I have developed a cough and i'm worried i can hurt myself coughing.

Hi! I am almost 2 weeks post op and i have been getting this tickle in my throat that makes me cough. It really hurts when i do cough and i try to hold a pillow to my tummy to help it from hurting so much. It isn't constant but it is often. I haven''t taken the pain meds in the day because it makes me sleep and i don't get to drink my shakes or water and i feel very tired and weak. Can anyone give me suggestions.

Did you get a binder at the hospital? I wore mine often in the first 3-4 weeks after surgery. Might also call to ask your nurse/doctor what cough or throat soothing medications are appropriate for you.

I'm five days out and have been getting tickles in my throat every time I sleep. My care coordinator said it won't hurt the incisions. It just hurts when it happens. On another note, I've found that hiccups hurt way worse than coughing.

I came home from the hospital with a cough after my RNY surgery. I was fine, I think you'll be fine too. I found my pain medication actually doubled as a cough suppressant. If you're beyond the point where you need pain meds, maybe ask your doctor about a cough suppressant. They might be able to give you one if the good, prescription ones, so you won't have too much pain when coughing.

No, you wont hurt yourself with normal coughing. (Did they not encourage you to cough when you were first out of surgery to help avoid getting pneumonia?) Unless you develop a significant, deep cough (in which case, you need to see a doctor anyway), you will not hurt anything.  Yes, it hurts to cough.  That is to be expected for a few weeks after surgery.  I would suggest finding some SF lozenges (or even SF cough drops) to get rid of the tickle...

Did you use an incentive spirometer to do breathing "exercises" when you were in the hospital, BTW?

Lora

Thank you for all your help with my question. It has gotten better and hurts less now. I just was scared to hurt myself. I miss food alot and im tired. I have always been an active person. It depresses me and the days are long. This is definitly not the easy way out!! I salute each and every one of you that have done this before me! We Rock. Bless you and thank you again

Did you get a spirometer before surgery or when you were in the hospital? Most of us are instructed to take it home and do the breathing into it to get the anesthesia out of our lungs and limit coughing. Call your doc. You may need something to make the cough go away - you don't want to rip out any sutures inside. the pillow is a great idea and will help a lot. At 2 weeks out you probably don't need the pain meds anymore - get on a good eating/drinking schedule and you'll feel better. We have a lot of stored fat our bodies can use in the beginning if we don't get the required amount of nutrition right away. It comes with time. Walk more and get your lungs cleared and get some fresh air. Call your doc about the coughing - he may want to see you.

Jen 11+ yrs post op RNY