Hemoptysis

[Guest]

I had bronchitis at the end of last year. Since then I have had mild
but persistent bronchial irritation, constant purulent sputum and
(what seems like) hemoptysis. What's strange is that these conditions
persist even though I have not been coughing at all.

I noticed two different types of hemoptysis:
dull red (dark brown) stuff mixed in purulent sputum.
bright red strings in clear sputum. (may be that's from the nose..)

Since the bronchitis, I have been experiencing cycles of flue-like
symptoms (headache, fatigue) followed by increased bronchial irritation.

I am 36-year old male, have never smoked and have been a competitive
cyclist. Chest X-ray and lung function tests are normal.

history:
11/30 contract bronchitis. no treatment.
12/25 coughing subsides
1/13 come down with flu-like symptom. irritation of bronchi, sputum starts.
3/8 drug treatments: Amoxicillin (1 week), Albuterol + Azmacort (4 weeks)
4/1 switch to AdvairDiskus (fluticasone propionate, salmeterol inhalation powder)
4/19 inhaler helped but symptoms above mentioned symptoms persist

that's the next step in treatment?

thanks

[Guest]

I trust by now you have seen a pulmonologist. Certainly you should be feeling better by now if this was simply bronchitis. The hemoptysis you describe can all be from the nose with the dark brown stuff coming from post nasal drip. An evaluation by an ENT physician may be helpful to exclude that as a possiblity. Allergy testing and a test to determine if you have something called reactive airway disease may also help at this time. All of these of course should be discussed with your physician as he or she knows you best and can determine the best course from here.
[quote] I had bronchitis at the end of last year. Since then I have had mild
but persistent bronchial irritation, constant purulent sputum and
(what seems like) hemoptysis... [/quote]