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Coughing & wheezing post surgery: How do you know what is normal?
Esophageal Cancer | Last Active: Apr 30 10:40am | Replies (11)Comment receiving replies
I’m also four months post surgery, and doing well. But at the one month mark, I had a dry cough that was getting worse. I called my surgeon’s team, and they told me to get a CT scan. The scan showed lot of fluid surrounding my left lung. I was readmitted to the hospital, and they placed a drain in my left side. More than a liter of fluid was drained out over two days. Fluid can build up after a traumatic surgery such as ours, and it can squeeze the lung causing dry coughing. After that treatment the cough was gone immediately. I would recommend you call your surgeon immediately and let them know what is going on. Good luck in your journey.
Replies to "I’m also four months post surgery, and doing well. But at the one month mark, I..."
@lindainca I experienced the same dry cough post esophageal surgery. The cough lasted for several weeks and eventually improved but did not stop completely. Scans showed I had fluid collection around both lungs but I was told it would probably dissipate and no treatment was recommended. It wasn’t until one and a half years later (post op) that I started to experience severe shortness of breath that I was referred to a cardiologist. Once my cardiologist repeated the scans, he recommended the procedure to drain the fluid around my lungs. It has made a significant difference in my energy and mobility. I only wish I had that I had found out sooner that my cough and shortness of breath were due to my surgery. Don’t hesitate to pursue the scans and discuss with your doctor as fluid buildup is apparently not uncommon after surgery.
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@lindainca thank you. I have done all your recommendations and have a ct coming up. Last time I had fluid in my back by the time I got to the aspiration it was gone. 😔 sigh back on the roller coaster.