Home

helps physicians and healthcare professionals

Erectile Dysfunction

helps physicians and healthcare professionals

Doctor123.org

helps physicians and healthcare professionals

Phlebitis Discharge Instructions


About this topic


Phlebitis is the swelling of a vein. This swelling may cause pain and redness. Your arm or leg may become swollen as well. Phlebitis happens in shallow veins or in deeper veins. If there is a blood clot and swelling, it is called thrombophlebitis. Many things may cause phlebitis. The treatment will depend on where the phlebitis is in your body and what has caused it. ‚  

What care is needed at home?


  • Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
  • Do not sit, lie down, or stand in one place for a long time. Get up and move around every 1 to 2 hours.
  • Raise the affected body part above the level of your heart. Prop it up on pillows to help with swelling.
  • Stretch your legs or wiggle your toes during long trips and shift position often.
  • Wear compression stockings to improve blood flow.
  • Wear loose clothing.
  • When you sleep, prop your legs on a pillow.
  • Walking and exercising often will help to increase blood flow in your arms and legs.
  • If your doctor tells you to use heat, put a heating pad on your sore area for 15 minutes at a time. Never go to sleep with a heating pad on as this can cause burns.
  • If you are a smoker you need to quit smoking. Smoking can increase the risk of blood clots.

What follow-up care is needed?


Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. You may need to have blood tests, x-rays, or an ultrasound of your arm or leg where there is pain and swelling. ‚  

What drugs may be needed?


The doctor may order drugs to: ‚  
  • Prevent blood clots
  • Help with pain and swelling
  • Fight an infection

Be sure to take your drugs as ordered by your doctor. Do not take any drugs without your doctors advice. Drugs like aspirin or ibuprofen may interact with the drugs you are taking. ‚  

Will physical activity be limited?


Moving around and exercising are important for you. Talk to your doctor about what activities are safe for you to do. ‚  

What changes to diet are needed?


  • Talk to your doctor about how your diet may affect the drugs you are taking.
  • Keep a healthy weight. Being overweight adds pressure on your veins. Ask your doctor for help in planning a healthy diet.

What problems could happen?


  • Blood clot in the heart, brain or lungs (pulmonary embolism)
  • Infection

What can be done to prevent this health problem?


If you are traveling for a long period of time try these steps: ‚  
  • If you travel by plane, move or walk around the cabin and stretch your legs at least every 30 minutes.
  • If you are driving, pull over and stretch your legs every hour.
  • Do not wear tight clothing around your waist, legs or groin, especially when traveling for more than 4 hours.
  • Drink 6 to 8 glasses of liquid each day.
  • Stop smoking.

When do I need to call the doctor?


  • Sudden chest pain or trouble breathing could be a sign that a blood clot has traveled to your lungs. Seek emergency care right away.
  • Signs of bleeding that are not normal. This includes bloody or dark black, sticky stools, blood in the urine, bleeding from a small cut that will not stop, or bleeding from your gums.
  • Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, or wound that will not heal.
  • More soreness or redness in your arm or leg
  • More swelling or pain in your arm or leg
  • Your leg or arm becomes hot, cold, pale, or blue

Teach Back: Helping You Understand


The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚  
  • I can tell you about my condition.
  • I can tell you what I can do to help increase blood flow to my arms and legs.
  • I can tell you what I will do if I have chest pain or trouble breathing.
  • I can tell you what I will do if I have more soreness, redness, swelling, or pain in my arm or leg.

Where can I learn more?


Journal of the American Medical Association ‚  
http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/305/13/1372.full.pdf ‚  

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer


This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚  

Copyright


Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚  
Copyright © 2016 - 2017
Doctor123.org | Disclaimer