csections and pre operative coughs/possible chest infection

[Rosetip]

I'm booked in for a csection on Friday and have developed quite a bad cold over the past few days.
I have a really hacking cough, which is now causing pain in the lower part of my back. Not sure if this is a sign of a chest infection.
Does anyone know if this will affect the operation and does coughing post op make the scar hurt?
Will see my GP tomorrow if I can but any advice appreciated.
Thanks

[kinki]

I have respiratory problems and am booked in for a section in a few months. Because of the cough I have, my chest doctor has written to the obstetrian to say that I should have a spinal instead of a general, and only proceed with a general if needs really must. I think most cases are done this way anyway so the cough hopefully shouldn't stop it going ahead.

The pain in your back, if not due to a chest infection, may be because of a pulled muscle due to straining when coughing. I quite often get this and also in my abdomen. Good news if this is the case, is that it improves within a couple of days.

I've had 2 sections before, and I'm afraid to say a post op cough does hurt a bit (not everyone gets it mind, I do due to my bad asthma). BUT, it helps to do the following (well it did me) roll forward / into a ball as much as possible and hold a pillow into your tummy/wound when coughing, also I got dh to slap me on the back when I coughed, this helped me cough up gunk (sorry if tmi) and clear chest in just one or two coughs each time.

But hopefully you'll get to see the dr tomorrow and can get anti'bs if needed and improve by friday (I'd be quite insistent to the receptionist if I was you). Hope it all goes well.

[fearscape]

Don't know about affecting the op but I'm afraid coughing afterwards is quite painful so would be better to get it cleared up beforehand. If you need to cough post-op, lean forwards a bit and press quite hard on the scar area, should make it more comfortable. Same for sneezing or laughing. Good luck!

[Rosetip]

Not sure that laughing will be my problem!

Thanks a lot for the advice both of you- am going to the docs later.

Am a bit reluctant to get antibiotics as our hospital has a v bad c diff infection rate which is linked to them I think.

Thanks again

[totaleclipse]

Yes try and get it sorted beforehand, coughing after a c section will be unbearable.........sorry.

[TuttiFrutti]

I had a terrible cold at the time of my c-section a couple of months ago, and none of the doctors were remotely concerned about it. I think they are only interested in the business end of your body!

Hold your stomach before you cough. It will be a bit painful afterwards but only for a couple of days.

[Listmaker]

I had had a terrible cough for a couple of weeks before my c-section and was dreading coughing afterwards or during!

I had to cough during the operation and asked the aneasthitist (sp?) and he said OK but then the surgeon said could they have notice if I was going to cough again!!! Probably nearly nicked something they shouldn't have. Was annoyed as I had asked!!

It was very painful to cough afterwards but as the other person said crunch up and press a pillow on the scar!

Good luck!

[macmama73]

The physio in the hospital where I had a cs advised me to cough over my shoulder, to take the pressure of the abdomen. It definately helped.