RobertS975 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 29, 2023 3:22 pm
Gastro MD here... are you coughing up blood (a tracheo-pulmonary source) or "hawking" up blood as in clearing your throat (indicating a source in the hypopharnx) or refluxing blood ( suggesting an esophageal source)?
Yes, definitely "hawking"
It is the same every time, except for when it gets deep down into my throat, and I feel my chest/throat cracking. Then I have to cough to get it up. I think I have described it as my throat feeling "wet"
The most common thing is waking up, after moving around, I feel like I have a big loogie in my throat, and go "ahem ahem" to bring it up, and it will taste bloody, and there will be streaks of bloody mucus.
Another working theory, as the pulmonologist lookup summer of 2021 was completely clear, they noted some granuloma in my lungs, one near the top windpipe, that might be "sticking out" getting inflamed due to pressure/airflow, but when they did the endoscopy, it could not be seen, they did a lavage as well, negative, though they said I had signs of a few prior infections that had cleared up. Not currently infected.
But, as this has now happened not after a full nights rest, during a nap or after moving in sleep in the middle of the night. I think I just have an excess of mucus that is working its way down my throat, through gravity, and the cpap pressure, and then I clear my throat and it comes up, and that since I am clearing my throat a lot, I have irritated it, and it is bleeding. The bleeding is secondary to being congested/mucusy.
But, I would love to hear your thoughts. I do have a gastro referral, because the pulmonologist noted some cobblestoning of my upper esophagus, and I have always had reflux, (Currently on omeprazole long term), and it would be worth checking that out anyway, as a possible source, since there was at least some evidence of irritation there.
I have no chronic cough, no shortness of breath etc. I really don't think it is lung-related, but unfortunately the ENT was the first person I saw, and they checked things out quickly (I felt) and said to go to a pulmonologist and get a CT, as they could not find a cause.