including damage eyes retinopathy which can lead blindness damage nerves neuropathy
SN instructed patient and caregiver about Clonidine, it is used alone or with other medications to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems. It works by relaxing blood vessels so blood can flow more easily. Possible SE/AR may include: dizziness, lightheadedness, drowsiness, dry mouth, or constipation may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. To reduce the risk of dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position. To relieve dry mouth, suck on (sugarless) hard candy or ice chips, chew (sugarless) gum, drink water, or use a saliva substitute. Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: fainting, slow/irregular heartbeat, mental/mood changes like, irritability, depression.
Tramadol is used to relieve moderate to moderately severe pain. If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking tramadol. Side effects can this medication cause: Tramadol may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away: dizziness, weakness, sleepiness,difficulty falling asleep or staying sleep,headache.
Instructed on emergency preparedness. Planning ahead to ensure adequate care in case of severe weather or natural disaster is imperative. Here are a few key tips that warrant consideration in any elderly person’s disaster plan: Create an emergency contact card listing all of the emergency contact numbers and family information, including a list of doctors and relatives or friends who should be notified in case of injury. Discuss what to do in case of an emergency. Create a “disaster kit” that includes: Water for three days, Non-perishable food for three days (examples include protein and fruit bars, dried fruit, nuts, peanut butter, crackers, canned juices and canned food), plus a manual can opener Battery-operated radio with extra batteries, Flashlight with plenty of extra batteries Change of clothes, plus extra blankets First aid supplies, Prescription medicine list, plus copies of prescriptions Extra eyeglasses and hearing-aid batteries, Copies of medical insurance and Medicare cards, Some cash on hand, as a bank or ATM machine may be inaccessible Extra warm clothing
SN instructed in possible adverse reactions to Lasix, including dehydration, orthostatic hypotension, loss of potassium and other electrolytes, weakness, and fatigue. Lasix is used to reduce extra fluid in the body (edema) caused by conditions such as heart failure, liver disease, and kidney disease. This can lessen symptoms such as shortness of breath and swelling in your arms, legs, and abdomen. This drug is also used to treat high blood pressure. Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems. Lasix is a "water pill" (diuretic) that causes you to make more urine. This helps your body get rid of extra water and salt.
SN instructed patient / caregiver about Diphenhydramine( Benadryl). It is a first-generation antihistamine used to treat a number of conditions including allergic symptoms and itchiness, the common cold, insomnia, motion sickness, and extrapyramidal symptoms. It is a potent anticholinergic agent. This activity is responsible for multiples side effects such as: dry mouth and throat, increased heart rate, pupil dilation, urinary retention, constipation, and, at high doses, hallucinations or delirium. Other side effects include motor impairment, flushed skin, blurred vision at near point owing to lack of accommodation, abnormal sensitivity to bright light (photophobia), sedation, difficulty concentrating, short-term memory loss, visual disturbances, irregular breathing, dizziness, irritability, itchy skin, confusion, increased body temperature, temporary erectile dysfunction, and excitability, and although it can be used to treat nausea, higher doses may cause vomiting. Report any Side effect / Adverse reaction to Physician / Nurse as needed.
SN instructed that check the access for signs of infection or problems with blood flow before each hemodialysis treatment, even if the patient is inserting the needles. Keeping the access clean at all times. Using the access site only for dialysis. Being careful not to bump or cut the access. Checking the thrill in the access every day. The thrill is the rhythmic vibration a person can feel over the vascular access. Watching for and reporting signs of infection, including redness, tenderness, or pus. Not letting anyone put a blood pressure cuff on the access arm. Not wearing jewelry or tight clothes over the access site. Not sleeping with the access arm under the head or body. Not lifting heavy objects or putting pressure on the access arm.
SN instructed patient on proper use of insulin such as keeping currently in use vials in refrigerator not in freezer, take insulin exactly as prescribed and never to adjust dose without orders from physician ( MD ), and to never use insulin that has changed color or consistency. SN educated patient on sites of body that insulin can be administered including abdomen, upper arms, thighs or buttocks. Patient verbalized understanding.
Instructed patient that certain medications you might be taking, including Coumadin (Warfarin Sodium Tablets), also require special nutritional precautions. Your doctor or LVAD coordinator can provide you with detailed nutritional guidelines for your particular situation. Understanding was verbalized.
Instructed patient one nutrient that can lessen warfarin's effectiveness is vitamin K. It's important to be consistent in how much vitamin k you get daily. While eating small amounts of foods that are rich in vitamin K should not cause a problem, avoid consuming large amounts of certain foods or drinks, including kale, spinach, brussels sprouts, collards, mustard greens, chard, broccoli, asparagus, green tea. Patient verbalized understanding.
Patient was instructed on Dry mouth. That is caused by reduced saliva flow, whichcan be a result of medications. While advancing age impairs the sense of taste, diseases, medications and dentures can diminishes sense of taste.