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Once you are discharged from the hospital you may have questions and/or issues that you wish to discuss with the doctor or his staff. The telephone numbers are listed on your discharge instruction sheet. Please do not hesitate to call.
Because of your surgeons busy schedule in the operating room, the doctor is not always available to answer your calls during the day. His secretary will convey your message to him and get back to you with a response.
It is wise to take your temperature daily and notify the doctor if it should go up. You should also notify the doctor of any change in the amount or color of the phlegm that you are coughing up. You should also call if there is a change in your breathing.
Upon your return home, give your primary doctor a call to let him or her know that you are out of the hospital. Tell your doctor that your surgical information will be forwarded following your follow up visit.
You will have a follow up visit 10-14 days after discharge. The Physician Assistant will make the appointment for you. Please bring your blue hospital card with you to the appointment. You should go to the Outpatient Radiology Department for a chest X-Ray before your appointment. The Department is located in the Ambulatory II building at 45 Francis Street. This is the building with the parking garage. If you need a blue hospital card, you can obtain one at the registration desk on the main floor of the Ambulatory II building.
You should wash the incision with soap and water during your daily bath or shower. Swelling around the incision is very common and it will go down with time. Please notifiy the doctor of any drainage from the incision. Some people complain of numbness around the incision as well as pain.
You should continue with deep breathing and coughing exercises when you return home. You should also continue with the shoulder exercises as well. You may be stiff and sore for several weeks to a month post-operatively.
There are several limitations to your activity following discharge. You should not drive a car while you are on pain medication. Do not do any heavy lifting, including children, until afer your post-operative visit. Avoid any heavy pushing or pulling as well.
You should take a daily walk of at least 15 minute duration. Try to build up the time to one hour daily. This walk is to build your endurance and improve your function.
It is normal to feel somewhat tired for the first several weeks after discharge. Your body is recovering from surgery and you need to slowly return to your normal routine.
You will be given prescriptions for pain medication and any other medication that your need. Most patients are placed on Percoset or Tylonel #3 for pain. If you feel that you need more pain medication after discharge, please call the office. Remember that pain medication works best if taken before the pain gets too bad.
Any changes in this routine will be explained to you prior to discharge. Remember that we are only a phone call away.
Comments to: KKee@partners.org
©2007, Division of Thoracic Surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital. All rights reserved.
Division of Thoracic Surgery
Brigham and Women's Hospital
75 Francis Street
Boston, MA 02115
Phone: (617) 732-6824