Question:
Cough after surgery

I'm 10 days out of having an RNY and still have a deep, non productive cough. The dr's office knows about it and just tells me to splint myself when I cough, but I'm wondering why I still have it? I did my incintinve spriometer as instructed. I don't want to tear my stitches open and am very worried about that. Any advice?    — suzannem (posted on December 9, 2007)

December 8, 2007
This seems like a long time for a postop cough, but I don't know if you have any conditions (such as smoking before surgery) that may influence this. If it were me I think I'd feel better if a chest x-ray was done to make sure there's nothing else going on, and if my surgeon wouldn't do it I would as my primary care to. Let me know how you make out!
   — obeseforever

December 9, 2007
I HAD A TERRIBLE COUGH BEFORE SURGERY FOR 2 MONTHS AND WAS TAKING MUCINEX WHICH HELPED CLEAR MY CHEST ALOT AND AS SOON AS I WAS OUT OF SURGERY THE COUGHING BEGAN AGAIN, IT MADE MY STOMACH SO SORE. THE DR DIDN'T SEEM TOO WORRIED ABOUT IT, I COUGH FROM ALLERGIES MOSTLY AND I WASN'T TAKING MY ALLERGY MEDICINE BUT NOW IT'S STOPPED ALOT. HOPE YOU GET TO FEELING BETTER, GOD BLESS, DEBI
   — DEBI R.

December 9, 2007
I too had a dry cough for a couple of weeks. That tube dowm my throat damaged my uvala (sp). Try drinking more water. Good luck. Pat
   — pjennjr

December 10, 2007
Hi, my cough lasted for about 4 weeks. Due to the intubation, and it is common. Thinking that I had bronchitis, my PCP put me on a 5 day regime of prednisone. That did help, but not completely. I had to be very careful to do the antacid thing with it so that it did not damage the pouch. When I went back for my first check up with surgeon he told me that the cough was common no matter what you do to prevent it if the uvula was agitated or damaged. It passes. Good luck to you and congratulations on your road to a new and better life!!!
   — dessary316