Any suggestions for how to handle sneezing post op?

[Frederic 500]

I had my surgery a week ago tomorrow and I seem to be healing fine. No bleeding from the incision sites no problems swallowing or following the liquid diet other than trying to get enough Protein in. Lost about 10.5 lbs this last week and no issues with hunger. Haven't needed pain meds for the last 2 days.

But when I sneeze one of my incisions feels like it's getting a hot poker inserted and I expect to find the suture torn wide open when I check it out. The pain goes away quickly and then just tingles for a few minutes afterward and there doesn't appear to be any actual tearing.

So any suggestions from anyone who had a simliar experience?

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

Find a nice sized pillow and hug it tight when you sneeze. Same trick works for coughing, too.

Hang in there, you'll be feeling a lot better very soon!

[Frederic 500]

actually other than the sneezing and some minor pain if I try bending at the waist or twisting my torso I'm feeling pretty good. I really want to try jogging for just a minute or two at a time while I'm on my walks but the surgeon was very adamant about absolutely no running until week 6.

[bandedgirlxo 8]

listen to the surgeon- definitely do not run.

coughing & sneezing into a pillow is the best way to feel less pain

[Mellzbellz21 21]

I've found that hugging a pillow to the port site, where all my pain is, and putting pressure there while I sneeze or cough helps. What's hardest for me is laughing- my husband does the funniest stuff to try to cheer me and lift my spirits, and I'm like "NOOOOOOOOOOO don't make me laugh!" It hurts so bad!

[Frederic 500]

Actually the day after I posted this I no longer felt any pain coughing and sneezing still hurts but it's much less painful (more like being punched than stabbed). I'm guessing I had a minor adhesion and the sneezing tore it free so it's healing in a proper position now but I'm watching for any signs of bruising to make sure something that sholdn't have tore free.

[ireallywannabthin 286]

Ok this is going to sound weird but I didn't sneeze for I think a week after surgery! Haha. I did cough though and just like Missy said, I used a pillow to press against my belly, but I also didn't cough as hard because it hurt me. I did a lot of clearing my throat and that helped me! After a while I forgot the pain I was in from coughing and coughed regularly without any problems.