BLACK/DARK BROWN SPUTUM

[pestrick]

Please can you help me. I have been bringing up dark sputum for the last 4 months now and worried sick. It is speckled although sometimes larger lumps of dark stuff. I haven't had a cough and have no problems breathing but I can bring up the stuff whenever I try. I have had a chest xray which was clear and had 2 samples taken and both times they said the cell structure is normal and not to worry. If I expectorate it and put it on my finger, I can rub it into my skin and its a noticeable oily tar browny tar like but then disintegrates. The blacker stuff is the same, just a more dense version of that. As I dont cough, I notice it the most right after a meal when the sputum comes up more (dont know why that is). I used to smoke heavily for 15 years but have currently quit and it is worse now than before. (I think nicotine keeps toxins in your lungs, so when you quit it comes up more however:

Apparently it is not tar, this was confirmed by a doctor. You couldnt possibly cough up that much tar.

I've read one person had this and he had been exposed to asbestos, I've never been exposed as far as I know.

I've also read it could be a smoking related version of coal workers' pneumoconiosis , but I also think that is unlikely. Its not clearing and anti biotics have failed to do anything.

Should I just suffer and worry in silence? It seems to me like the doctors are just waiting for there to be a respiratory symptom to develop. What other tests aside from biopsy could a pulmonologist carry out?

Please help.

[kewarre]

Ever figure out what it is?  I'm in the same situation now and wondering what is going on.  I'm going on 2 months of coughing up all this stuff.  Please let me know....

[pestrick]

hi thanks for reply. you were almost right. it wasn't to do with lungs they are clear, the sputum, although not 'clear looking' is clear too. i've been referred to ENT. had biopsy of oesophogus and throat, no lesions, although some ruptures in nasal canal so was sent for barrion sweep. didnt go to that. what they think is though that this is OLD BLOOD, and probably coming from ENLARGED VEINS in the oesophugus, instructions are to return in the next 3 months. no pain, no other symptoms. not food particles though. as for GP - he had no clue

[askingyou]

It sounds like it's coming more from your esophagus rather than your lungs.  Especially like you say after a meal... more like food particles coming up. Do you seem to be getting a lot of particles or gunk on your teeth too?    Go to a store and find digestive enzymes and see if that helps.

You didn't mention what the doctor said it was or did for you besides taking a chest xray.  Be thankful that it is Clear!