Your healthcare team at Cleveland Clinic’s Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute wishes you a quick and successful recovery. Please continue using your surgery binder and discharge instructions to learn more about your recovery and find answers to many of your questions. In addition, please use this guide if you have unanswered questions or concerns.
CALL 911 or go to your local emergency department if:
- You have chest pain or pressure/angina.
- You have trouble breathing/are short of breath and don’t feel better when you rest.
- Your heart is beating very fast (more than 150 beats per minute), especially if you are short of breath.
- You cough up bright red blood or have it in your stool.
- Your legs or arms suddenly feel numb or weak.
- You have a sudden, severe headache.
- You faint.
- You have severe abdominal pain.
- Your blood pressure is very high (top number 180 or higher and/or bottom number 110 or higher).
- You have a pain in your calf/calves that gets worse when you lean toward your toes.
Call 888.490.6121 to talk to a registered nurse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if:
- You gain 2 pounds per day for 2 days.
- You have swelling in your ankles/legs that gets worse.
- You feel an irregular heart beat - fluttering feeling in your chest or skipped beats.
- You have a fever with chills.
- You feel nauseous, have diarrhea or vomit.
- You feel a sharp pain when you take a deep breath.
- You are normally short of breath and it gets worse.
Call 888.490.6121 to talk to a registered nurse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if:
- You have signs of a urinary tract infection, such as burning when you urinate, the need to urinate more often or an urgent need to urinate.
- You have a fever (temperature over 101 degrees F/38.4 C twice in 24 hours).
- There is more bleeding, drainage or oozing from your incision than normal.
- Your incision is red, feels warm to the touch, is swollen or starts to open.
- You hear a clicking sound in your breastbone (sternum).
- Your blood pressure is very low.
- You develop a rash on your skin.
- You are very tired/extremely fatigued.
- You have gout and have an acute flare-up.
The nurse will help determine the best care for your situation, such as making an appointment with your Cleveland Clinic or local doctor.
Non-urgent questions and concerns
Call 1.888.490.6121 to talk to a registered nurse Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m., if possible (calls are answered 24/7).
- General questions about your surgery.
- General questions (not a problem) about your incision(s).
- Questions about your medications.
- Any symptoms not listed here. If you have symptoms that you think need immediate attention, call 911 or go to your local emergency room.
Need a refill on pain medication?
You need to see your doctor for a refill of your pain medication. By law, pain medication refills CANNOT be called in over the phone and may not be able to be filled out of state.
