Sneezing and coughing after bypass

[SRDS]

Hello lovely people!

Many of you will recognise this difficulty. After bypass, coughing and sneezing is excruciatingly painful, my husband mentioned.

The other day a sneeze took him bu surprise and God the pain he looked to be facing! I felt soooooo helpless! It happened in the afternoon and poor thing could not sleep at all that night. Does anyone know how long these surprise sneezes will be painful for him? He can control the ones he sees coming, but the the ones that catch him by surprise....

He is also suffering from Plantar facilitis, heels getting extremely painful when he walks. And we all know that walking is important after bypass for circulation. Doing stretches and got those balls that should help him.

Kind regards

Shaivi

[Hidden]

Dear SRDS

I think that the pair of you are really switched on to what to look out for and how to manage the recovery.

It’s a time thing and in time the cough/sneezing etc will be less painful.

The towel roll worked for me and just applying the pressure to the chest area with it during a sneezing/coughing etc helped.

The thing is to always have it at hand and as the weeks pass the pain will too, make sure he does the shoulder roll exercises, you look daft but they do seem to work.

Take care and well done the pair of you have been through so much

[Beatles1956 in reply to Hidden]

Although I didn't have a sternotomy, I kept a small cushion by my chair for the first few weeks, to grab quickly when needed.

[SRDS in reply to Beatles1956]

Thanks Beatles1956 yup got a pillow next to him.

[SRDS in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Blue1958 😊 Will get him to do the shoulder roll exercises

[Markp7119]

I always used to fold my arms on my chest when sneezing and coughing that helped

[SRDS in reply to Markp7119]

Yup Markp7119He is trying that. Thank you 😊

[Rogo23]

I feel for him, Bob Mortimer described a sneeze as a sniper round to the chest, and I aggre with that description.I kept a cushion with me at all times, some people use the towel roll for the same thing, others like the crossed arms over the chest.

It's finding the one that works best for him, but over time it improves. I actually think that sneazes were the worst part of the converlssence and recovery after my op.

My cushion was I a carrier bag whenever I left the house,at least after the first time that I didn't take it for a walk, I learned that the hard way.

I have not suffered from PF myself but my sister did, she was advised to use the heal support sleeves and she also brought some new training shoes that had built in heal support, apparently that helped her more than the support sleeves.

The sneezing pain dose improve with time, and time seems to be the solution for all of the problems from the operation, I got so'p'd off with people saying it takes time to recover, but it does and it gets easier with time.

Stay strong, Danny.

[SRDS in reply to Rogo23]

Thanks Danny Yes I suppose it does take time. I got some gel stuff to put in his shoes and we have reduced how much we walk,l. Let's see if that works. For the sneezing he does the "cross the chest with his arm". I got a lovely pillow next to him as well. Hope you are doing well now 😊

[Rogo23]

Yes I am thanks, it's about eight months since the op, and I am working about thirty hours a week. And as I am a joiner and stone mason that is pretty good I think.It's just time, and being willing to say that I have done more than enough for today, not push on because that's what you used to do.

It's the learning to pace yourself that is the hardest part, but after a couple of occasions when I overdid it I learned.

He has done the hardest bit, now it's just about managing the recovery.

Feel free to message if you think that it would help, either of you.

Dan.

[SRDS in reply to Rogo23]

Thanks Dan It is really good, about your work! And yes it is about knowing your body and responding to what it is telling you, not overdoing stuff. My husband is doing okay he is just always worried about his life expectancy since this happened like few weeks back. He is 42. I don't know how to explain how he is not too willing to post his worries or even share them with a professional. He does share with me though, so I suppose that is good at least. I do what I can, research and all to give evidence based info. Will have his post op appointment soon. Probably will know more then.

I will message thank you. Do message as well if you think that I can help in any way.