First heavy cough post surgery!!!

[Ryan CA]

Hooollly COW! I was eating a sandwich today and accidentally inhaled a bread crumb. Before I could react and hold it back, I had one GIANT cough. I am 8 days post surgery and it felt like I had just woken up from the anesthesia all over again. Haha!

Man...try no to cough. When I got home and took off my shirt, I halfway expected to see the wires holding my sternum together, sticking out like manged rebar on a demolished office building. Laughing about it now....but I will sure try not to do that again.

Ryan

 

[Soccermom]

Sneezing is no fun either! Ouch!

 

[spartangator]

Oh yeah, that first sneeze/cough is a memorable one! It'll get your attention, for sure. Glad you have such a good outlook on it all.

 

[epstns]

Just remember - If you're caught without your "heart pillow" and must cough or sneeze, just place both hands flat on your sternum and press back against it as you cough/sneeze. This greatly reduces the perceived pain, and gets you through the moment.

I remember it well - I had a nasty, persistent cough for the first several weeks after surgery, and this saved my sanity.

 

[joel1947]

Thanks for this. All the theoretical and judgmental advice is helpful, but practical advice and warnings are the best.

 

[Ryan CA]

Man, I figured I would have some people to commiserate with me on this one. LOL. I felt like it was going to set my pain level back a few days....luckily, within a few hours I was back to normal. Now my wife wants me to carry my heart pillow with me everywhere!!

 

[river-wear]

I choked on a sip of water in the ICU but that wasn't so bad, being on so many drugs still.

The day after I got out of the hospital I choked on half a potassium pill. I'll never forget that. Gag, choke... get my pillow! Choke, choke, WATER and lots of it!

I've been pinching my nose closed whenever I feel a sneeze coming along. I kind of miss sneezing, but know I'd regret letting it happen, thanks to the advice here.

 

[Freddie]

Personally I found that when you are caught off guard without your pillow and you have a quick choking/cough or sneeze, giving yourself a firm hug helps with the pain. Another little trick that I learned years ago for when you feel that sneeze coming is to lightly rub that "tickle" you feel on your nose.

 

[R1Phrankey]

I can imagine coughing or sneezing are no fun.
Thank god I did not have to sneeze last 6 weeks.

 

[R1Phrankey]

I can imagine coughing or sneezing are no fun.
Thank god I did not have to sneeze last 6 weeks.