NationStates Jolt Archive

I've had a bad cold the past couple days. I've been sneezing and coughing, and having some chest pain. Also, I have a really sore throat

Just now, while I was typing my paper, I coughed up some phlegm. It had blood in it. Not a lot, but it had some dark blood in it.

Should I go see a doctor?

Eh? You're coughing up blood. Why are you asking?

Of course you should go see a doctor, TB boy.

Coughing = not too bad
Blood = not too bad
Coughing up blood = Go see a doctor


I would have thought this obvious. The only reason not to is if it is out of reach monetarily (did I spell that right?).

My cousin avoided the doctor while he had some nasty cold symptoms. He eventually started coughing up traces of blood.

He actually had trouble making it to the doctor the next morning.

He spent two nights in the hospital with severe pneumonia. Go to the doctor.

how much blood? what color was it? (dark red, bright red?)

it could be that your throat is raw from coughing, get some cough syrup.

it could be TB, have you been running a fever?

take the cough syrup and go see the dr. tomorrow, don't cough on the elderly or other high risk people on the way either. ;)

Yeah, coughing up blood is one of those doctor-things...

how much blood? what color was it? (dark red, bright red?)


Dark. Like rust colored.

You and I are in the same boat. I've had the exact same symptoms for four days now, coupled with nausea and a low grade temp. I got a prescription for Azithromycin and it seems to be helping. The blood in the phlegm is from you coughing, your throat has probably been coughed raw. I would suggest going to see the doctor to determine its etiology, and also to get a prescription to help with the cough. Cough drops and "Throat Coat" can help you on your way to letting your throat heal.

Keep drinking lots of fluids, and stay away from rough, solid foods so that you lessen the irritation to the throat. Drink some warm tea w/ honey, or try some Jello. Hope you feel better!

Don't let these scaremongers fool you! Coughing up blood is a perfectly normal and healthy activity.

Ask the doctor if you want, but he'll just confirm what I've told you. He's probably coughing up blood himself.

It's the latest thing!

Eeep! :eek:

Probably should go-- hawking up red phlegm (DARK red at that) is never a positive sign in any way.

Never fuck around with head, nose and throat problems(lungs in there ofcourse). Not that you should fuck around any other time, but those especially not.

I've had a bad cold the past couple days. I've been sneezing and coughing, and having some chest pain. Also, I have a really sore throat

Just now, while I was typing my paper, I coughed up some phlegm. It had blood in it. Not a lot, but it had some dark blood in it.

Should I go see a doctor?
with the phlegm..is there any other color to it (ie yellow, green...anything not clear?) If so, then there is something more than a cold going on.

I would suggest cough drops, and that throat coat stuff...it works pretty well, and it sounds like the blood was dry, so probably not fresh.

See a doctor immediatly if there is more blood or it starts showing up bright, otherwise, you could wait till morning.

Here's some common sense:

The answer to that particular question is always yes, always. If you feel that it might be serious enough that you need to ask somebody whether you need to see a doctor, then you do (need to see a doctor)

Generally when blood appears where it doesn't have a use (phlegm, urine, tears, feces) It's doctor time.

with the phlegm..is there any other color to it (ie yellow, green...anything not clear?) If so, then there is something more than a cold going on.

Yes, it is yellow.

Anyway, should I see him tomarrow, or find someone to take me to the hospital now?

Thank god the University subsidizes the first 2 visits to the campus clinic.

Dark. Like rust colored.
that's not from your sore throat, that's from something inside bleeding, like in your lungs, lower esophogus, even maybe stomache GO TO THE DR..........

Yes, it is yellow.

Anyway, should I see him tomarrow, or find someone to take me to the hospital now?

Thank god the University subsidizes the first 2 visits to the campus clinic.

It depends on how bad you feel. But if there is any doubt, go to the doctor now. Pnuemonia is a bitch.

Yes, it is yellow.

Anyway, should I see him tomarrow, or find someone to take me to the hospital now?

Thank god the University subsidizes the first 2 visits to the campus clinic.
okay...that pretty much indicates at the very least you have a sinus infection...I would be careful with campus clinics, they tend to be staffed with hacks.

I would suggest going to some doctor (even if it is campus) heavily. dark red means its from deeper in the breathing tract, and could mean something like pneumonia (sorry, I misread what you said earlier and saw that you said it is rusty colored later on)

Most likely what will happen is they will give you a sample of Z-pak (Azithromycin Dihydrate, also goes under zithromax and a few other brand names). They should give you a sample that either has 3 or 1 pill. with either, that is the only dose you will actually need.

Bright red blood w/sputum means go to the doctor now
Rust coloured, streaked sputum means you can call him tomorrow.

If you have more or equal to 10ml of blood in what you're coughing up you need to go to the ER. Small traces of bright red blood mean that you should at least call the doctor and make an appt for tomorrow. If you're coughing up blood EVERYTIME you cough then you also need to call the doctor and make an appointment.

If you have had occasional small streaks of bright red blood in your sputum and other respiratory symptoms for longer than 48 hours, you can wait 24-26 hours before calling the doctor.

But as always, and what I tell the patients that I see (as an intern), if its uncomfortable then see a doctor as you feel necessary.

doctors are for sinners....swallow a rosary

Dark. Like rust colored.

Probably not TB then, which is good. Blood expelled because of a TB infection comes straight from the lungs, and would be oxygenated to the point of being very bright red. So, you could still have an ugly case of pneumonia, but you don't have tuberculosis. Rejoice, o ye people.

Probably not TB then, which is good. Blood expelled because of a TB infection comes straight from the lungs, and would be oxygenated to the point of being very bright red. So, you could still have an ugly case of pneumonia, but you don't have tuberculosis. Rejoice, o ye people.
Well goodie. At least I know my lungs won't turn into pudding.

Although some pudding does sound good right now.

this may help

http://www.webmd.com/hw/health_guide_atoz/sig56234.asp

chances are you don't have TB...it used to be called "consumption" because it set on slowly (not to mention it wouldn't be a big deal unless you hang around alot of homeless people or druggies)

pneumonia is the next concern

Just go, ASAP!:eek:

You know if it was the 1800s people would have thought this guy a vampire. Just an interesting bit of info.

Yeah, my cousin didn't go the doctor when he had bronchitus, and ended up not being able to raise his voice higher than his normal speaking tone again.
If bronchitus can do this to a person, coughing up blood requires a trip to the doctor.

Well, I'm not coughing up large amounts. That's a good sign.

Well goodie. At least I know my lungs won't turn into pudding.

Always a good thing to know. On the other hand, you still need to go ASAP. Just because TB is pretty much ruled out doesn't mean you don't have anything from severe pneumonia to the avian flu. :eek: I'd see a doctor pronto.

Although some pudding does sound good right now.

I can imagine. Here, have a cookie. [hands over a big plateful]

it could be a sinus infection.

and if youre even thinking of seeing one, go! its not good to play dice with your health, and its always good to be on the safe side

Oooh...I had pnuemonia once, pnuemonia and bronchitis....not pretty....humidifiers...nasty medicine, Bleech. Doctor time.

Oooh...I had pnuemonia once, pnuemonia and bronchitis....not pretty....humidifiers...nasty medicine, Bleech. Doctor time.
Bleech...?

i hope its not pnemonia (sp?) go see a doctor right away! i dont want to scare you too much but this can be life threatening if untreated. in some rare cases, its even life threating if treated.

my mentally challenged friend had it, and died from it. i dont know if he died becuse its really dangerous or because his immunity wasnt as strong as it should have been

good luck

:(

Bleech...?

Get's the blood stains out.

Rust colored blood - something's eating you
yellow sputum - probably lots of white cells trying to fight something

yeah, it sounds like doctor time.

No I'm not an intern but I spent 12 years as a medical lab tech.

I've had a bad cold the past couple days. I've been sneezing and coughing, and having some chest pain. Also, I have a really sore throat

Just now, while I was typing my paper, I coughed up some phlegm. It had blood in it. Not a lot, but it had some dark blood in it.

Should I go see a doctor?
Taking advice from NS "doctors" could end up killing YOU. You are concerned....then go see a doctor....period.

Taking advice from NS "doctors" could end up killing YOU. You are concerned....then go see a doctor....period.

Well, I'd figure I'd get some community advice first. Bleh.

Well, I'd figure I'd get some community advice first. Bleh.
I have read some horror stories about people who took deadly advice from self proclaimed "doctors".

Your choice. Get well!!

I have read some horror stories about people who took deadly advice from self proclaimed "doctors".

Your choice. Get well!!
I think you will notice that everyone seems to agree that seeing a doctor is the best course of action in this case. If people were offering definitive diagnoses and perscribing treatments, I would be more concerned.

I've had a bad cold the past couple days. I've been sneezing and coughing, and having some chest pain. Also, I have a really sore throat

Just now, while I was typing my paper, I coughed up some phlegm. It had blood in it. Not a lot, but it had some dark blood in it.

Should I go see a doctor?

Yeah, you should. Kind of sounds like an ulcer.

If you have to make a post saying "Ummm... Should I see a doctor?" you should go see a doctor. It's that easy.


(pot calling the kettle black - I have had scripts for a cat scan and blood work sitting on my fridge for the last two months)

My dad got a nasty cold one time. He decided not to go to the doctor. Turned out it was lung cancer. He was dead 8 months later.

I've had a bad cold the past couple days. I've been sneezing and coughing, and having some chest pain. Also, I have a really sore throat

Just now, while I was typing my paper, I coughed up some phlegm. It had blood in it. Not a lot, but it had some dark blood in it.

Should I go see a doctor?


I had a similar thing (the blood, and coughing, and phlegm) this summer while staffing at a cadet camp. Went to MIR (the on camp clinic thing). They gave me some cough syrop which didn't do a thing. I eventually went into town and bought a couple bottles of Buckley's, Dayquil and Nyquil as well as a lifetime supply of Extrastrength Halls and Fishermans Friends. That drowned the Shack Hack out pretty quick. Then i just kept using the stuff till I ran out, never had a cough since (I think I've got drugs in my veins).