5-aminosalicylate (5-ASA) is a medication often used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It helps to controll active ulcerative colitis, or Crohn’s colitis and keep mild to moderate ulcerative colitis in remission (period of recovery). Topics include: what does 5-ASA do, which 5-ASA you should take, how to take 5-ASA, what other medications you can take, and how 5-ASA will help. The pamphlet also describes side effects and how long you will need to take 5-ASA.
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.
You are going to have a 24-hour pH monitoring test. This test checks if your symptoms are related to refluxing (coming up from your stomach) or regurgitating (bringing up) acid from your stomach (belly) into your esophagus (the tube in your throat connecting your mouth and stomach to swallow food). This pamphlet explains why and how the test is done, and how the test will feel. Information about medications, eating, drinking, and activity during the 24-hour pH monitoring test is given. A diary …
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 …
Acamprosate is a medication used to help manage alcohol dependence. It works best for people who would like to stop drinking alcohol fully, not just drink less. This pamphlet explains how to take this medication, whether acamprosate interacts with other medications, what will happen if you drink alcohol while taking acamprosate, how long you will need to take acamprosate, possible side effects, and how much acamprosate costs.
Many people use technology (phones, computers, TVs, lights, and more) every day. An injury or a change in your health may affect your ability to use your technology. The Access to Technology team will work with you to find a new or easier way to use your technology. Topics include: what to expect, what to bring to appointments, and what will happen at your first appointment and follow-up appointments. Contact information for the Service is listed.
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…
The Active Cycle Breathing Technique (ACBT) will help clear secretions like sputum. Sputum is mucus mixed with saliva (spit). This pamphlet outlines steps involved in breathing control, deep breathing exercises, and huffing. A technique summary is provided. The French version of this pamphlet 2200, "Technique de respiration en cycle actif (TRCA)," is also available.
This guide will help you learn how to care for yourself safely before and after day surgery for an adenoidectomy. Topics include getting ready for surgery, what will happen on the day of surgery, what will happen right after surgery, and care at home. Things to avoid for 2 weeks after your surgery, activity, and bleeding are also covered. The French version of this pamphlet 2176, "Adénoïdectomie - Hôpital régional Valley," is also available.
Ce guide vous apprendra comment prendre soin de vous en toute sécurité avant et après une adénoïdectomie, qui est une chirurgie d’un jour. Il parle de la préparation à l’opération, du déroulement de la journée, de ce qui se passe tout de suite après l’opération et des soins nécessaires à la maison. Il renseigne aussi sur les choses à éviter au cours des 2 premières semaines, sur la reprise des activités et sur les saignements. ; This pamphlet is a French translation of the English pamphlet 2070…
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.
Advance care planning, or personal care planning, is the process of reflecting on what is important to you, to help you plan for your future medical and personal care. This pamphlet gives information about advance care planning, personal directives (PDs), delegates, what will happen if you do not have a PD, where to keep your completed PD and who should have a copy of it, when you should update your PD, and some treatments you should consider when making a PD. Information about Medical Assistan…
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 pamphlet explains how having a liver transplant may affect your mental health. Topics include: When will my life be back to normal? Are my feelings normal? When should I get help? How do I get help? If you need mental health help right away, important phone numbers are listed.
This medicine is used to treat discomfort, pain, and/or swelling. Local anesthetic will be injected with the corticosteroid. Tips for handling discomfort at the injection site are given. Some safety points about the use of ice and heat are also provided.
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…
After your hand surgery, you will need to learn how to care for your incision. A list of things to watch is given in case you have any problems.
This guide will help you understand what will happen before and after your surgery, how you may feel, how to care for your amputation, and how to adapt your lifestyle to this change.
This guide explains levels of limb amputation, who is on your health care team, what will happen before surgery, and what to expect after surgery.