GreeNish sputum

Chest and lungs
1

Hi,

i have some lung function tests on Monday to see why 7 weeks after bacterial pneumonia i am still bringing up a small to moderate amount of greenish sputum- i think half of it is from my sinuses . My sputum still showed the Heamophilis influenza bug a week before Xmas. I've never had any lung problems in the 10 years since giving up smoking. But looking at Bronchiectasis- maybe i have that. Does anyone produce greenish stuff? Or have any imput? I'm not breathless when i excersize, and i just cough to get get the stuff up. I do think my sinuses are blocked though. Thanks so much in advance.

2

Hi Rachel,

It will need a CT scan to establish if you have Bronchiectasis; it shows up very clearly and a specialist will confirm it. I bring up what you are describing every afternoon regularly, and take regular antibiotics, to keep the inflamation down in my lungs. Hope you get it sorted, do let us all know how the tests go.

3

Thanks Lesley,

can i ask, did your condition come about after a serious illness, and how do you manage day to day? 

The consultant is reluctant to do a ct scan until after the lung function tests. 

He seems to think it's chronic Bronc, but at the moment I'm not breathless. Not sure which condition would be worse.7 weeks ago i'd never even had a chest infection or cough in my entire life.

again thanks in advance

4

Hi Rachel,

Yes, you should do a lung function test; it might be just an infection of some kind. The antibiotics will clear the bacterial infection, and if it doesn't, or keeps coming back...then there is a possibility of bronchiectasis.

I had a recurring infection for many years with courses of antibiotics, and then I had a very bad spell of coughing, and a nasty lung bleed. Fortunately the emergency doctor gave me antibiotics and I went to another doctor who sorted my problem and sent me to a specialist. This was all two years ago and now I am handling things well...I lay down after lunch for a rest and the sputum gurgles up from my lungs after around 10/15 minutes. It really works for me, then find the energy for the rest of the day. I have learned to pace myself, coughing uses up energy and of course I have less space in my lungs for air.

I am quite content as there are many things worse than being a little more tired; let me know how you progress,

Blessings,

Lesley