Many patients feel overwhelmed after leaving the hospital.
This is because they may not know where to start when it
comes to taking care of themselves when they get home.
In this video, I'll share five tips on what to do when you get
home from the hospital.
First, let's see what it's like for a patient
leaving the hospital.
Hi, Mrs.
Smith.
Hi.
My name's Leslie.
I'm here to share some information with you before
you're discharged from the hospital.
OK.
Great.
As you know, you've been diagnosed with
congestive heart failure.
And you've received some information about it while
you've been here.
And I want to make sure you have stuff to read when
you go home.
OK.
OK?
In addition to the papers, we recommend that you get a
scale and a pillbox to organize your medications.
Oh, OK.
All right.
Sounds good.
So here is one packet to read.
OK.
And then this is from your red heart failure folder.
Oh, OK.
Thank you.
Do you have any questions about anything?
I don't think so, yet.
OK.
All right, take care.
Thank you.
All right.
Bye, Mrs.
Smith.
Bye bye, Leslie.
This is all so overwhelming.
I don't know where to begin.
Uhh.
When you go home from the hospital, you'll leave with
a lot of new information.
We know it can be hard to remember everything the doctors
and nurses have asked you to do.
So here are five tips to help you take care of yourself after
you leave the hospital.
First, call your cardiologist's office to arrange a follow-up
appointment within 7 days after you go home.
Then make an appointment with your primary care doctor for
the following week.
If you do not have a cardiologist, make an
appointment with your primary care doctor.
Please remember to bring these three items to your
appointments: your hospital paperwork, all your
medication bottles and your daily weight logs.
The second tip is to keep the list of all your medications
you're taking and know when to get them refilled.
Also, always have a 7-day supply of your medications.
Third, it's very important to weigh yourself at the same
time every day.
It is best to weigh yourself when you get up in the morning.
Go to the bathroom, step on your scale and then write down
your weight on your log sheet.
Big increases in your weight in a short period of time may be a
signal that your body is holding on to fluid.
Call your doctor if you notice any big changes in your weight
in a short period of time.
Next, monitor how much sodium is in your diet and how much
liquids you are drinking.
Your goal is to consume no more than 1,500 to 2,000 milligrams
of sodium a day.
Your red heart failure folder contains a magnet that shows
the hidden colors of salt.
It's important to read the labels on everything you
eat or drink.
Regarding liquids, we recommend 1.5 to 2 liters of
liquids a day.
This includes water, milk and juices,
if you're not diabetic.
Finally, if you experience symptoms,
be sure to call your doctor or return to
the hospital immediately.
In your heart failure folder, there is a handout on heart
failure zones, which show symptoms in the green,
yellow and red zones.
Read through it and become very familiar with the
signs and symptoms, and what to do if you experience
any of them.
Let's review these five important tips.
One: Call right away to make your appointments
with your doctor.
Let them know you just got out of the hospital.
Two: Take your prescriptions as prescribed.
Always have a 7-day supply.
Three: Weigh yourself every morning before breakfast.
Write down your weight and compare it to the
previous day.
Four: Keep your diet very low in sodium.
No more than 1,500 milligrams to 2,000 milligrams a day.
Five: Check for swelling in your feet, ankles,
legs and stomach, and any other signs you might be holding
on to fluid.
Call your doctor if you notice any symptoms.
Our care and concern for you does not end when you
leave the hospital.
We hope you find these tips helpful to guide your safe and
healthy recovery once you are home.
Thank you.