first time member with questions about symptoms 7 weeks after surgery

[artifx]

Hello -
I am a 48 year old with a bovine aortic valve replacement. Although my recovery has been steadily improving (in 7th week), I noticed that on occaision my lungs "rattle" a bit and I get a dry cough ... like I did during the first week or so following surgery. Can anyone tell me if this is common, and where I might read up more on the longer tern effects/symptoms that follow such a surgery?

Thanks!

 

[Nancy]

Hi and welcome-

This is a terrific site for support and information.

It would be best to have your doctor listen to the "rattle" in your chest. It could be rales, or not. It's always best to be safe. If it's fluid, you surely will want to know and have it taken care of.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Hello Artifax,

Best to get it checked out. You may even want to call the 'on call' Cardiologist over the weekend and at least describe what you are hearing / feeling. If you have fluid retention in your lungs, it needs to be treated ASAP.

Some medications, especially ACE Inhibitors, can produce a 'dry cough' after several weeks. Sometimes switching to a different one can eliminate this annoying 'side effect'.

'AL'

 

[artifx]

Lung rattling post surgery (7th week)

Lung rattling post surgery (7th week)

Thanks so much for the responses, Nancy and Al.

Nancy, you mentioned "rales" - what's that?

And Al, I will certainly check in with the doc.

So glad to find a sight like this. It's nice to know there are others who have gone (or are going through) the same thing!

 

[MarciaB]

There seems to be some recovery stuff that kick in around the 6th week. I'm almost 6 weeks out, and sometimes I notice weirdness in my lungs, sort of SOB, but not really, sort of congested, but not really. Others have complained of stuff around this time. I would check with the docs. If they say don't worry, I wouldn't unless it gets worse or doesn't get better. Nancy knows better, but I think rales is a ragged sound in your lungs from fluid build up. It would be a step beyond congestion.

Marcia

 

[fisher6476]

Glad you found us. Always best to get checked out if you have a concern. It is intersting, I am 6 weeks out from aortic valve replacement and got a good report from my follow up with surgeon on Thursday, yet I have some Chest discomfort that is "different" somehow than the disscomfort I have had so far. I know that it is muscular in nature and as I think about I sure the body changes a lot as it goes through the different stages of healing.

 

[Marge]

<< Rales (crackles or crepitations) are small clicking, bubbling, or rattling sounds in a portion of the lung. They occur when air moves through fluid-filled airways. Rales are further described as moist, dry, whistling, fine, coarse, or other descriptions. >>

More on lung sounds at:

http://www.healthcentral.com/mhc/top/003323.cfm

 

[medtronic of borg]

lungs

lungs

Go see your Dr!!!!

Med

 

[catwoman]

Rales?

Rales?

Is rales the same as pneumothorax?

 

[LoriZee]

Fisher

Fisher

Those wierd feelings in your chest: I remember hearing a crackling sound, but it actually were the bones mending together.
After all the ribs were cracked , it takes time to get used to all these diffeent noises.....

Please see your doctor ASAP.

Lorraine

 

[Peachy]

Catwoman

Pneumothorax is a collapsed lung. I had this after my surgery shortly after they removed the breathing tube. Said it was caused during the op when inserting tubes etc and one of them must have touched my lung. This set my recovery back slightly as I had to have a tube in to reinflate my lung which took around 4 days. Artifx best go and see your Dr.