Coughing and sneezing inevitable?

[Tucsonan]

I want to be mentally ready to the post op coughing and sneezing that peple talk about. Is it only some of the times that this happen or is it a common experience to most of you? Will appreciate your comments.
By the way, has anyone tried accupuncture to deal with the pain after surgery?

 

[Mary]

You'll be encouraged to cough. Your lungs are collapsed during surgery, and many times you'll have mucus trapped there. You'll have to cough to expel it.

Regarding sneezing, it didn't hurt me nearly as much as a cough did. But you can always follow Tobagotwo's advice and pinch your nostrils together when you feel a sneeze coming on.

So yes, you will cough. Perhaps you will sneeze.

I have not heard of anyone trying accupuncture, but I would love to hear from someone who has.
Mary

 

[geebee]

Coughing is inevitable because they make you cough to get the junk out of your lungs. This type of surgery can cause pneumonia (sp?) if fluid settles in the lungs so you are forced to breathe and then cough up any stuff. That hurts and requires pillows, blankets, heart-huggers, whatever is available to keep the pain to a minimum.

Sneezing isn't a definite but it is unlikely you will go 6-8 weeks without at least one sneeze. Believe me, you want to be prepared.

However, your chest will NOT burst open (no Alien movie stuff here), it merely feels like it. You will also very quickly find the best way to keep the pain away.

Sorry if this creates concern but I don't want to sugarcoat it.

 

[Jamboesque]

Coughing, Laughings & Sneezeses

Coughing, Laughings & Sneezeses

Being a non-smoker and having a really clean pair of lungs, coughing was never an issue with me. Never had to use the breathing thingy (cant remember what it was called) either.

I did sneeze, once, about ten days after surgery, the pain was almost impossible to quantify, but only peaked for an infintessimaly short period then decayed very quickly, very interesting experience, and having done once you tend to avoid sneezing for a while

Laughing, strangely is the same, I was watching a TV program with my friends and had to cover my ears so I couldn't hear it, it was hurting so much!!!!
Also went to see Bridget Jones Diary at the cinema about a month after the hospital and was aching with laughter so much I was holding myself, but as they say Laughter is the best Medicine..........

 

[Bionic Valve Tim]

Before my surgery, I never thought I sneezed much--turns out, I just didn't notice them because they weren't usually accompanied by pain

No way to avoid it, that's for sure. My nurses gave me a "therapeutic pillow" to clutch when I coughed or sneezed. I suppose it helped, but possibly more from the mental standpoint (think "blankie").

Tim

 

[hensylee]

tHEY GIVE YOU THIS pillow when you come out of surgery and are again 'at yourself'. Think of it as your very best friend. Carry it with you everywhere, including/especially the bathroom. Grasp it, clutch it, talk to it, love it. There is no comparison to our pillow connection after heart surgery. You will remember it with fondness ever after.

Coughing - the nurse makes you. They also make you use the spirometer all the time - they really bug you on this one, but it does help clear your lungs and help to keep them clear. But it isn't a big deal.

You may not sneeze at all in the hospital. Mine first occurred when I was alone in my room at home. Janie once coined the phrase 'evil sneeze' and that is the most correct description I have ever heard and it sorta sticks with after heart surgery sneezes. You might get lucky and never have one at all, but try not to let one catch you unawares - do all you can to stop it. pRESS Your area below your nose and that stops sneezes.

These two things (coughing & sneezing) are really unimportant compared with the rest of recuperation and don't even happen all that much so please don't let us scare you. We just sorta have fun with it from time to time, but it's truly not an important issue at all. In the normal scheme of things.

 

[Ross]

Lets put it this way, if you manage to sneeze or suffer a round of rapid fire sneezing like I did, your going to be in tears for a bit. It hurts. Coughing wasn't a real big deal.

Jamboesque, how did you ever get away with not using your spirometer? You mean to tell me they didn't have some huge ugly linebacker nurse standing over you, making you use it every hour?

 

[Karlynn]

Coughing and sneezing can be the stuff of nightmares after OHS. Make good friends with a pillow. You will almost instinctively press it to your chest when you feel a cough or sneeze coming on.

As many mentioned - they will make you cough in the hospital. Don't avoid it or you'll possibly end up with pneumonia.

 

[Tucsonan]

Wonderful support

Wonderful support

Thanks for your replies. I find that, as I learn about your experiences, layers of fear and concern are lifted. It's good to know that you are talking from actual experience and not only from theory. I am paying attention to the pillow, when my time comes. Bless you. Tucsonan

 

[Barry]

I don't recall coughing very frequenty after OHS, but I do remember that it was very painful when I did. But it's really no big deal. Pain is transient. I found that boredom was a bigger problem than pain post-op.

 

[Jamboesque]

Jamboesque, how did you ever get away with not using your spirometer? You mean to tell me they didn't have some huge ugly linebacker nurse standing over you, making you use it every hour?

Ross,

I can't think why I never got got one of those spiro-thingys (I remember what it was now), every guy on the ward got one, and was encouraged, linebacker nurse assisted if required, to use it.

Maybe, and this is a big maybe, could it it be that I had A1 lung function, with no previous lung problems, I just don't know. I never needed to do the expectorant cough exercise, with the crossed arms and pillow, well maybe once in the ICU but that was it

I was determined to give myself the best chance of recovery so I basically went into training prior the op, so I was in the best condition I could be.

Every other patient in the ward was older and most if not all smoked, I think I had about 50 cigarettes when I was 14, couldn't see the point of it, still can't.

Anybody any ideas?

 

[Tony]

They gave me a personal "Teddy Bear" instead of a pillow to hug when the nurse came in and directed me to cough.
The spirometer was also a take home item and I used it for the first few days at home.

 

[starkone]

Sneezing......whoa!

Sneezing......whoa!

I am 4 months post op....seems like ages ago! I definitely remember the coughing and sneezing. Actually coughing was a piece of cake compared with the sneeze! I never had the breathing thing either. Brigham said they gave up on them cause no one used it correctly anyway. I did fine without....but like some others I had no real lung issues going in.
My husband can vouch for how I panicked when a sneeze was coming!
The coughing comes naturally cause you have to clear stuff that way!
I wouldn't worry about it...the pain is short lived and I can now do either one with no problem.
I think I was a bit of an anomally cause I slept on my back from day one. I did use a recliner in the day but not for bed time. I also had minimally invasive surgery so that could play into the easier recovery.
Good luck to you....don't worry....it isn't a walk in the park but it is over rather quickly for most of us!
Hugs,
Karen

 

[Marcus]

Sneezing was worse than coughing

Sneezing was worse than coughing

Neither is that bad though. After the first couple days, it's not bad at all. You'll be fine.