Coughing Before/after Surgery? Can You Share Your Experience?

[SylviaMom 83]

I am recovering from the flu and one of the lingering issues is an occassional cough. No fever, otherwise feeling good. I am scheduled for surgery three days away. Anybody have a cough before/after surgery and if so can you share your experience with recovery and coughing? In particular, I am worried that with my sore middle-section it will make coughing painful and/or do something bad to the sutures/drain/sleeve.

Thanks in advance for any experiences/perspectives.

[bratvp63 118]

I came down with bronchitis three days after surgery and coughed so much. I just kept a small pillow with me to hold on my stomach when I coughed. It wasn't painful, just super annoying. Ended up on antibiotics and cough medicine which really helped but stopped the weight loss for almost two weeks. Everything is better and the weight loss is back to moving very well. Is was at half a pound a day then and up to a pound a day now.

[mommymar 34]

The pillow is the key. (for both cough and vomiting) it hurts but survivable. Also heat. Either warm blankets or heating pad. Good luck!

[JennyB 25]

With my breathing treatments I had to cough (had lung issues after surgery) but they wanted me to cough to break up and move out the junk in my lungs. It wasn't the best feeling in the world, but it has to happen. Like the others said pillows are great!

[SylviaMom 83]

Thank you Bratvp63, mommymar, and JennyB.