Resolved question:
I'm up all night coughing, and I can't get it to stop. It's very violent and it's really starting to hurt and worry me. And now when I swallow or cough, the front of my throat pops. I've had a cold since Dec 24 and I don't seem to be improving. I had weight loss surgery last August, and I've heard it's more common to get a secondary infection after a cold, like bronchitis or pneumonia after undergoing a traumatic surgery. I've taken tylenol cold and flu (my bariatric doctor only wants me taking tylenol products, nothing with NSAIDS), downing tea and honey and eating cough drops like candy and nothing is helping. Just trying to figure out what I should do. I don't want to go to the ER (as it's expensive and they probably can't do much for me), but I don't really feel like waiting until Urgent Care opens to go in either. Help!
Submitted:
4 Days
Category:
Family Physician-GP
Hello,
Right away please get some steam inhalation done with your mouth open.
If you have access to codeine containing cough syrup you can take 5ml (see package insert) now and then 5ml after 12 hours. This should give some relief to the cough till you get medical care.
The cough probably is secondary to a viral URI (Upper respiratory tract infection) and unlikely to be related to the surgery per se. Normal cough viral etiology do not require specific treatment and I would have asked you to wait for a couple of days. But in your case since you had a recent Bariatric Surgery you SHOULD medical help as soon as possible so that the cough can be suppressed using cough suppressants (like codeine containing cough syrups )
This is because with each act of cough there is pressure build up inside the stomach and this can adversely affect the surgical procedure done. This can lead on to complications and worst case a failure.
Bottom line is - the cough per is not dangerous, but since you had recent surgery it is not a good idea to keep coughing and causing pressure build up. You SHOULD get in touch with your Doctor.
Hope this helps
Feel free to ask followups / clarifications. Let me know if you need any further assistance.
Thank you