I agree with Ross the more you walk, the faster you will get rid of the fluid AND on your way home. I know is is a PIA when you still have the chest tues in to get your laps around the floor in. What kind of chest tube (s?) do you have? the one with the little plastic bulb at the end or hooked to a plastic box that sites on the floor and has water in it, pleur Evac? IF you have a family member with you, maybe they could help with the walks, when Justin had the bigger pleur evac we put that in a wheelchair to make it easier for him to walk. the little bulbs the nurse put some tape around,the tube making a little tab, that he could just safety pin to his clothes. BUt Hopefully the tubes will be pulled soon and it won't be a problem.
Are you doing your breathing excercises spirometer frequently?
Sorry it sounds like I'm being pushy about walking and breathing. Justin figured out, for him at least, it really helped to walk quite often and even tho he hated it work on the breathing. He says recovering is hard work, but it really pays off. I actually was a little surprised they hadn't had you walking the day they moved you out of ICU.
The coughing sucks. do you have a pillow or something, to hug to your sternum when you have to cough? if so use it, it makes alot of difference.
I'm glad things are going so well