Hi folks, a little update: looks like (per my cardiologist) I have developed Dressler's Syndrome, a relatively rare autoimmune response to the heart surgery that cause inflammation of the sac that covers the heart and the lungs (in my case). That explains why I've been having extended cough spasms, back pain, etc., beyond when it was supposed to have gone away. Treatment is simple: high powered NSAIDs and maybe eventually steroids. We'll see how it goes.
Dave
Dave