5th day postop--Questions

[Guest guest]

Hi I'm new to the boards! I'm 5th day out of upper and lower jaw

surgery, chin resurfacing, neck liposuction, septoplasty, and

inferior turbs reduced. Life has been a living hell. I feel I'm

going insane at times. I haven't slept for 4 days. My problem is

thick phlegm that I can't spit up and just sits in my throat. I get

coughing fits (I have asthma too) and the phlegm comes up and then i

freak because you have no air and your trying to swallow phlegm.

I'm not use to milk products, thick soups, and icecream which is

creating the problem. But I need calories and energy and chicken

broth isn't going to cut it. My doctor suggested only plain

Robitussin to thin the phlegm. No antihistamines or decongestants.

I'm drinking water like there no tomorrow. I'm too scared to sleep

secondary to the coughing fits and the phlegm. I apprecitate any

suggestions any one has? When does phase pass? When will I sleep

again? When will the nose open up and I can breathe again?

Sleepless In PA,

[Guest guest]

Hi -

It's really hard to get the calories - have you tried Ensure Plus?

It may not be a total solution but there's 350 calories per 8 oz

can, and it's lactose free. If you can get a 6-pack of those down

per day, that's 2100 calories. And they have good protein. I

recommend the chocolate flavor. Also, get some fruit juice in

there, that's about 140 calories per 8 oz. You can't live off of

ice cream, that won't cut it.

At least use the Ensure as the backup plan - try the fancy

milkshakes once or twice per day but keep the Ensure around to make

sure you get your nutrition.

Jay

> Hi I'm new to the boards! I'm 5th day out of upper and lower jaw

> surgery, chin resurfacing, neck liposuction, septoplasty, and

> inferior turbs reduced. Life has been a living hell. I feel I'm

> going insane at times. I haven't slept for 4 days. My problem is

> thick phlegm that I can't spit up and just sits in my throat. I

get

> coughing fits (I have asthma too) and the phlegm comes up and then

i

> freak because you have no air and your trying to swallow phlegm.

> I'm not use to milk products, thick soups, and icecream which is

> creating the problem. But I need calories and energy and chicken

> broth isn't going to cut it. My doctor suggested only plain

> Robitussin to thin the phlegm. No antihistamines or

decongestants.

> I'm drinking water like there no tomorrow. I'm too scared to

sleep

> secondary to the coughing fits and the phlegm. I apprecitate any

> suggestions any one has? When does phase pass? When will I sleep

> again? When will the nose open up and I can breathe again?

> Sleepless In PA,

>

[Guest guest]

,

I am 2 days post op, so far I have done everything with soy milk or

soy ice cream to avoid mucus build up. I don't usually use soy and

when you mix it with somethign you can't tell the difference. Make

sure you buy the plain usweetened for soups, and there are other

flavors for other things.

I think it is paying off, I am congested but it is manageble and I am

abble to kkep the phlegm in my thoroat to a minimum.

I'm also never far from my humidifier.

Marsha

> Hi I'm new to the boards! I'm 5th day out of upper and lower jaw

> surgery, chin resurfacing, neck liposuction, septoplasty, and

> inferior turbs reduced. Life has been a living hell. I feel I'm

> going insane at times. I haven't slept for 4 days. My problem is

> thick phlegm that I can't spit up and just sits in my throat. I

get

> coughing fits (I have asthma too) and the phlegm comes up and then

i

> freak because you have no air and your trying to swallow phlegm.

> I'm not use to milk products, thick soups, and icecream which is

> creating the problem. But I need calories and energy and chicken

> broth isn't going to cut it. My doctor suggested only plain

> Robitussin to thin the phlegm. No antihistamines or

decongestants.

> I'm drinking water like there no tomorrow. I'm too scared to sleep

> secondary to the coughing fits and the phlegm. I apprecitate any

> suggestions any one has? When does phase pass? When will I sleep

> again? When will the nose open up and I can breathe again?

> Sleepless In PA,

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks to everyone for the advice! I'll try some soy. Unfortunately

I'm a very picky eater!! I tried the guaifenesin for the phlegm,

didn't help much and tasted horrible. Maybe I'll try the

humidifier. I'm drinking lots of water. It very frustrating to

have all that crap in your throat and not be able to spit it out,

and to have it just sit there. I think the nose crap is

contributing to alot of the phlegm too. My doctor wont let me put

any saline up there. Ensure seems to thicken the phlegm but I'll

try watering it down to see if it improves. Does Boost taste better

without any aftertaste? Marsha, you have a very inspiring postive

attitude, good luck with recovery and hope things continue to go

well.

> > Hi I'm new to the boards! I'm 5th day out of upper and lower

jaw

> > surgery, chin resurfacing, neck liposuction, septoplasty, and

> > inferior turbs reduced. Life has been a living hell. I feel

I'm

> > going insane at times. I haven't slept for 4 days. My problem

is

> > thick phlegm that I can't spit up and just sits in my throat. I

> get

> > coughing fits (I have asthma too) and the phlegm comes up and

then

> i

> > freak because you have no air and your trying to swallow

phlegm.

> > I'm not use to milk products, thick soups, and icecream which is

> > creating the problem. But I need calories and energy and

chicken

> > broth isn't going to cut it. My doctor suggested only plain

> > Robitussin to thin the phlegm. No antihistamines or

> decongestants.

> > I'm drinking water like there no tomorrow. I'm too scared to

sleep

> > secondary to the coughing fits and the phlegm. I apprecitate

any

> > suggestions any one has? When does phase pass? When will I

sleep

> > again? When will the nose open up and I can breathe again?

> > Sleepless In PA,

> >

[Guest guest]

, i am sorry you cannot even use saline. I used Afrin for 3 days,

then switched to saline for a few days then i did not need anything.

i am 16 days post op and still get stuff back of throat, back of nose

type of thing and i can do a little hacking and get it spit out. it's

kind of gross, but i have to do it. my doctor has not given me

permission to blow yet, but i will admit i SOFTLY, SOFTLY exhale

through my nose a little more than i normally would, then i am able

to use a tissue to get some stuff out. It has all worked out rather

well so far. Good luck, i know that can be a frustrating issue.

> > > Hi I'm new to the boards! I'm 5th day out of upper and lower

> jaw

> > > surgery, chin resurfacing, neck liposuction, septoplasty, and

> > > inferior turbs reduced. Life has been a living hell. I feel

> I'm

> > > going insane at times. I haven't slept for 4 days. My problem

> is

> > > thick phlegm that I can't spit up and just sits in my throat.

I

> > get

> > > coughing fits (I have asthma too) and the phlegm comes up and

> then

> > i

> > > freak because you have no air and your trying to swallow

> phlegm.

> > > I'm not use to milk products, thick soups, and icecream which

is

> > > creating the problem. But I need calories and energy and

> chicken

> > > broth isn't going to cut it. My doctor suggested only plain

> > > Robitussin to thin the phlegm. No antihistamines or

> > decongestants.

> > > I'm drinking water like there no tomorrow. I'm too scared to

> sleep

> > > secondary to the coughing fits and the phlegm. I apprecitate

> any

> > > suggestions any one has? When does phase pass? When will I

> sleep

> > > again? When will the nose open up and I can breathe again?

> > > Sleepless In PA,

> > >