Still have bad coughing four and half months post op

@elyser, I’m sorry that you’re having such a difficult time with coughing, you are definitely doing your best to help yourself with this issue. I never had any coughing after a lobectomy (2), I was wondering if you were checked out for allergies, they have increased a lot and your system is very sensitive after this surgery, at the very least you don’t have to worry that it’s urgent and also you are getting help with it but all the same you don’t want to keep coughing. I think you’re a strong person to be able to be active in a relatively short time frame and thankfully they haven’t found any issues, I hope that this helps you out a little, I would definitely consider checking out allergies, perhaps if you want to try a antihistamine to see if it works or wait to see the doctor first, I hope you get some relief soon.

Morning Elyser- I did not experience this but I recall others on other threads who had similar situations and, if I recall correctly, their Doctor did either an X-ray or another CT and found they had fluid or an infection. You should not be coughing this long after surgery. Steroids help with inflammation but if it comes back after you stop, there is probably another cause that needs to be checked out as soon as possible. I would keep calling my doctor and insist on an x-ray or something. Don’t let them just keep giving you meds if they don’t check it out. You need to stop the cough so you can heal and get your physical and mental health healing again.
Good Luck! I pray you get help for it quickly!🙏🙏🙏
Cindy

Thanks for responding @frouke. When I spoke with the nurse at my pulmonologist's office yesterday, she too suggested I see an allergist. I do have allergies that kick in at the beginning of Fall and Spring but this had started in May/June so I hadn't thought of it. I may be hyper-sensitive to something in the air....

Thanks for your response @cmcguire10. I did have an x-ray about two weeks ago and it was fine and I had had a CT scan in July. I do appreciate your support though! I have an appointment in mid-October for being assessed for pulmonary rehab which at least sounds like it would help!

Hi, I’ve come to this group to see if others have found a remedy for their chronic cough. I am coughing nonstop, too. I am taking 200 mg of benzonatate but it doesn’t help enough. I want to know what happened to me. I was fine before my surgery June 6, 2025. Curious how to determine if this might be a nerve injury or something else. Ideally I’m looking for a diagnosis of what’s wrong and a resolution that isn’t drugging me into submission.

@cindyglee Morning! Sorry to hear you are struggling with this. Unfortunately, no one on here can give you a diagnosis. We are not doctors. We can only explain our experiences and what we have done. The best advice is to contact your doctor or pulmonologist and see what they say. If the medicine you’re on isn’t working, they should help you find one that does. It is natural to have a cough for a while after lung surgery, and maybe even a raspy voice for a little while. Is your cough productive or just a dry cough? Do you walk? Do you have allergies? Is something in your home, like air fresheners or perfumes, etc., possibly irritating your lungs? They may not have bothered you before surgery but are now? These are things to note, and when the cough subsides or is worse. Keeping a note pad or journal will help you show your Dr’s. what is going on and maybe help them get you better. In my opinion, your first step should be to get another appointment with your doctor. I pray that you will get an answer soon so you can feel better during your recovery!🙏
Cindy

What worked for me was sodium benzonatate 3 times a day. Eventual i was able to reduce the dose, then do without it. Perls they call them

@sonshine161

Hello,

I am 1 year post op after upper right lobectomy. I have struggled from two weeks after the surgery with a dry cough. The doctors have tried everything from Cortisone to Nexium, and physical therapy; to be honest, nothing works. All scans are clear. I am getting worn down with all the coughing after almost a year.

My problem is that I am a teacher and keep having these coughing fits in class.

I am very interested to know more about your experience with sodium benzonatate. Is it a tablet form or inhaler? Reading up on it, it seems to make a lot of sense to use this, but non of my doctors have suggested it.

Is there a specific brand that you used?

Thanks in advance.

Mo

Hi there.
I had my RUL Lobectomy 5 years ago next week for stage 2b.
Same thing, lots of dry coughing post op similar to before surgery. I think it progressively got better after 1-2 yrs. For me, I think it took a while for the body to adjust to movement in the mediastinum, and to a large extent, coughing was almost habitual to the point that when i thought about it, the coughing would start. I tried to keep my throat moist with mints or mostly Halls and they actually helped a lot.
I shared this stuff with meetings and phone discussions with surgeon and he said it would pass and that scans of entire chest and upper GI were all good, which is true to today.
Also, I am a never smoker and otherwise extremely fit and healthy.
Try treating with plenty of water and Halls, sounds too simple but it worked for me.

All best!