I was hospitalized for back surgery December 26th. Since I left the hospital I have a deep chest cough I can t get rid of. I ve also completely lost my appetite--it s difficult to even force myself to eat a bowl of cereal and that s it for the day. Obviously I m losing weight. I am a smoker and have been for 30 years. The surgery was the third with full anesthesia in the space of ten days. I am constantly thirsty. I have a morphine pump in my back for a long term back injury so obviously pain is not a problem.