Black Phlegm over two years after I quit crack, is that possible

[Jkwest1]

I smoked crack everyday for a year, almost $800$1000 a day habit.  It's been over two years now since my last hit.  About a year ago I started coughing up black phlegm, it's dark,not brown or red but black in clear phlegm.  I can feel it comes deep from in my lungs, I had a chest X-ray and it showed some inflammation in one area but no growth.  I realize that smoking all that for so long could have gotten a shitload of that gross resin in my kings but I figured by now it would have cleaned most of that out , I mean how long could this go on fore, forever?  I had it looked at one lab here and they said it wasn't organic which I guess means not bacterial, I would not be shocked if it is crack resin but just wondering how long that goes on for and what I can do if anything to clean it out faster and heal my lungs as much as possible.  

[weaver71]

Jinx brings up a good point. Do you know if you were smoking true crack, which is very different than rock cocaine. The $ you were spending makes me think it was rock cocaine, which is made with baking soda, not the ammonia. I know Utah is pretty tough on drugs, so true crack may actually cost a lot more than other places.

[Jinx_777]

the process in which crack is prepared contains ammonia, at least as far as i know.  wondering if that has damaged your lungs???

i would definitely ask your doctor for a CT scan of your lungs ASAP.  
did you say you smoke cigs??

[weaver71]

I just read your other post on a crack thread, so you had x rays and you know it's not organic. So, I was wondering what you do for a living or if you have ever been exposed to asbestos, smog, coal, or other inorganic chemicals that could be the issue. Our lungs are an organ that regenerate and 2 years is enough time that you tissue should all be new by now. When I lived in Los Angeles I used to bike 40 miles a day, but ended up with a smokers cough and had phlegm with black in it and didn't smoke anything, so I know it was do to my environment. I would check your house for black mold, but tests show that it is not organic, though I might get a second opinion on that and check the dark corners of the house and venting systems anyway. Anyway, just trying to brainstorm here, I really think this needs to be checked out and I hate going to doctors. Keep us posted, I am curious.

[weaver71]

I agree with nursegirl, your lungs have healed from the crack abuse. Black phlegm at this point sounds more like blood, not tar. I would make an appointment today to see what is up.

Big congrats, at least you aren't living in the crack insanity. That is quite and accomplishment and huge progress. Hope you figure this out soon.

[nursegirl6572]

That's not normal.

I would recommend seeing a pulmonologist for more comprehensive diagnostic testing.  Make sure you're very honest with the doc too, about your prior habit.  

I would also recommend a VERY thorough medical work-up, possibly an evaluation with a cardiologist as well, to make sure that kind of severe habit didn't cause any other health problems.

Congrats on the two years clean , btw!  Good for you!

Best of luck to you!  Hope you get some answers, and I hope everything is okay!

[ianwojc]

NEVER touched any form

[ianwojc]

i did the same thing.  except my habit was between $ 20 -70 a day over the course of a year and a half  but really only every single day in a row for maybe the last six or seven months till i od'd and just got scared and quit and ive touched any form of coke since.  i remember coughing up black phelm.   i remember the taste of it. but i also know this stopped happening maybe a week after i quit smoking. i dont smoke cigarettes.  i have never coughed up anything unless im working in an attic or dusty room.    that doesnt make sense to me. im assuming you dont smoke cigarettes either? from what you wrote you quit two yrs ago and this started a year ago? if thats what you meant to write then your saying a year went by after u quit then this started it doesnt sound to me like it is much related.    but im no doctor.   you need to go to a dr that specializes in respiratory systems.