I've been coughing up blood for a while now, and i've seen a doctor about it, but it just seens to come back.?!
Question: I've been coughing up blood for a while now, and i've seen a doctor about it, but it just seens to come back..?
i've been coughing up blood for near enough 2 months now, and i've been to the doctors three times with it, and hospital once.
they don't seem to be able to help me with it, because last time, i had a viral infection, but now it's starting to worry me quite alot, my girlfriend really wants me to go back to the doctors with it, but im not sure, because i think they'll most likely just give me paracetamol, ibuprofen, or codine, for the chest pain, but they never work.
also, i keep getting a sort of tickling feeling in my lungs, and i'm not sure what it is.
i find myself almost borking everytime i try to cough it up.
it's made my throat very sore and irratibble.
can someone please give me advice on what it is or could be.?
prefferably not a stupid answer,
and i'd prefer not to go back to the doctors unless im sure of what it could be..
thank you in advance :)
Health Question & Answer
they don't seem to be able to help me with it, because last time, i had a viral infection, but now it's starting to worry me quite alot, my girlfriend really wants me to go back to the doctors with it, but im not sure, because i think they'll most likely just give me paracetamol, ibuprofen, or codine, for the chest pain, but they never work.
also, i keep getting a sort of tickling feeling in my lungs, and i'm not sure what it is.
i find myself almost borking everytime i try to cough it up.
it's made my throat very sore and irratibble.
can someone please give me advice on what it is or could be.?
prefferably not a stupid answer,
and i'd prefer not to go back to the doctors unless im sure of what it could be..
thank you in advance :)
Health Question & Answer
Answers:
Depends on how much blood you are coughing up. Frequent coughing can irritate the throat and cause some blood to be present.
People with active tuberculosis can cough up blood also. This is easily diagnosed by a chest xray.
I've also seen people with pulmonary embolisms complain of streaks of red blood in their sputum (aka lung secretions).
You mention chest pain. Hopefully you have received an EKG. However, you should have a full lab workup including CBC (complete blood count) as well as electrolytes. There is a blood test called a "D-Dimer" which we sometimes order to rule out a pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients who are low-risk for PE's with symptoms that could be caused by a PE; however, its has a high false-positive accuracy (meaning it may come back elevated, but it doesnt mean that you have a clot; all it means is that there is clot breakdown or inflammation - and multiple conditions can elevate these levels including pregnancy, illness, surgery, liver problems, trauma, autoimmune diseases, and so on). In patients who are at risk for PE, we'll often skip the d-dimer test and do a ct-scan of the lungs to rule out PE, but we use the d-dimer test in low-risk patients to rule out the necessity of a CT-scan (as it is quite expensive, but I'm guessing you're in Canada so maybe its covered universally).
You really should have a ct-scan using IV contrast to rule out a PE, and go from there. You may neeed to see a pulmonologist (lung specialist) for further treatment if these symptoms continue. They may need to take biopsies of your lung tissue to see if there is damage at a cellular level
*I once had an 18-year old patient who had been coming to our Emergency Department frequently (3-4 times in 2 months), and each time she complained of chest pain, mild shortness of breath, and cough. She had been previously sent home with pain meds and had been previously diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection and chest pain (musculoskeletal in nature). Well, someone finally decided to do a CT on her which showed that she had bilateral PE's (blood clots in both of her lungs). She had no risk factors (she wasn't a smoker, wasn't obese, wasn't on birth control pills, wasn't pregnant or recently pregnant, wasn't using cocaine etc). Bilateral PE's are very serious and can be deadly - she had a lengthy stay in the ICU.
So, moral of the story is make sure to get the full workup since your symptoms haven't disappeared. Since I dont know your age, whether or not you smoke, and what you do for a living (someone inhaling lung irritants all day at work may have chronic lung problems), its impossible to know how serious this problem is. Make sure to follow-up with your health care provider.Health Question & Answer
People with active tuberculosis can cough up blood also. This is easily diagnosed by a chest xray.
I've also seen people with pulmonary embolisms complain of streaks of red blood in their sputum (aka lung secretions).
You mention chest pain. Hopefully you have received an EKG. However, you should have a full lab workup including CBC (complete blood count) as well as electrolytes. There is a blood test called a "D-Dimer" which we sometimes order to rule out a pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients who are low-risk for PE's with symptoms that could be caused by a PE; however, its has a high false-positive accuracy (meaning it may come back elevated, but it doesnt mean that you have a clot; all it means is that there is clot breakdown or inflammation - and multiple conditions can elevate these levels including pregnancy, illness, surgery, liver problems, trauma, autoimmune diseases, and so on). In patients who are at risk for PE, we'll often skip the d-dimer test and do a ct-scan of the lungs to rule out PE, but we use the d-dimer test in low-risk patients to rule out the necessity of a CT-scan (as it is quite expensive, but I'm guessing you're in Canada so maybe its covered universally).
You really should have a ct-scan using IV contrast to rule out a PE, and go from there. You may neeed to see a pulmonologist (lung specialist) for further treatment if these symptoms continue. They may need to take biopsies of your lung tissue to see if there is damage at a cellular level
*I once had an 18-year old patient who had been coming to our Emergency Department frequently (3-4 times in 2 months), and each time she complained of chest pain, mild shortness of breath, and cough. She had been previously sent home with pain meds and had been previously diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection and chest pain (musculoskeletal in nature). Well, someone finally decided to do a CT on her which showed that she had bilateral PE's (blood clots in both of her lungs). She had no risk factors (she wasn't a smoker, wasn't obese, wasn't on birth control pills, wasn't pregnant or recently pregnant, wasn't using cocaine etc). Bilateral PE's are very serious and can be deadly - she had a lengthy stay in the ICU.
So, moral of the story is make sure to get the full workup since your symptoms haven't disappeared. Since I dont know your age, whether or not you smoke, and what you do for a living (someone inhaling lung irritants all day at work may have chronic lung problems), its impossible to know how serious this problem is. Make sure to follow-up with your health care provider.Health Question & Answer
you may have a weakened blood vessel in your throat and when your coughing it bursts, i,ve suffered something similar for a couple of years, although i would go back to your doctors and ask for them to refer you for a chest x ray just to rule other things out which is what my doctors did with me.Health Question & Answer
You need an x-ray!
You have let it go on for too long!
Go to A&E today!Health Question & Answer
You have let it go on for too long!
Go to A&E today!Health Question & Answer
Nappies, i'm quite positive you don't need me to tell you that this ain't healthy mate,
Is the blood coming from your throat do you think.? If you've been coughing for ages, your could just be opening up a small graze wound in the lining of your throat. I'd suggest this is the case if there are very small traces of blood or even discoloured phlegm.
However, if there's a lot more blood than just wee spots, i'd suggest getting the opinion of another doctor.
I hope it's nothing too sinister!
Health Question & Answer
Is the blood coming from your throat do you think.? If you've been coughing for ages, your could just be opening up a small graze wound in the lining of your throat. I'd suggest this is the case if there are very small traces of blood or even discoloured phlegm.
However, if there's a lot more blood than just wee spots, i'd suggest getting the opinion of another doctor.
I hope it's nothing too sinister!
Health Question & Answer
When someone is coughing up blood, the first two things I think of are lung cancer and tuberculosis. Have you had a CT done of your chest.? If not, you really need one. I'm not trying to scare you, but coughing up blood is a serious symptom. It's possible that in your case it's something relatively minor, but I wouldn't rest easy until these two diseases have been ruled out.
If the CT is normal, you may need a bronchoscopy to see where the bleeding is coming from. This is where they give you some sedation, then put a camera down your throat to your lungs to look around. The doctor can take biopsies if he sees anything suspicious. This test will tell you where the bleeding is and what's causing it.
You should be seeing a pulmonologist (lung specialist). Health Question & Answer
If the CT is normal, you may need a bronchoscopy to see where the bleeding is coming from. This is where they give you some sedation, then put a camera down your throat to your lungs to look around. The doctor can take biopsies if he sees anything suspicious. This test will tell you where the bleeding is and what's causing it.
You should be seeing a pulmonologist (lung specialist). Health Question & Answer
It sounds like something is badly irritating your lungs. If you use any products that irritate your lungs, like cleaning, or personal products, avoid them. My mom complains of her lungs hurting a lot, but constantly uses harsh products to clean with and doesn't connect the two.
Next I suggest you grab a hand full of pine needles off a tree, cut them up and put them in a cup, add a teaspoon of lemon balm for the viral infection. You can also add some rosemary and /or thyme to it too, both help with lung problems. Boil some water and pour over them and let it steep for 15 minutes, then strain it into a clean cup. Add a teaspoon of honey, and drink it warm. You can make this up by the gallon and warm it by the cupful on the stove, just make sure to stir it well before pouring.
This mixture of herbs will help with congestion, is a gentle expectorant, and has a lot of vitamins for your lungs to help them heal. One cup has more vitamin C than several oranges! You can get them at an herb store, or buy plants, and keep them on a sunny windowsill.
I hope you feel better soon!Health Question & Answer
Next I suggest you grab a hand full of pine needles off a tree, cut them up and put them in a cup, add a teaspoon of lemon balm for the viral infection. You can also add some rosemary and /or thyme to it too, both help with lung problems. Boil some water and pour over them and let it steep for 15 minutes, then strain it into a clean cup. Add a teaspoon of honey, and drink it warm. You can make this up by the gallon and warm it by the cupful on the stove, just make sure to stir it well before pouring.
This mixture of herbs will help with congestion, is a gentle expectorant, and has a lot of vitamins for your lungs to help them heal. One cup has more vitamin C than several oranges! You can get them at an herb store, or buy plants, and keep them on a sunny windowsill.
I hope you feel better soon!Health Question & Answer