Hi,new here!

[bff4ever]

Hi, my name is T and ive been an ICU RN for the past 20 years. I love this type of nursing and I cant imagine doing anything else. I'm not working at the moment but I was working in a community hospital 15 bed ICU. Its a demanding job both physically and mentally but its rewarding at the same time. Hope to meet many and help anyone I can. Thanks

[kerr28]

Hi T

Welcome to the community

The nurses looking after my family friend Annie in the ICU have said the same thing as you.

Laura

[muncii]

welcome bff4ever. I wonder if you can help me with this?

at the end of 2010, I had a Boerhaave spontaneous oesophageal rupture and was an ICU patient for 4 weeks, twice ventilated, trachy, followed by 8 weeks in hospital. 4 months later I had further surgery for a twisted bowel, totally unrelated, and spent time in High Dependency. Had a pureed food diet and supplementary feeding, via various methods, for many weeks

Recently I requested my hospital notes and it seems I had a thoracotomy, which explains the huge scar across my back. For several months after the Boerhaave, I had two intercostal drains at the lower points of the scar on my back.

My back remains very sore - intermittently, but nevertheless, it's unpleasant and debilitatating. If I am experiencing chronic post-thoracotomy pain, do you know if it will ever go away, and what sort of treatment besides paracetamol, is available?

BTW, I'm angry that no medic or nurse explained this procedure and its after effects to me. Any advice welcome, thanks.

[Luckyone]

Hi Tiaclydebonnie,

Have you ever thought of contacting the unit to go back and visit? Many ICU's allow ex-patients to visit to speak to the staff. Do you have a local support group near you as often just meeting others that have been in ICU and understand how traumatic it can be, a list of local support groups can be found at icusteps.org/support

I met several people that had been lost in the wilderness when I used to run a local support group, thankfully by meeting other their journey of trying to find some sort of closure & understanding began, if I can ever offer any advice or support I'm always happy to help a fellow survivor.

Bill

[Bassndeer]

Hi T! Thank you so much for the work you do! My husband was in ICU for 2+ weeks - on respirator/sedated for 12 days. I think I would have easily lost my mind, if not for how wonderful the nurses were. I know every hospital has different policies, but I'd like to bring them a gift basket to say thanks. I was thinking pens, notebooks, snacks. Would you mind giving me a few ideas to include? I truly feel that ICU is a calling of sorts - it amazed me that they were all so wonderful and supportive even though the job is demanding.

[stevet11753]

Hi T, I just want to thank you for doing what you do. It must be one of the most demanding of jobs. But as someone else has said, it's not just a job, it's a calling, a vocation. I feel gratitude and love when I think of the nurses who cared for me during my time in ICU. I was lucky to meet a few of them when I returned to ICU for a visit a few months later, although, painfully for me, I couldn't remember some of them, being so sedated at the time. However, that was such a healing visit and I would recommend that anyone who's had a long stay in ICU should do it.

I hope you're back on a ward soon.

Good luck, God bless, Steve