How to cough after abdominal surgery?

So you’ve gone and done it. You decided to undergo abdominal surgery, whether that be for a medical reason or simply because you wanted your abs to look like Chris Hemsworth’s (don’t we all). But now reality has set in, and the postoperative recovery process is no laughing matter. One of the most challenging aspects of healing from abdominal surgery is navigating the delicate balance between resting enough but also staying active enough to prevent complications such as pneumonia.

But what happens when you have to cough? That first tickle in your throat that starts innocently enough can quickly escalate into a full-blown hacking fit with every muscle in your body crying out in protest. Fear not- below we’ll give you tips on how to handle coughing after abdominal surgery without feeling like you’re going to tear yourself open at the seams.

What Happens When You Cough Post-Surgery?

Before diving into strategies for coping with coughing fits after abdominal surgery, let’s take a quick peek at what actually occurs when we cough.

Coughing is one way our bodies try and clear mucus or other irritants from our airways. It typically involves short bursts of air being expelled forcefully through our nose/mouth via contractions of various muscles including those found within our chest, throat, diaphragm, and even abdominals (more on this little tidbit later).

The Importance of Adequate Pain Management

While it may seem obvious, having adequate pain management following an abdominal procedure will make getting through any subsequent bouts of coughing infinitely easier.

Make sure follow instructions given by medical professionals regarding appropriate dosages/timescales for medication intake- they’re there for a reason! Not only will proper analgesic assistance help manage pain levels during routine daily activities, but they’ll also prove invaluable should a sudden coughing spell emerge.

Splinting

The act of splinting involves using an external gentle pressure on the abdomen to reduce pain while you cough. This can be accomplished with your hands, but there are specialized devices that medical professionals may use and recommend. Splinting provides support for weakened abdominal muscles following surgery or illness and has been shown to effectively reduce instances where the surgical incision strains during episodes of forceful exhalation, such as when we cough.

Planning Ahead

Speaking from experience, one of the most anxiety-inducing parts about recovering from abdominal surgery is not knowing when will be struck with an unexpected burst of cough-triggered pain.

Plan accordingly! Keeping items like a pillow handy (to hold against your belly for added gradual pressure), always having water nearby (staying hydrated can help sooth irritated mucous membranes) or even making note of times in which discomfort was more drastic than others- being informed goes above reacting!

Keep Your Wounds Clean

Sneezes! STOP!!! Or at least cover them because they’re nasty for EVERYONE involved and put you at risk post-surgery. But what about those pesky times that sneezes/coughs come without warning? Cleaning wounds no matter how minimally possible ensures any bacteria hasn’t lead to something worse…

In these first days after checking out it’s crucially important that any open/semi-healing wounds resulting from your procedure remain clean and free from any large amounts physical contact due to bacterial spread which could potentially introduce infections during these critical stages… Best way is still going through recommended sterile cleansing routines until recovery has really settled in.

Deep Breathing & Mucus Clearance Techniques

Another strategy worth practicing early on despite initial fear levels is deep breathing exercises ranging different rhythms dependent on difficulty level once comfortable enough rounds stay within range necessary prevention infection Prolonged immobility or other confounding postoperative factors can cause mucus to build up in our airways, slowing down healing and we don’t want that do we?

Practicing deep breathing methods daily may actually help reduce adverse respiratory consequences. Regular deep breathing exercises help loosen up sticky mucous by forceful exhalation and huff-style coughing- both which aid clearing out stubborn phlegm.

Know When To Call For Help

This one is self explanatory- if a cough is intense enough to send you writhing on the floor in pain (or otherwise seems abnormal for your recovery), it’s time to call your doctor! A medical professional will be able to not only assess any potential damage/further complications caused by too much stress on healing wounds but also give tips/best practice ways of minimizing symptoms during those moments times become uneasily unmanageable.

Yes, recovering from abdominal surgery can be fraught with unexpected road bumps such as bouts of severe coughing.

As always, communicate with trusted medical personnel should anything seem awry (before they need come rushing into the scene West Wing style). And utilizing some minor preventive measures like splinting techniques combined with traditional soothing remedies could make an agonizing situation bearable till full-recovery…

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