Pre-op Head cold and cough, post-op effects?

[Facing50 21]

Hello all,

Am scheduled for surgery on Jan. 2d. I have had a cough for the last couple of days, today I also developed a cold (runny nose/congestion), sore throat, and the cough is worse. According to the facilitator it should be ok as long as I do not develop a fever, plus they put you on antibiotics after the surgery.

My questions: the cough is pretty bad. It seems as if it would hurt like *^&% to be doing it consistently post-op with stitches to add to the equation. Also, I'm worried that the cold will generally slow down recovery and make it feel worse all round. My sister (an anesthesiologist) says that generally a cold will do that but that most docs proceed on a case by case basis.

Did anyone have a cold/bad cough post-op? In retrospect, would you have rescheduled?

[joatsaint 2,814]

I was on the downside of a cold pre-op. I have had some mild coughing, but it actually worked to my benefit. The coughing helps move the gas out of your system. The holes they poked in me don't actually hurt. The pain comes from the gas trapped in my stomach and the gas trapped between my organs and chest. I wouldn't have rescheduled knowing what I know now.

[Facing50 21]

Thank you so much for the response, that helps a lot. I was imagining bursting through stitches or something equally awful and improbable the way you do in cases like this.

[Victoria Badu 5]

I was just sleeve on 12-11-12 with a cough,and it hurt like hell to cough.i was almost crying at some point.yes it help to move the gas fast but it also really hurt.good luck

[Facing50 21]

Thanks for your reply, Victoria, not looking forward to that. But I just confirmed the date an hour ago, so I am going to suck it up and hope that is not a big mistake. How long did that extreme/crying inducing pain last? Do you think that the coughing/cold slowed your recovery?

[Victoria Badu 5]

The coughing did not slow down my recovery but I had to hold a pillow on my side where the stomach was taking out so that i could cough,yes,it was that bad but no regrets and you know i will do the same thing again in a heart beat. it lasted about 5days after surgery.i will be thinking about you and I hope everything goes well.

[Facing50 21]

Thank you, VIctoria! I will take all the good wishes I can get. Good luck to you in your recovery as well. Just think, this time next year all this will be a distant memory and we'll be ready to toast in the New Year like everyone else.

[mizzzliza 113]

I was told this is elective surgery and they will cancel it if I even have sniffles. I'm going out today and stocking up on zicam to take in addition to the airborne I'm already taking.

[Victoria Badu 5]

Thank you too@facing50,yes this time next year we will be toasting to better health.i had a cold but they told me as far as I don't have mucus coming out they will do it and they did.life is too short for me to be sitting around waiting for some cold to go away lol