A nurse on a postpartum unit is reinforcing discharge teaching for a client who had an episiotomy. Which of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?

• seizures: If a thyroid storm occurs, the client can experience seizures due to the extreme metabolic disturbances and nervous system overstimulation it causes. Seizures would be a serious complication indicating worsening neurological function. Therefore, the client’s risk for seizures is directly related to the risk of developing a thyroid storm after surgery.
• paralytic ileus: Paralytic ileus involves bowel inactivity post-surgery, but the client had normoactive bowel sounds before surgery and no current documentation of absent or significantly reduced bowel activity. Therefore, this is not the most immediate risk based on current findings.
• pneumonia: The client is receiving oxygen therapy and has a slightly increased respiratory rate after surgery, but no signs of labored breathing, abnormal lung sounds, or infection are reported. Although inactivity can contribute to pneumonia risk postoperatively, there are no current findings indicating that pneumonia is developing right now.
• thyroid storm: The client had a thyroidectomy after presenting with signs of severe hyperthyroidism (weight loss, heat intolerance, anxiety, exophthalmos, goiter) and elevated T3 and T4 levels. Thyroid storm is a critical risk after thyroidectomy due to sudden hormone release, and it can cause life-threatening complications such as high fever, hypertension, tachycardia, and altered mental status.
• bowel sounds: The bowel sounds were normal before surgery, and there is no mention of significant gastrointestinal changes postoperatively. Bowel sounds alone are not the critical factor leading to the client’s highest current risk.
• inactivity: The client is currently lethargic after surgery and under the effects of anesthesia, which reduces movement and activity. Inactivity can cause decreased lung expansion and increase the risk of pulmonary complications like pneumonia. Although this is a concern, inactivity is not the client's most critical immediate risk compared to thyroid storm.

A. "I will take my inhaler treatment before each meal and at bedtime.": Budesonide is a corticosteroid used for long-term control of asthma, not for timing around meals. It is usually taken at set times daily to maintain airway inflammation control, not specifically related to mealtimes or bedtime alone.

B. "I should use my inhaler before exercising.": Using an inhaler before exercise is a strategy typically applied to short-acting bronchodilators like albuterol to prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm. Budesonide is a maintenance medication and is not intended for pre-exercise use.

C. "I should use my inhaler when I have an asthma attack.": Budesonide is not a rescue inhaler and should not be used during an acute asthma attack. Quick-relief inhalers like albuterol are used for immediate symptom management during asthma exacerbations.

D. "I will rinse my mouth and gargle with water after each inhaler treatment.": Rinsing the mouth after using an inhaled corticosteroid like budesonide is important to prevent oral thrush (candidiasis). This action demonstrates correct understanding of medication use and necessary precautions.