Concerning cough question

[1Frank2]

Hi, I had an Ivor Lewis 2 months ago & had a cough that went away for weeks, now it’s back and continuous is it a post operation problem or Covid19, the reason I’m concerned is it went away and now it’s worse than ever

[Mauser1905]

nhs.uk/conditions/coronavir...

You first point of visit should be the NHS website above for the chinese virus.

Typically with the oesophagectomy throat irritations, persistent coughing exists for some time. It takes considerable time as every person is different and their underlying conditions. This means some have more issues than others or its pot luck.

Take good care and stay at home please.

[1Frank2 in reply to Mauser1905]

Thanks very much, I am staying home

[liz_crisp]

Did you have any breathing exercises to do before or after the the op, if so do them, or use the lung exerciser they gave you, do some inhalation with steam, if you still have contact with your physio call them. It could be either but you don't want to be in hospital at this time especially if you are in the Uk, if you can make sure you walk a bit, at least a few times a day round the garden is good you don't need to venture out, or round your home , you need to move around. Call your doctor or CNS if you have one. too, don't go to the surgery unless they ask you too specifically, my docs is using videos and telephone where possible. During the op they do collapse a lung and it can cause problems, 8 weeks on is not that far down the line, stay safe

[1Frank2 in reply to liz_crisp]

Thanks Liz, I’ll start doing the exercises again, I’m fairly certain it’s a post op complication as I’ve had it for just over 2 weeks now and no other symptoms.

[liz_crisp in reply to 1Frank2]

Probably is. One of the biggest complications after surgery used to be pneumonia as people went home and didn’t move around cos it was exhausting and the district nusrses didn’t push them too like the ones on the ward did. Good luck and stay safe keep dong the exercises 👍😄

[Mauser1905 in reply to liz_crisp]

All,

Please avoid steaming in current situation totally as this passes the possible chest infection deep down the lungs and not advised. Do lung exercises on it's own, obviously.

[1Frank2 in reply to Mauser1905]

Yes, that makes good sense, exercise and breathing exercises are the way to go.

[HONORIUS]

I have to tell you that I had an Ivor Lewis in June 2015 and I woke up this morning with a cough: it's just part of the new normal! With no cardiac sphincter, silent (in my case, predominantly bile) reflux is the culprit...