Lung "issues" :(

[toki]

Hi all,

My first post here. I'm 33, gave up smoking a few months ago, started at 19. Smoked about a pack a day, on-and-off (mostly on). I've always been obsessed with cancer. When I was in my early twenties I'd constantly be at the Dr's or at A&E trying to get a chest X-ray. I coughed up blood streaked sputum a couple of times back then, and it freaked me the hell out.

Well - I've been obsessing about lung cancer again since I got a cough about a month ago. It started with a sore throat and a chest infection (coughing up phlegm with "that taste" each morning). After a day or two, that subsided, but for the past three weeks, I've had this feeling in my throat like I need to cough something up, but can't - I just dry cough when I do. Except for after eating. But I'm trying to make myself cough so I can inspect it. Each day I do this, cough onto tissue, inspect it. I've given up smoking so I'm seeing little black/grey bits - I expected that.

However today... My god... I coughed into my tissue after dinner and saw about a teaspoon full of red blood. I freaked the hell out. I almost went straight to A&E. But I haven't - yet. For the next 20/30 minutes or so I kept trying to make myself cough, and kept seeing blood stained sputum. It went away after that and hasn't repeated itself. I still feel like I "need to cough something up".

One part of me thinks I've still got a residual chest infection (I never went and got antibiotics). My glands are up a bit but I have large palpable glands all the time (I've been feeling them since I was 15 - I should know their size). I always ache too, but that has been going on for 10 years. The other part of me thinks I'm dying.

I'm going out of my mind. And rambling. Gah!

I'm going to the A&E tomorrow evening to get a chest X-ray - the only reason I didn't go tonight is I've got my kids over and I don't want to freak them out (they go back to the Ex-missus tomorrow). My partner is really supportive and is taking me to A&E.

I'm on Epilem for Bipolar, Seroquel for anxiety, and Mirtazapine for depression. I'm a big bottle of crazy, and at the moment, I'm bubbling over!

I think I'm just making things worse - forcing myself to cough, and feeling something that might not even be there. If I clear my throat I get a little phlegm. Maybe throat cancer? Gah!

:(

---------- Post added at 00:59 ---------- Previous post was at 00:16 ----------

I've been reading more and really just hope it was a torn blood vessel from forcing myself to cough for weeks.

[flori]

I agree with your last sentence toki. Forcing yourself to cough like that will make you spit up blood. You will be bursting small blood vessels.

[joelhall]

Having a cough for a few months after stopping smoking is not uncommon. Many people believe they have a chest infection it can be so bad. This is the beginning of recovery of the cilia in the airway and surfaces of the bronchioles.

It may be nothing, or as you say it could be simply a damaged vessel from the constant coughing, which isn't unusual. Either way, I'm glad you are going to see a doctor tomorrow, which is precisely what I would recommend you do. In the mean time, please stop making yourself cough - it will do more harm than good.

[toki]

Thanks for the replies :)

I went to A&E this evening and had a CXR which came back clear. The doctor was really understanding of my HA and had his boss check the X-Ray too just to put my mind at ease. He gave me some antibiotics in case there is some residual infection there, but to be honest I think I'm just giving myself the cough...

Also had full blood work done, all of which came back clear too.

Time for sleep. Might actually be able to rest properly tonight too!

Cheers