This guide explains the info that you were given during your hospital stay. It will help to answer any questions you may have after discharge. Topics include anticoagulation (blood thinners), pain control, dressings and wound care, possible complications, followup, and activity.
Your doctor or nurse practitioner has decided that you need the care of a cardiologist (heart doctor). You need a test called a cardiac catheterization (dye test). This pamphlet explains what to expect when you are taken to the Halifax Infirmary (HI) to have this test done. It explains what to expect while you are waiting to be transferred, before your transfer, and when you arrive at the HI. What to expect after you are discharged is also reviewed.
The abdomen is the area from the bottom of your rib cage to your pelvic (hip) bones. Abdominal pain can be caused by many things, including: indigestion, constipation (not being able to poop), gas, infection (either bacterial or viral), food poisoning, ulcers, appendicitis, gallbladder or liver disease, kidney stones, bladder infections, menstrual pain, and muscle spasms (muscle movements you cannot control). Most abdominal pain goes away without treatment. This pamphlet gives instructions for …
Vous et votre médecin avez parlé des raisons pour lesquelles il est nécessaire d’enlever votre Å“il ou le contenu du globe oculaire. Ce dépliant explique comment prendre soin de vous en toute sécurité. L’énucléation est le terme médical qui désigne le retrait ou l’ablation de l’Å“il. Le terme médical utilisé pour parler du retrait du contenu du globe oculaire en conservant la couche externe (coque sclérale ou sclère) est éviscération. Les deux interventions entraînent la perte permanente de l’Å“il…
The Baby-Friendly Initiative (BFI) is an international program created to support parents, babies, and families by supporting families to make an informed decision about how they feed their baby, promoting practices that give parents and babies a healthy start, and protecting families from marketing pressures. All hospitals and public health units in Nova Scotia Health are working towards becoming designated as Baby-Friendly. The IWK became designated in 2019. This pamphlet explains what staff …
If you are a resident of Nova Scotia, are receiving outpatient treatment at the QEII Cancer Care Program and live more than 50 kms one way from the hospital, accommodations will be provided for you and a support person. This pamphlet lists locations that are part of the Accommodations Program. Due to the temporary closure of Holy Redeemer Centre, the Cape Breton Cancer Centre has made arrangements with the Holiday Inn to provide accommodations for patients travelling significant distances to re…
Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are medications that can be used to treat high blood pressure and certain heart conditions (like heart attacks, heart failure), and kidney disease. This pamphlet explains how to take and store these medications. Possible side effects are listed.
Hemodialysis is a treatment that uses a machine to filter your blood and remove waste and extra water from your blood. Topics include: what your kidneys do, what acute kidney failure is, what peritoneal dialysis is, what hemodialysis is, and how to live with kidney disease. A resource list is also given.
Your health care provider feels that treatment with adalimumab may help you manage your inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This pamphlet describes what adalimumab is and some important aspects of therapy with this medication. Precautions and possible side effects are listed.
This pamphlet explains what the Adult Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Program is and what to expect at the CF Clinic. It includes information about medications, common tests, respiratory equipment and supplies, intravenous (I.V.) antibiotics, and hospital stays. A list of symptoms that need medical attention is included.
The Adult Neurodevelopmental Stabilization Unit (ANSU) is a specialized acute inpatient unit, under the former name, Emerald Hall. ANSU serves people who are 19 years of age or older, have a learning disability that needs some or a lot of care, and have an active mental illness (like anxiety, a mood disorder, psychosis, and others). This pamphlet explains who is on the ANSU team, what the ANSU team does, and what will happen before you are admitted. Contact information is included.
Being diagnosed with advanced liver disease can be confusing and scary. You will need to make changes in your life and think about difficult treatment options. You and your loved ones may have many emotions during this time. For example, you may feel scared, upset, or anxious. This is normal. This pamphlet explains what quality of life is. It lists common physical, social, mental, and emotional changes that can happen when you have advanced liver disease, as well as common worries you may have.…
This visual guide goes through who physical activity is beneficial for, why it is, when in your treatment to start or incorporate physical activity, what type of physical activity you can do, and where. It includes suggestions at different levels of exercise, different tools that can be used including household ones, and programs provided by the hospital.
This pamphlet explains what to expect after a nerve block for chronic pain. Topics include pain, activities, and medications and blood sugar levels. Symptoms that require emergency medical help are listed. The phone number for the Chronic Pain Service is included.
What to expect after ear surgery, how to care for yourself at home, and an explanation of the different types of ear surgery are given. This pamphlet also shows a detailed image of the ear and middle ear. A list of symptoms that need Emergency Department attention are noted.
This pamphlet explains what to expect after ear surgery and how to care for yourself at home. A list of symptoms that require you to call your doctor or visit the nearest Emergency Department are given.
If the pressure inside your eye stays too high after using drops and/or laser treatments, you will need surgery to treat your glaucoma. You may have a trabeculectomy or a shunt procedure. This pamphlet explains what a trabeculectomy and a shunt procedure are, and what will happen after the surgery. Instructions for your care at home are provided, including discomfort, wearing an eye shield, using eye drops, and activity. A list of symptoms that require immediate medical attention is provided. T…
This pamphlet answers common questions about care at home after surgery. Topics include: how you will feel, activities, what to eat, managing pain, dressing(s) care, driving, etc. Specific instructions are given for patients with sleep apnea, and patients who use CPAP machines. The pamphlet includes a list of symptoms that need medical attention right away.
This pamphlet will answer some of your questions about your care at home after orthopedic day surgery. Topics include: how you will feel, things you can do to help yourself, what you can eat, pain, driving, returning to work, having sex again, and activity instructions. Specific instructions are given for patients with sleep apnea and patients who use CPAP machines. It offers a checklist of activities and specific instructions for dressing care and stitches or staples. Instructions for bleeding…
This pamphlet explains what to expect after rectal surgery. Topics include how to care for your incision (cut), how to control your pain after surgery, what you should eat and drink after surgery, what you can do to prevent constipation (not being able to poop), when you can go back to your usual activities, and follow-up. A list of symptoms that need medical attention is included.