I coughed up blood

[Pansypath]

(TMI warning)

I have well controlled asthma and have been really suffering with hayfever last night. Got a coughing fit last night and could feel there was some mucus to come up so I guess I coughed harder to do this and also you get into a coughing rut where one leads to another. Anyway I could feel I wanted to throw up so ran to bathroom. Initially I spat into siunk and it was white and frothy then I retched and made it to the loo and when I looked in the loo there was bright red blood. Definitely from me throwing up - it was 2am so no one was up to use the loo. Today my throat feels sore and I have a very stuffy nose. No temp though (just checked twice and it is 36.3 and my oximeter is 97%). But it feels sore from overcoughing rather than anything else. No chest pains.

Internet search says make GP appt so I will but any advice meantime. I am a bit stressed it means something sinister. I had chest xrays and hospital spirometries etc last year before they put me on Fostair which improved my asthma cough by about 90%.

I coughed up a small amount of blood during a coughing fit last year and was terrified - I saw the doctor and showed him the blood and he said you can break the blood vessels in your nose throat area and that’s what it was. He said he was only concerned if there was more blood and if happened again. He was absolutely right. Was it little streaks of blood?

Hard to tell as was in the bowl but I don't think it was streaks - it had turned the water red and there were splatters on the side, though I know a little blood can go a long way especially in water

Poor you that must have been scary. Have a chat to your gp. I recommend trying to catch coughs in tissue and then you can take a photo and show the GP - makes it much easier for them to understand what’s happening xx

I’ve done this way too often. I have asthma too and when I’ve been coughing too much something in the tract gets sore and bleeds or a blood vessel bursts. I’ve done it at least a few times a year for the last 10+ years so try not to worry. I’m sure if it were anything nasty I’d be gone by now and my doctor never seems concerned

Keep an eye on it and the quantity of blood if you get any more but touch wood it’s a one off

It takes a small amount of blood to colour water red, that it's bright red (fresh) blood is a good sign, would follow up with doctor for peace of mind. Happens to me sometimes, I have dysphagia and often choke/violently cough when swallowing.

Thank you - that is reassuring. It is still sore but I am hoping a good night's sleep will help (she says at gone midnight and still browsing online...) I have a telephone appt with GP booked for Friday morning so at least will know by then whether it has happened again (nothing so far today)

DH in typical man way reminded me today that it is exactly one year since his father called to say he had thrown up blood (and was dead five weeks later from late stage bowel cancer) which was exactly NOT the right thing to say to me an hour after I told him I had coughed up blood in the night. (I do not think I have bowel cancer, just pointing out that it was not a helpful comment!)

Blood from the bowels wouldn't be bright red, more likely to be dark, or like coffee grounds.

yes I know - that is what I told dh. My throat is way less sore after a night's sleep so I think I somehow did damage coughing.