My husband, 1 month post EC surgery, developed constant dry cough

I had an Ivor Lewis esophagectomy in 2009 and I developed a dry cough that lasted approximately two months after my surgery. It did improve after the first month but did not completely go away for another month. I discussed it with my surgeon and she stated it is a common post surgery complication. She recommended OTC cough medication.

 I must admit that although my cough was bothersome and interfered with my sleep I never coughed to the point that it caused me to “gag, get the dry heaves, or throw up”. I would suggest you discuss this with your surgeon and determine if your husband may need and esophageal “stretch”, also a common post surgery issue. Sometimes the anastomosis develops a small ridge of scar tissue that needs to be carefully stretched to keep food from collecting there and causing issues.

Best Regards,

Paul Adams

McCormick, South Carolina

DX 10/2009 T2N1M0  Stage IIB - Ivor Lewis Surgery  12/3/2009 - Post Surgery Chemotherapy 2/2009 – 6/2009

Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU - Three Year Survivor

LynnLN said:

Post surgery cough

Paul,

Thanks for the reply. My husband's cough is so constant that it's debilitating right now. The thoracic surgeon put him on a cough med pill three times a day. He's getting little relief so far. The cough and its side effects are definitely slowing the recuperation process. It's so draining to cough every few minutes. I'll be calling the doctor again tomorrow to see what we can do. Thanks again for the support of just being there.

Stay Well,

Lynn

My husband had his surgery in December.  He has had many post op complications including multiple resporitory failures which resulted in a traeche tube.  He coughs ALL the time.  He has also had pnuemonia twice and resporitory flu.  He is just now starting to turn a corner.  The cough is improving but still there.  He is doing breathing treatments with a nebulizer, takes the over the counter meds.  Sometimes he would cough until he threw up.  I wish I had a magic remedy.  If he is feeling well and there is no pneumonia and your weather is good try to get a walk in.  We have found that it gets everything moving.  I will be interested to see what works for you.  Good luck....I know how frustrating it is both for you and your husband.  Nobody gets sleep.

LynnLN said:

Post surgery cough

Paul,

Thanks for the reply. My husband's cough is so constant that it's debilitating right now. The thoracic surgeon put him on a cough med pill three times a day. He's getting little relief so far. The cough and its side effects are definitely slowing the recuperation process. It's so draining to cough every few minutes. I'll be calling the doctor again tomorrow to see what we can do. Thanks again for the support of just being there.

Stay Well,

Lynn

Lynn

I also just joined today and think that this is great resource for us.  I am 35 and underwent a eshagectomy 2 weeks ago.  I have been home for about a week now and my cough sounds exactly what your husband has had or still does.  I am wondering for one, how is he doing now, and is his cough improving or better and did he do anything to help the cough.

Thanks

Jay

LynnLN said:

Post surgery cough

Paul,

Thanks for the reply. My husband's cough is so constant that it's debilitating right now. The thoracic surgeon put him on a cough med pill three times a day. He's getting little relief so far. The cough and its side effects are definitely slowing the recuperation process. It's so draining to cough every few minutes. I'll be calling the doctor again tomorrow to see what we can do. Thanks again for the support of just being there.

Stay Well,

Lynn

Sorry to hear that your husband has such a bad cough. I too have a dry cough. It began 1 month post Ivor-Lewis, it has lasted 7 months, but is getting much less frequent. I was prescribed Benzonate, 3 tines a day. I am now down to taking it just as needed.

By now I hope it has cleared up, or at least got much better.

Good Luck

Dennis

My husband had an esophagectomy four weeks ago.  He is doing well and the prognosis is good.  However, a dry cough is robbing him of much needed sleep and recovery time.  He coughs up a white, frothy mucus that sometimes causes him to gag,and then to vomit.  This leaves him exhausted.  Doctors don't seem to address this issue.  Visiting nurses have no idea,why the cough persists.  Is this something that we should be following up on prior to the follow up with his gastroenterologist on the 10th of October. His surgeons were at UCSF and this is better than three hours from us.  Further treatment is to be handled locally.

I also had a dry cough. The answer for me was a esophageal dilatation. The coughing

ended after that procedure.