Need to cough after TT?

I really need to cough but I'm afraid of tearing the stomach muscle stitches so I keep trying to stifle my coughing. I'm drinking water and sucking on mints to keep from coughing but I do need to cough. I've placed a pillow on my stomach and tried to cough that way but it's mostly numb so really can't tell if that will work or not. I would think that the muscles are stitched very securely but I am so afraid of pulling them loose. I don't mind the pain that comes with the coughing it's just the stitching that I'm afraid of messing up. Sorry if this sounds like a stupid question but I am having no troubles at all with my TT and BR/BL procedures that were done on 12-15, pulled out my pain pump this morning and my drains are slowing down, have slept in my bed from 1st day home on 12-16, almost standing upright already, everything looks good but I'm afraid of pulling something loose inside. Thanks for any advice.

The pillow will do the trick. Just pull it in close & press it when you need to cough or sneeze.Those muscles are pretty secure so no worries. Good luck to you.

I felt the same way. It too much too. Every time I neded to cough I would drink something instead. Worked pretty well. But I had residual gunk in my chest from surgery that I needed to get out, so I had to cough it up as gently as I could. Still hurt like hell but with the aid of a rolled-up towel to brace myself on (I needed something harder than a pillow), I did ok.

I had to cough too after my tummy tuck in August.It does hurt but thye longer you heal the less sore it will be.Take a pillow and put it against your stomack to relieive the soreness and also try not to laugh or sneeze.That will also hurt.............bob

Jane, I think I'll try the towel thing because with the drains in the way I can't get the pillow in tight enough. I have some tightness in my chest and when I can sort of cough there is loose gook (rattle) that needs to come out but I can't get a good cough out. Oh Bob now I'll have to worry about laughing and sneezing. I think I'm being such a wuz about coughing and I think I'm pretty pain tolerant but I'm just scared of tearing something loose and having internal bleeding. I appreciate everyones advice, I know you've all been there which means it can and has been done before. Thanks

My biggest fear is sneezing. Everytime I sneeze I feel like I'm going to die. I really thought I tore something, but the dr put my mind at ease.

A short time after expressing my fear of this in the last post, I suddenly sneezed and oh my, I thought I had for sure pulled everything loose. It was such a burning sensation but everything seems to be intact. Do you guys think that if I would take my pain medicine (Lortab) that I would not feel as much pain during a cough or would it make any difference. I do have some pain in my breast and some discomfort where the drains go in but I don't think I need pain meds at this point but if it would help I would take it. Right now I'm only taking my prescribed antibiotic (Keflex).

when i came home...i refused to cough LOL they all thought i was nuts... i held it in and held it in .... i think i only coughed once since surgery and thats cause i puked in my sleep and choked on my vomit LOL ohh well.. feel better soon

I had a slight bacterial infection after my thighplasty and LBL. Yes, I too was scared with coughing but laughing and sneezing were way worse. Instead of drinking when you feel it coming on, try the Chloroseptic Throat numbing spray (not sure if that's the real name). The numbness helped the itch to cough go away. It was my life saver!