Quick Tips After You Go Home

Call your physician if:

Your heart rate or pulse is too high (above 120) or too low (below 60).

You detect an irregular heart beat, your pulse is skipping beats or you feel a fluttering feeling in your chest.

You have a fever (greater than 100.5 degrees F).

You have increased swelling, redness or drainage along any of your incision lines.

You have discolored drainage or foul smelling drainage from any of your incision lines.

You experience new or increased shortness of breath or it is difficult to catch your breath.

You have a weight gain of 3 to 5 pounds in one or two days.

You have a fainting spell, dizziness, or cool/clammy skin.

You have a change in your urine amount or color or you have trouble passing your water.

You have changes in your bowel movements (diarrhea, constipation), or your stools look different. Dark stools are expected if you are taking an iron supplement.

You develop severe calf or leg pain.

You develop unusual rashes.

You develop ongoing nausea or vomiting.

If you experience unrelieved chest pain, call 911. Go immediately to the closest hospital emergency department.

Other Tidbits
Keep a list of your current medications with you (in your wallet or purse) at all times.Include the name of the medication, the dose and the time you take the medicine. You may wish to give a copy to your family members as well.