The Road To Recovery: Essential Advice For Patients Leaving The Hospital

If you’ve been in the hospital, you’ve probably been looking forward to the day when you can return home. Heading home after a stay in the hospital can be hugely exciting, but it can also be daunting. When you’re in a clinic, there’s a dedicated team of individuals there to care for you, and leaving this security blanket behind can be a scary prospect. If you’re on the road to recovery, here’s some essential advice to bear in mind. 

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Follow your doctor’s advice

The most important commandment for those in recovery is follow your doctor’s advice. You may have ambitions to get back to normal life as quickly as possible, but if you’ve been told to rest, make sure this is what you do. Bear in mind that your care team has experience and knowledge and remember that they want the best for you. The last thing you want is to jeopardize your health or the speed of your recovery by trying to do too much, too soon or by neglecting to take medication or use specific remedies that have been recommended to you. Make sure you attend follow-up appointments and don’t hesitate to contact your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.

Bear safety considerations in mind

If you’ve been in the hospital, you may be coming home with prescription medication or products or treatments that could potentially cause harm if they get into the wrong hands. If you’ve got children or pets at home, and you don’t have the kind of newfangled automated dispensing systems they have in the hospital, make sure you keep your drugs under lock and key. It’s also worth bearing in mind that your safety may be compromised if you’re struggling with your mobility or your balance. If you’ve had an operation, for example, and you’re unsteady on your feet, you may find it easier to sleep downstairs until you recover fully to reduce the risk of stumbling on the stairs. It may also be helpful to use a frame to give you support when you’re walking.

Take each day as it comes

If you’ve been ill or you’ve been in the hospital for a procedure, you may be raring to go when you eventually get home. Try and resist the temptation to rush, try not to get frustrated if things don’t go back to normal as quickly as you hoped, and take every day as it comes. It’s better to spend time making a full recovery than to delay your progress because you’re pushing yourself and putting pressure on your body to bounce back faster than it’s able to.

If you’ve been in the hospital, you’ve probably been counting down the days until you can go home. Being at home may make you feel more comfortable, but the road to recovery is not always smooth. Take your time, bear your safety and that of others in the house in mind, and make sure you listen to your care team and follow your doctor’s advice at all times.