc

How many days were you coughing up blood?

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48 hrs at least.

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I had the CT with contrast and an embolization catherization. 3 months before I had the bronchoscopy with washing because I can't cough up anything at will for a culture..

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If you are taking blood thinners Xralto, etc. check with your doctor to see if this could be contributing to the blood in the sputum problem. He may have to reduce your dose or eliminate completely.

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I haven’t dealt with this but I have read that coughing up smaller amounts of blood with Bronchiectasis can happen. I read that it more often occurred with infection. Someone else with MAC & BE could likely answer with more specifics though. I would follow up with pulmonologist or your primary care physician if you continue to cough up blood.

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I have had many hemoptysis episodes over the past year, not just pink in sputum but many clots that were scary to view the first time it happened. The clots were large and dark red, like maroon, ranging from specks to an inch in size. The coughing covered about 10 minutes so it wasn't just a one cough event. Each time I went to the ER but the fifth time I went the on-duty physician said, after viewing the pictures I had taken, that even though the clots looked scary, it wasn't necessary to go to the ER each time. My episodes were scattered and not pure blood; more like dried blood that had accumulated. These episodes are just part of bronchiectasis (and in my case MAC too).

Each time I have an episode, I take pictures, which I would suggest you do also. Sometimes I've spent hours in the ER when it wasn't necessary. I spent Labor Day weekend in the hospital because the doctors wanted me to have a bronchoscopy but they don't do bronchoscopies on holiday weekends so they kept me until Tuesday, which wasn't what I had in mind for a Labor Day weekend.

Most doctors say that if you are coughing up pure blood of a tablespoon or more that it may indicate a pulmonary embolism and an ER visit would be necessary. I won't be going to the ER anytime soon unless I'm scared I may have an embolism.

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One additional thought: I have found I can't use saline and the doctor has told me not to include it in my AC. The saline is too strong and causes a hemoptysis event for me each time. You may want to look at this as a cause of your blood in sputum if you are using saline.

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I was recently taken off saline because of the blood, I try to just clear my throat, anything more is blood

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