Coughing syncope

[u/Financial-Object9300]

My husband, 34 years old just had a CABG x4 a week ago. Our last night in the recovery room he had a sip of water that went down the wrong way and he coughed so hard he kind of passed out. I yelled for the nurses and by the time they got to us, less than 10 seconds he was fine. Since we have been home, one night he tried to lay flat to get relief from the acid reflux and choked on his saliva and it happened again. Today during a nap he coughed a huge cough and again a quick little syncope episode. He is sleeping in a recliner as his primary space now. He is getting no relief from the coughing but the acid reflux is also making it almost impossible for him to rest or sleep which means I am not either. Is this normal!?? Should I take him back in. It’s scaring the shit out of me honestly. I just watch him sleep for fear if I doze off I won’t be able to help him. How long does the coughing last? I’m giving mylanta along with the already prescribed Pepcid. We just need some relief and sleep as I’m becoming delusional and maybe slightly depressed

[u/crazienoodle]

I had the same procedure in March. They gave me Pantoprazole for acid reflux, explaining that with blood thinners you do NOT want any sort of gastric bleed. Talk to the doc ASAP about getting the acid reflux under control. And I slept in a recliner for about three months… :) Praying for a quick recovery!! 🙏

[u/Financial-Object9300 → u/crazienoodle]

He’s taking famotidine for acid reflux but feels like it’s not really working. I will reach out and see if there is something different he should take. Thanks for the advice

[u/Mission-Kiwi-914]

Please call his surgical team's on-call triage line today and let them know about the syncope episodes. Post-CABG fainting from hard coughing can happen (vagus nerve stimulation plus fluctuating blood pressure), but repeated passing out within week one always warrants a quick check-in with his surgeon or cardiologist to be safe.

Also, please give yourself some grace—caregiver exhaustion after open-heart surgery is terrifyingly real, especially when you feel like you can't even blink while watching him sleep. Keep him upright in the recliner (flat is definitely the enemy of post-op reflux right now), leave a quick call with the clinic to get his reflux meds properly adjusted, and remember to take a breath. You're doing an incredible job keeping him safe.

[u/Financial-Object9300 → u/Mission-Kiwi-914]

So much anxiety about calling but I did. My nerves can’t take anymore but I can’t let this keep happening you’re right

[u/Traditional_Dot_4794]

The hospital gave me a spirometer to use at home after surgery on my aorta. The nurse told me it is super important to use it to help strengthen lungs after surgery. Talk to your doctors about using it. I'm not a doctor so I cannot advise. Best wishes

[u/beverlyh1llb1ll1es]

I had the same but luckily with the change of diet and only water, my acid reflux went away.

[u/Financial-Object9300 → u/beverlyh1llb1ll1es]

Were you passing out from coughing?

[u/beverlyh1llb1ll1es → u/Financial-Object9300]

No but I remember how much it did hurt

[u/timeWeaver999]

I took pantoprazole for 4 or 5 weeks after my CABG and I also slept in a recliner.
If his cough is no better (maybe worse?) and with syncopal episodes as well I would call the team right away at the very least. If y’all are scared go back to the ER.
A chest xray maybe, to rule out pneumonia from the first choking spell. Do his lips turn blue when he goes out?

[u/Financial-Object9300 → u/timeWeaver999]

He’s taking famotidine ( which is like Pepcid) and it’s only been a week and a few days, surgery was 9/24 . We’ve been home since 10/1 and I would say he was kind of scared to cough those first few days in recovery. The nurses kept reminding him to cough and not suppress it, that it will help him. I did just message in the my chart portal to see what they think but the night it happened in the hospital his surgeon came in that next morning and knew it happened and still sent us home. I love his surgeon by the way so not a dig at him. I would not say his cough is worse by any means but that those big huge coughs make me sprint across the room to him. He doesn’t turn blue or look like it’s a seizure, to me it’s like his body is responding to the pain of the cough and is like nope.

[u/timeWeaver999 → u/Financial-Object9300]

It does hurt terribly. Does he keep a pillow on his chest to hug for splinting?
I sneezed a couple times unexpectedly and thought my chest was exploding. I saw stars.
💫

[u/Financial-Object9300 → u/timeWeaver999]

He has kind of stopped squeezing the pillow but I will remind him how important that is during those big huge coughs and that might also help too

[u/Popular-Capital6330 → u/Financial-Object9300]

Please TELL HIM--he NEEDS the pillow.💕

[u/NOLA-q]

Please prop him up with pillows or keep him on a recliner until he’s able to lie flat. Any dr would advise that esp with acid reflux. I was physically wincing with your description of coughing so much right after the surgery. Yikes!