Is there anyone who didn't have nightmares in ICU?

[patchworker]

Are there people who found ICU just like a normal ward? Or does everyone suffer waking and sleeping horrors?

[muncii]

my experience of ICU was that it was completely unlike a normal ward - extremely high tech, with machines bleeping all over the place, and 1:1 nursing, for example. And the knowledge that you were among very ill patients, who may be in great pain and discomfort, who are dependent on machines, medication, and highly specialised medical/nursing care, to keep them alive, and the knowledge that they/you might die any minute. The atmosphere can be very intense.

Since finding this website, I have been greatly re-assured that I am not the only one who experienced hallucinations, delusions, and nightmares on ICU. Keeping your sanity in such circumstances can be difficult - there were certainly periods when I was psychotic and I would not have passed an assessment under the Mental Capacity Act. I think it's not just your body which is suffering and not working properly in ICU, your mind can behave abnormally too.

[Rebecca_smith95]

Hello, I was in intensive care last year (I was 16) and whilst in intensive care after be extubeated I woke up with no memory of being intubated, why I was sick and then afterwards suffered from hallucinations and nightmares during the rest of my times in icu, however after I still continued to have nightmares a year later. Whether that is due to the ward or not knowing why I became ill a- I don't know but after my nan got ill and I visited her in icu I had nightmares every time I went into the hospital and a panic attack over the bleep of the machines, my nan however does not have a reaction a bad as me to the intensive care unit xxxx so I guess everyone is different!

[ICUsteps-Peter Partner ICUsteps in reply to Rebecca_smith95]

You're right Rebecca that different people do react in their own way and some of that will be down to the specifics of the illness and the treatment but in general I believe it's also true that younger people have a harder time more generally, and by younger I even mean people in their 30's so sadly it's note too surprising that you had such a difficult time. I must say you're incredibly brave to go back to the unit to visit your nan and I hope it didn't make things too much worse.

Sadly the support for psychological issues after intensive care is patchy at best but it does sound like some support would really help you. Your GP is the first point of call but even if your GP is supportive, the services they can offer often take a very long time to come up with an appointment. The other possibility may be to contact the unit where you were treated. If they have an ICU follow up clinic (and only 30% of UK hospitals do) they would be a very good source of help and support. I do also know of patients who've contacted their unit and even without a follow up clinic, the ICU staff have been very helpful and supportive. As you know they are incredibly busy and may not be able to help, but it can be worth trying as long as you know it's not guaranteed.

[summerwine]

I never had nightmares. I went into hospital knowing I was poorly and about to have explorative surgery. On waking I just thought I was on a normal ward or it was normal to be in icu for recovery. When I became more conscious I knew that wasn't the norm but I felt very safe, in the best place possible given how ill I was. I was a little jumpy when trying to get to sleep as I felt as if nurses were by my side. I only had one hallucination that there was a table set out for a tea party with Laura Ashley table wear in front of me! Lol no issues sleeping in the rest of hospital or now I'm home.

[Offcut]

I had two lives one that was I think real and one that was going on in my head. I am afraid I still have sleep problems 5 years on

[ICUsteps-Peter Partner ICUsteps]

Though everyone's experience is unique to them, there are common themes and all of the things I've seen mentioned here, I've heard before from others so rest assured you're not alone.  The one exception to this is the ICU being like a normal ward.  Whether we suffer from hallucinations, nightmares, PTSD or other psychological issues as a result, the thing I hear most is how alien an environment the ICU was, with constant noise and light as well as delusional memories from the drugs needed to treat us and the severity of our illness.

We're forever grateful for the dedicated efforts from the health professionals who saved our lives, but will continue to campaign to increase awareness of the effects some treatments can leave and improve support after we leave ICU.

I believe as ICU survivors we have an insight that others do not and if we can use that experience to make it better for those who follow us, we'll really have 'made lemonade' from the 'lemons' of our own ICU experience.

[Hidden]

I didn't have nightmares until I'd been moved to the step down ward. And they were VERY bizarre! But actually in ICU, I was in a medically induced coma until the last day and was too scared to sleep!