Questions

[crazyLiz]

Hello everyone, I'm hoping to be able to revisit the Icu that I spent time in back during July (I was in an induced coma), can you suggest questions that I should ask apart from the obvious ones

I didn't have any visitors except for the person who called an ambulance so I don't have anyone to ask what was going on while I was unconscious.

[RNCP]

Many of the patients intake back to ITU do not have specific questions. Is your visit part of a follow up service or are you simply going to pop in to see them. If the former then - which I hope it is- you should have all explained to you. If the latter it may be more difficult apart from a simply hello and a talk to a few staff. If the latter and you have lots of questions or need more time I suggest asking for an appointment with the Matron or senior nurse. They can then get your medical records and be able to ask your specific queries. Also do not forget that the visit may be difficult for you.

[muzzyden in reply to RNCP]

Hi CrazyLiz I revisited ICU sometime after I'd been in there , and one of the nurses took me into the room I was in and I honestly didn't remember a thing . I think I was in there for about 18 days , I have got my medical notes now and I have had an appointment with one of the ward sisters to go through them , but I still can't remember my time in there . But we did have a laugh about one piece , I was going on and on about needing a medical sick note for work , I was a workaholic back then , but again I don't recall that either . Good luck with your visit x

[Johnbudd5]

Hallo, after 2 sessions in itu,after a AAA repair I plucked up courage to go there,to say thankyou,and, too see for real what the unit was like.all the drugs I had to keep me sedated whilst I was being ventilated caused halucinatons, ie a revolving itu,it was circular etc etc.the first visit I bottled out but he second time I made it passed the doors,to be welcomed like a long lost friend ,I managed to keep my eyes dry for a few minutes then it got the better of me,one of the nurses gave a hug and I lost it big time,niagra falls eat your heart out !! she showed me which bed I was in and we hada chat about what they did.

Believe me it takes courage to go back into icu,I also went into coronary care where I was prepped for theatre,this I don't remember as I was out of it,but to say thankyou meant a lot, I send xmas cards every year,god bless them all ,lifesavers at the john Radcliffe hospital !!

[harvey8]

After my illness I was offered 12 months of aftercare at Northampton General Hospital, this was invaluable for me, it made me feel that i hadn't just been given my life back by the wonderful team in ICU but they cared how myself and my family were coping once I had left the hospital, this for me was a lifeline, I was able to talk things through, at my own pace and i found that a lot of the strange things that were happening to me were actually part of the normal recovery and so it gave me the strength to push forward and eventually get back on my feet, also in the early days of my recovery the ICU Steps book was filled with really helpful information, my daughter called it her bible and referred to it many times over the weeks and months that I was on the mend, I have now joined the Northampton ICU support group and I feel that this is such a brilliant way of, maybe helping others to come to terms with what they have been through, just to be able to chat to someone who understand just how you are feeling is so comforting. the group is also open to the family and friends of anyone who has been in ICU because they also went through a trauma while waiting to see if their loved one would survive, so if anyone is debating whether or not to go to one of these meetings just give it a go and see how it is for you

[eddie1968]

I'm sorry but I have never revisited the ICU as there was no follow up plan in place 2 years ago. I was in an induced coma for a month, had a tracheostomy and spent another month in HDU getting all the tubes and catheters removed slowly. I had post ICU delirium and suffered post ICU PTSD for a long time which has now resolved. I asked my family to fill in the blanks in the jigsaw that is induced comas. Maybe one day I will pop back and thank the staff.