Coughing up Blood - Rare Disorders Message Board

ciship · 05-16-2003, 01:05 PM

My husband has been coughing up blood for the past four years. When this happens (every six months or so)he gets tremendous chest pressure like a truck sitting on top of him. He has contractions of pain (screaming) like a woman has with birth labor pains. He is only 36 years old. He has seen ALL specialists from head to toe and is constantly in and out of ICU where they NEVER find anything wrong with him OR the source of where the blood is coming from. They have checked entire head, chest, stomach, lungs, MRI's, Laser scans, unusual blood cell tests, on and on and on.....nothing!! We pay $48,000 everytime he goes in the hospital with this which is about twice a year.

Does anyone have any ideas?

rach923 · 06-08-2003, 10:21 PM

you know, i don't have alot of ideas, but that is scary...i know some things that might cause that, but i doubt that you haven't heard of them already...if you have, then atleast this post will bump up your topic

tuberculosis last stages are marked by excessive blood and mucous expectorating

sometimes with stomach problems such as ulcers or lesions the bleeding in the digestive tract can get coughed up

also, if he keeps coughing and coughing and coughing, then chances are the bleeding is caused by the irritation in his system from coughing, which causes more blood, which creates a need to cough more, which makes more blood, and the cycle goes on

however, the other two ideas at the top are generally life-threatening, and since he's had this for four years, there probably not the problem, but, just thought i'd give all i could think of!

rachael

BrianKosh · 06-22-2003, 08:01 PM

Uhh, Ok, This won't help but I was wondering, what about Pleurisy? I know u said four years, and I have no clue if Pleurisy can be chronic.. ( And I assume he was checked for asbestosis, and all that stuff... )

[This message has been edited by BrianKosh (edited 06-22-2003).]

zuzu8 · 06-24-2003, 03:21 AM

ciship-
Given that many doctors over these last 4 years have seen your husband, I'm wondering if you could tell us what they have ruled OUT...and then we might be able to do some more digging for you from there!

ciship · 06-24-2003, 06:25 AM

I don't know the names of all the tests but I will do my best. He has had MRI's and cat scans of course (over and over again). He has had pulmonary brochioscopes (over and over again). They have done the endioscopies looking for ulcers and such. They have done the colonoscopies. Tested for stomach problems, tuberculosis, etc...) They have done nuclear testing (whatever that means). That's all I can think of for now....but, there are dozens more.

Something I have been noticing lately. If he works out with heavy weights (he likes to stay in shape) he has a blood attack. He took a VERY heavy tv down to the basement over the weekend and as soon as he set it down on the floor, blood came flying out of his mouth. Soooo, obviously the strain of lifting causes this problem to get irritated.

Thanks for everyones help......please keep on thinking!