prinxs 41 Posted September 28, 2012 Was anyone else asked to take deep breath and try to cough, so you don't catch pneumonia? It hurts to cough though. Also is the incision and stomach area tight in the morning? Mine feels tight. I had my surgery dorm yesterday. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rojasanoll 920 Posted September 28, 2012 Congratulations! Now on to talking walks to get any gas out of you. Sip lots of Water, take your pain meds and you will be recovering nicely. Best wishes Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lousianalady 44 Posted September 28, 2012 Yes and i didn't so it enough and i did get sick 102.8 fever and lung had Fluid. Make sure i do it a few days, not just 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CarrieBrownsville 55 Posted September 28, 2012 Yes, and although it hurt to coug the first two days, it was quick to dissipate. Keep taking long, deep breaths and you'll see the pain stops soon. Sip, sip, sip! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildrose1966 396 Posted September 28, 2012 Wait til you get that first sneeze - yikes 2 Maddysgram and lassie reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703 Posted September 28, 2012 Yes that's total normal. The reason is twofold- anesthetic and pain killers can depress your respiratory system, resulting in shallow breaths. The second part is you are tubed during surgery, which is an irritant to your airway. It's very common for your lungs to have a build up of mucus after surgery because of these two things. Coughing that mucus up is how you avoid post op pneumonia. It does hurt but it's important to get that stuff up and out of your lungs. Try hugging a pillow when you cough, it helps lessen the pain. 1 PattyGirl66 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
prinxs 41 Posted September 28, 2012 Thank you for all the tips! Missy, you are correct the pillow does help and the coughing keeps bringing mucus up but not enough to spit it out. Also the nurse that called me to check up on me said that drinking fluids will sit in the lungs unless you walk or cough. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703 Posted September 28, 2012 Thank you for all the tips! Missy, you are correct the pillow does help and the coughing keeps bringing mucus up but not enough to spit it out. Also the nurse that called me to check up on me said that drinking fluids will sit in the lungs unless you walk or cough. This will sound gross, but usually when you feel the mucus coughed up but not spit out you've swallowed it. Which is fine, because it's then out of your lungs and will just be digested in your stomach. 1 Maddysgram reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maddysgram 6,159 Posted September 28, 2012 LOL, yes gross but true! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
losingit919 13 Posted September 28, 2012 Was anyone else asked to take deep breath and try to cough' date=' so you don't catch pneumonia? It hurts to cough though. Also is the incision and stomach area tight in the morning? Mine feels tight. I had my surgery dorm yesterday.[/quote'] Yes it helps to clear ur lungs and prevent Fluid. Although it hurts, u will be glad u did it. Welcome to ur new journey! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
prinxs 41 Posted September 28, 2012 This will sound gross' date=' but usually when you feel the mucus coughed up but not spit out you've swallowed it. Which is fine, because it's then out of your lungs and will just be digested in your stomach.[/quote'] Lol yes it's gross but it's out of my lung! Walking helps so much. Everytime I get up to walk the stomach feels stiff. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
prinxs 41 Posted September 28, 2012 Yes it helps to clear ur lungs and prevent Fluid. Although it hurts' date=' u will be glad u did it. Welcome to ur new journey![/quote'] Thank you! It's better to suck up pain from coughing then getting sick. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites