Coughing after lobectomy

Hi , I'm sorry you are having such a rough time with your cough. I coughed a lot after my lobectomy, but my cough came right away and eased up within a month, so I did not have your particular challenge. I had a removal of my right middle lobe and complete resection of diaphragm and chest wall, but I believe my mediastin was untouched.

If you are in a position to get a second opinion at a different hospital (a comprehensive cancer center) I believe it couldn't hurt. Another suggestion is palliative care to help you through the cough. I am attaching a link to an article written by our Editorial Team that I hope helps.

Please feel free to follow up with us and let us know how you are doing, we are here to support each other. Kindly, Alisa, LungCancer.net team

https://lungcancer.net/treatment/supportive-palliative-care/

Hi AndraGeorgia. Sorry you are having this persistent cough. Concerning removal of the mediastinal lymph node, I found this research article which looked at persistent cough following pulmonary resection which found (among other things) "In the present patients, mediastinal lymph node resection may have contributed to coughing after the procedure, which tended to improve after 1 year following the operation:" https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15620960/. If you feel you are not being heard by your medical team, as Alisa said, you are always entitled to a second opinion. Hoping you get some answers soon. Best, Richard (LungCancer.net Team)

Hi,
I’m wondering how your cough is now. I hope it has improved. From what I’ve read, it can take a while.
I had an upper right lobectomy at the end of September. A couple of days after I was released from the hospital, while new onset atrial fibrillation was being investigated, I was told I had nearly complete atelectasis (collapse) of the middle lobe. In a follow up with the surgeon, I was told to use the incentive spirometer, a lot, and not be afraid to cough lots. I did, and still do. A subsequent follow up with X-ray a couple weeks later only showed marginal improvement. Since then, a fairly chronic cough has settled in, usually worse in the evening. I have another X-ray and follow up in a few days, and I’m hoping to see improvement, but I’m beginning to wonder if I’ll ever be rid of the cough. I continue to use the spirometer, do breathing exercises etc.
Chris

I had right upper lobectomy with re-section 3 weeks ago , cough has become my biggest complaint. After a lot of reading , I have found this is a common complaint from others that have had this type of surgery.