How common is this " coughing " issue after mini stern ? That I am reading about

[Nancy jane]

How common is this " coughing " issue after mini stern ? That I am reading about

Whats the deal with coughing ? Common? Goes away quickly ? Thx nancy

 

[Nancy jane]

And I'd really like to hear from those who had the mini sternotomy - how bad- good was - is it ? thx for your help.

 

[Jason]

Sorry I can't help you, Nancy. I didn't have any sort of coughing after surgery, nor did I have a mini-sternotomy. I have the big scar and never did have any coughing fits. I did try to sneeze once before I should have, and that hurt! Hope someone else comes by with your answer.

 

[DanielB]

Hi Nancy,

I tyoo have the 'big scar' and no real coughing issues. The one thing I ran into was air in my stomach after the surgery and a new tendency to get short spans of hiccups after swollwing much more often than before the surgery. It still happens, did this morning three weeks post surgery. I did the same for it as with a cough though - herld that cough pillow tight against my chest until it pssed. That helped a lot.

Dan

 

[Luana]

Coughing is extremely common after any surgery from being on anesthesia. I had a thoracotomy and coughing was about the only time I felt any discomfort from the incision.

 

[Jkm7]

I had full sternal incision my first OHS.
Four years later when I needed second OHS, I went to same surgeon and he offered me choice of full sternal opening or mini and I opted for full again and am happy for that choice. I healed great and though that scar was opened twice, there are portions I can hardly even see and it's only three years out.

I had a little post op coughing the first time for about a week or so. The second time, I had just about no cough at all.

 

[epstns]

Nancy,

I had a full sternotomy, but with a shorter scar. (I think they do this by stretching the skin rather than cutting farther.) I don't think the type of sternotomy you have has much to do with cough. I had a nasty cough for over a month post-op, and even now at 8 months out I still have some cough. At the moment, I believe my cough is due to side effects of a beta blocker, but that has not been confirmed. At least the worst of the cough "only" lasted about a month or two. . .

 

[ottagal]

Same as Steve. I had a cough for a good 6 weeks after surgery. However, I was also dealing with shortness of breath from some pulmonary issues. The cough finally went away slowly but surely.

 

[Lily]

Sorry, I don't know either.
I had a full sternotomy and didn't cough or sneeze for a couple or few months post-op. But be prepared for any coughing or sneezing, even that length of time later; I wasn't prepared for my first sneeze and -- WOW -- it was very painful!