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Hemoptysis - wonder what others do
Hi. I have asthma and mild Bronchiectasis, diagnosed with the latter last year. I have had small spots of blood when clearly fighting an infection on a couple of occasions. However, the last couple of days, I have had a couple of bright red blood spots (not large, but always alarming!) in my clear mucus. I don't have a cough or fever. Noticing a little chest tightness but not a lot. I usually neb with levalbutirol followed by either 3% or 7% saline (usually a mix to get to about 5% as best tolerated) in the morning plus aerobika and breathing exercises and then aerobika and postural drainage in the evening. I sometimes neb in the evening as well - if I am fighting something or have been around potential germs, which I did twice this weekend.
I have held off using the saline over the last 24-hours as don't wish to aggravate the situation. But, of course, I also don't want to make things worse by not doing airway clearance! My pulmonologist isn't the most-versed in Bronchiectasis nor readily-available. But in Maine, they are all in short supply!
Just wondering what others do or have been instructed to do with any signs of hemoptysis when it's a small amount. Thanks!
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It is N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine. It supports respiratory function, glutathione production and detoxification. It also helps thin mucous so it It easier to get up. I 've only been taking it a few days so don't really notice a difference yet.
I feel you. I too cough up mucus everyday around noon and I dare not go out during that time fearing blood would come out with mucus.
I have allergies & recently I experienced an epistaxis (bloody nose) that I initially thought was hemoptysis. Epistaxis is not brand new to me since I had them frequently as a child. It took a bit to discern that this recent bleeding was upper respiratory since the bright red blood was draining in the back of my throat as opposed to out of nose. The hemoptysis I’ve experienced was from pneumonia as a mix of old & new blood surrounding the plugs I coughed up. Warmest regards to all!
I have seen blood in mucus ( small amount in thick mucus a few times a day, totally about 1 tablespoon or less) everyday for over a month. I am taking daily three oral antibiotics and amikacin inhalation 3 times a week ( my doctor told me to switch from 7 times/ week to 3 times / week due to bleeding). I have stopped airway clearance for 4 weeks but it is always there, and never goes away. It does not get better or get worse too. If I worked long hours, it gets worse, otherwise it is stable.
I heard it is from bronchiectasis, but my bronchiectasis is mild and only limited to MAC area. Does anyone have similar experience and what you did to manage/stop the bleeding please?
My doctor asked me to do a CT, but I have done two this year, really do not want to do more!
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1 ReactionDon't you think the small amount of blood is a side effect of the Amikacin? One of the side effects is coughing up blood but your reaction is mild and hopefully the benefit will outweigh any risk?
Dear Irenea8, thanks for reminding me of this. Yes I think it is a possible side effect of amikacin. But if I have stop airway clearance completely .... probably I should stop amikacin.