5th day post op, finally home. Got tucked into bed all comfy. Woke up almost on my back with some stuff caught in my throat/lungs and I couldn't get up coughing so hard and in so much pain I woke my family up, they helped me situp and even then it was 5 minutes of painful coughing, feeling like your stomach is white hot and burning to the touch. I had a bit of a break down, I just want to feel normal again. I've had such a low pain tolerance all my life and now I wish I was a lot more tougher lol. I took 2x 30mg codeine to hopefully ease the pain.

Anyone have any tips for managing coughing better? My physio told me to put a pillow on my stomach and hug it hard when coughing but it's not really doing much, I feel like I rushed into this and didn't mentally prepare myself for the pain of all of this. :'(

Continue bracing with the pillow. This provides support to your abdominal muscles. If you have a particularly painful coughing fit you could also ice your incisions afterward for some relief.

If your coughing that much you need to contact your surgeon. Pneumonia is always a risk after any surgical procedure but especially abdominal surgeries that make breathing and coughing more painful.

-Registered Nurse and Sleeve Patient

Also throughout the day use your incentive spirometer if they sent you home with one. If not take deep breaths and try to cough every hour or so. This will help clear out your lungs and make sure nothing is just settling in there.

I agree with @@MayMarie the spirometer needs to be used if they sent one home - or the deep breaths.

When you fee the urge to cough hold a pillow as tightly to your stomach as you can. Everyone no matter if they weigh 100 lbs or 400lbs will have their abdomen "jiggle" when they cough. If you can hold that pillow tight it will help immensely.

It will help you get a better quality deep cough that will be more productive than a small shallow cough.

And I know it's hard post op but try to stay as hydrated as possible. When you get dry it also dries out your secretions making them harder to cough up.

Good luck and speedy recovery !