Carol,
I had something similar happen shortly after 3 weeks post-op with the same symptoms, except my cough was dry and I couldn't bring anything up. I went to the regular doc and she said I had asthma and put me on an albuterol nebulizer. It didn't do anything so I called my cardiologist and she put me on a Medrol Dosepak (a tapered steroid over 6 days. The major cough was gone by the end of the steroid treatment and the residual cough I had was gone a week later. I think I had coughed so much my lungs were inflamed which just caused more coughing. The steroids reduced the inflammation. They also put me on a cough syrup to quiet my cough which also helped to reduce the inflammation in my lungs. Stay on top of this. If it doesn't go away you probably need to go on antibiotics ASAP just in case it is bacterial instead of viral. Bacterial bronchitis can lead to endocarditis if not treated and left to "fester".
