Reducing the Risk of Blood Clots - Papworth Hospital

A patient’s guideWhat can I do to help myself?If possible, before coming intohospital:• Talk to your doctor aboutcontraceptive or hormonereplacement therapy.Your doctor may considerstopping them in the weeksbefore an operation and willprovide advice on temporaryuse of other methods ifyour usual contraceptive isstopped.• Keep a healthy weight.• Do regular exercise.When in hospital• Keep moving or walking andget out of bed as soon as youcan after an operation - askyour nurse or physiotherapistfor more information.• Ask your doctor or nurse:“What is being done toreduce my risk of clots?”• Drink plenty of fluid to keephydrated, if your fluid intakeis not restricted as part ofyour treatment.What happens when I gohome?Until you return to your usuallevel of activity, you mayneed to wear anti-embolismstockings after you go home.Your nurse will tell you howto put them on and what youshould check your skin for.If you need to continueanticoagulation injections athome, your nursing team willteach you how to do this. Ifyou have any concerns makesure you speak to a nursebefore you leave.If you develop any sign orsymptoms of a clot at home,then seek medical adviceimmediately, either fromyour General Practitioner(GP) or your nearest hospital’semergency department.3