Scar Tissue and Coughing

[geebee]

Back in mid-January, I had pneumonia with a lot of intense coughing spells. I was starting to feel better when I woke up one morning with a severe pain in my left side from right above to right below the rib cage.

After 2 weeks, 2 CT scans (abdomen & chest), more blood tests than I want to think about, and many types of meds, I gave up on my PCP figuring out what was wrong. I finally went to see my cardio (yeah, yeah, should have done it sooner). His diagnosis - I had ripped scar tissue in the area of where my chest tubes had been located as well as a pulled muscle or two. He expects this to take at least 6 weeks to heal totally (kind of like surgery). OUCH!!!

Not looking for sympathy but just wanted to share what my doctor told me today. If you have had OHS and get sick with intense coughing spells, go back to the pillow hugging. It might have prevented this injury which is excrutiating.

Still trying to smile in Ohio. Percocet is my friend right now.

 

[Karlynn]

Wow, who would have thought? This is good information to have.

Sounds painful Gina - and you get sympathy anyway - even though you weren't asking for it.

 

[WayneGM]

Thanks for the warning. I would have never considered that.

Take care.

 

[EireCara]

You deserve lots of ))))sympathy(((( Gina. Hopfully you will gradually get better (gradual, but FAST) and you wont have 6 weeks of 'agony' . Best Wishes...hope you'll be back smiling again soon.

 

[Traveler]

Thanks for the word to the wise!

Mark

 

[Ross]

During my time with the crud back about 2 years ago, I got to coughing like that and I swear to God I heard my rib break and it dropped me to my knees right now. To this day, there is still pain there when I lay just so so or cough just the right way. Doc told me that he thinks I yanked some cartilage and it may never go away.

 

[readsforfun]

Oh Gina, I'm so sorry. That kind of "pulled" pain can be excrutiating. Hope you can get past it ASAP. Am thinking of you.

Jan

 

[Phyllis]

So sorry Gina, but thanks for the "heads up" and I hope you heal quickly.

 

[Jkm7]

Gina,

So sorry to hear what you've been through. Hope you feel better very soon. I never would have dreamed it possible to hurt ourselves so badly in such a way.

Feel better soon.

 

[Guest]

Aye, Gina ... that does sound PAINFUL.....

Thoughts/prayers coming your way....



Cort:33swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker
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"These hands are meant to hold" ... All-American Rejects ... 'Move Along'

 

[Wise]

Gina, sorry to hear you're going through so much pain. Hope you're feeling better very soon. Yay for percocet!!

 

[ruth]

Gina,

So sorry to hear that you've had this setback. You raise an important point about long-term use of a cough pillow. I wouldn't have thought of that, thanks for sharing with us.

Ruth

 

[CThrock]

Thanks for that information!! Never know when you might need it.
Hope you get feeling better soon.

 

[michellep]

Yikes, one more reason for my to hold my breath and wash my hands constantly in the classroom.

I'm sorry about your setback. I wish you a speedy healing. Take care of yourself!

 

[geebee]

Thank you all for your good wishes. I am finally feeling like this will go away and have cut back on the pain meds. It has been a challenging year so far but I am sure Spring will come soon as I really need the sunshine.

I have set aside my pillow in an easy to reach place for future reference. NOT going to go through this again.

 

[Susan BAV]

This all sounds incredibly painful and unpleasant. Thank you for sharing the warning and I'm glad you are starting to feel better.