I hope everyone who is released from the hospital is given appropriate discharge instructions, however it seems like some may have disregarded these important instructions. With anything, we need to be informed and take action, when necessary. So with that said, I would like to remind those recent surgical patients that when you leave the hospital, call your doctor if any of the following occurs:

**Signs of infection, including fever and chills

**Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or discharge from the incision sites

**Pain that you cannot control with the medicines you have been given

**Blood in the stool

**Pain, burning, urgency, or frequency of urination, or persistent bleeding in the urine

**Persistent nausea and/or vomiting

**Pain and/or swelling in your feet, calves, or legs

**Cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain

**Any other concerning symptoms

In case of an emergency, CALL 911

Be smart! This could save your life or prevent you from having major complications.

I agree and thank you for posting this.

You are so right you should know your body. Because I fever vomiting and not being able to hold down my liquids. Doctors assistant told me that is normal and don't worry about.

I am glad I know my body because it turn out I had a very bad infection that caused a mild heart attack in the ER. I spent two weeks in the hospital. Fromthe surgery I spent 3 days went home for 2 days and returned for 14 days.

Gemiidrive:

I love everything you posted, it's so true.....

Might I suggest making your font color in bold....I had a little difficulty reading it....

Thanks Sexy! We have to be our own advocate, besides if we feel comfortable enough to select a doctor we should be comfortable enough to call him/her. If I'm in pain I'm calling the doctor or going to the ER.