Will my chronic cough complicate my recovery?

Hi. I do not have a hysterectomy date yet. I have a dropped uterus, dropped bladder, ovarian cyst, and a rectal hernea. My doctor said I would have a vaginal hysterectomy. I am concerned about my post op recovery because I have an acid reflux related chronic cough. Will the strain of coughing complicate my recovery?

I don't have any answers for you....only hugs. After my surgery, coughing made things very uncomfortable.....I hugged a pillow everytime. And you do have to cough to keep your lungs clear. Talk to your doctor about this.

Hi maw

I ended up having a bad cough prior to my surgery - there was some concern that it would end up delaying it...I had to have my lungs xrayed the day before. They diagnosed me with slight asthmatic bronchitis - to me it was just a cold. I was lucky and the surgery went ahead.

Your surgeon should be aware of your reflux and your cough...also at the pre-op appointment they ask about acid reflux - so discuss it. In addition, the anaesthesiologist needs to be aware - they can use different things during the surgery to help you...

After the surgery, I continued to cough for about two weeks - although annoying, it didn't cause me any severe pain or affect my recovery - at least as far as I know - (i'm at 3 and a half weeks from a LAVH). Hold a pillow over your abdomen when you cough - it can help... I have heard from some ladies that coughing does hurt...not sure if this is ladies who have had a TAH or other types of surgeries...it sounds like you may also be having some repairs during your hysterectomy - so I am not sure how a cough will impact your healing in this area...

Also take it easy after your surgery...listen to your body and allow it to heal...I recommend discussing your concerns with your doctors...

Best of luck to you!

Hi maw212,

I had a cold before my TAH which then developed into a cough post op. I used a pillow against my incision to try and cushion it, but found that it did hurt. This was mostly because the nurse at my GP surgery wouldn't take my stitches out when the consultant said they should come out. She made me keep them in for an extra 4 days as it was an abdominal surgery. This meant the stitches pulled in one place every time I coughed, which made that (small) place take longer to heal.

I'd talk to your doctor about it and see what they recommend. I went to see my GP and was given an inhaler with a spacer to try and combat the cough, when cough medicine hadn't worked. He also said my cough could be due to only having over the counter painkillers after I came out of hospital, so he prescribed me some stronger painkillers. I don't know why this would have caused me to cough, but I tried it anyway!

Are you taking something for the reflux?? I also had a chronic cough and ended up having some extensive pulmonary testing done only to find out that I had reflux. Once I started the meds for the reflux the cough was gone.---L