What will I learn about monitoring my health before I go home?
Soon after surgery, your health care providers will teach you more about taking your new medicines to provide a smooth transition from hospital to home. We believe hands-on learning will help you remember when to take your medicines, how to take them, what happens if you miss a dose, and what side effects the medicines might cause.
Also during your hospital stay, you will learn how to take your pulse and blood pressure. You will have a chance to practice the procedures and ask questions so you will feel comfortable with these skills before you go home.
Just as a daily record of your health is kept during your stay at the hospital, you will need to continue monitoring your health when you go home. At home, you will need to record your daily pulse, blood pressure, temperature, and weight. You will be given a notebook to record this information.
How do I care for the incision?
Your dressing will be changed daily while you are in the hospital, and dressing supplies will be provided when you are discharged from the hospital.
Sutures will be removed on average 10 to 14 days after the drainage tubes have been removed. If there is no wound drainage after the sutures have been removed, you will no longer need a dressing on the site. (You will receive specific instructions about caring for the incision when the sutures are removed.) You may shower 48 hours after all drainage tubes have been removed, but please check with your nurse first.
Please clean the wound with hydrogen peroxide twice a day. DO NOT put antibiotic ointments or Betadine® on the incision.
When will I be able to go home?
You can expect to stay in the hospital 10 days to 3 weeks, depending on how quickly you recover from surgery and whether you develop any complications.
Remember, each patient has a different rate of recovery. You will be discharged only after your Transplant Team has determined your health is stable and you know what to do to care for your health at home.
Our goal is to help you feel comfortable and confident about taking care of yourself before you go home.
Before going home, you will need to be able to:
- Follow your medicine schedule correctly without assistance
- Take your temperature, read a thermometer, and take your pulse, and blood pressure
- Recognize the warning signs of rejection and infection, and know how and when to report these signs to your health care providers - Do not attempt to "self-diagnose" your symptoms. Since you are taking immunosuppressive drugs, it is important to report your symptoms immediately so they can be treated to prevent complications .
- Know whom to call if there is an emergency
- Know what problems should be reported to your health care providers
- Know which activities are permitted
- Know what follow-up appointments are expected - Know when and how often to schedule blood tests, pulmonary function tests, and surveillance bronchoscopies
Your doctor and other Transplant Team members will be monitoring your health closely after the transplant. You will be discharged from the hospital when:
- You have no fever
- Your blood pressure is stable or within a safe range
- Your incision is healing
- You are urinating without any difficulty
- You are eating without any difficulty
- Your lung function is stable and improving
What will I need before I go home?
It is important to make sure you have each of these before you go home:
It is important to make sure you have each of these before you go home:
- Thermometer
- Blood pressure monitor (automatic) - Do not use wrist cuffs.
- Microspirometer -You will be required to obtain one at Cleveland Clinic during your hospitalization.
- A multivitamin
- A calcium supplement
After you are discharged
If you live in the Cleveland area, you might go directly home. If you live outside the Cleveland area, you will need to stay near Cleveland Clinic for 2 to 4 weeks. Your transplant coordinator and pulmonologist will discuss this with you.
Medical identification recommended
We advise you to obtain and wear a medical identification tag or bracelet. We also recommend keeping a list of medical problems, treatments, medicines, and surgery dates in your wallet. This list provides a helpful reference for your health care providers.
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This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. This document was last reviewed on: 11/15/2006
