Nightmares: Hi everyone my name is Paul I suffered... - ICUsteps

ICUsteps

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Nightmares

Pottley profile image
14 Replies

Hi everyone my name is Paul I suffered a stroke, clot on my lung clot in my leg and pneumonia. November last year I was in a coma for 3 weeks fighting for my life and had the most horrific dreams over and over which have affected me ever since. I would like to know if anyone else suffered from the same experience.

Best wishes Paul

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Pottley profile image
Pottley
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14 Replies
tessauk1 profile image
tessauk1

Hi, I was in 2 grade 3 Comas with Sepsis, pneumonia, Mrsa and organ failure. The dreams I had while in both Comas were truly horrific and terrified me for months afterwards. It’s now 11 months after and, the dreams are gone. I don’t know whether that’s because of the short term memory loss I have now or because time has passed. Talking to people on here helped me a lot. Good luck with your continued recovery.

stevet11753 profile image
stevet11753

These dreams, nightmares and hallucinations are commonly experienced by people in coma and are referred to as 'ICU Psychosis'. Common themes are dreams of entrapment or someone trying to kill or harm the person in the coma. In my dreams I was constantly being pursued and imprisoned (in a bistro bar!) by a team of gangsters who wanted to kill me but, for some reason, weren't allowed; I had to willingly give them what they wanted. I'm three years down the line now from my coma and the dreams are beginning to fade from memory, but I still occasionally have vivid nightmares.

Pottley profile image
Pottley in reply tostevet11753

Hi Steve

I was in world war 3 captured chopped up on a jap fishing vessel used for fishing bait and watched the fishermen and soldiers rape my mother in front of me . To stop them physically hurting me. The dream then started all over again . It was horrific

stevet11753 profile image
stevet11753 in reply toPottley

Awful, and the worst of it is it all seems so real and taking place in real-time, not like 'ordinary' dreams and nightmares at all.

annie4836 profile image
annie4836

yes paul very similar but i was in an induced coma for 59 days on respirator and tracheostomy, after my discharge after 9 days rushed back in and put back in a coma, and yes the most frightening experience hallucinations the psychosis and also i thought the doctors were trying to kill me. would love to talk.

Pottley profile image
Pottley in reply toannie4836

Hi Annie

Thanks for the reply. It's reassuring that I was not the only person who endured this. I was discharged on 23rd December 2017 after having 3 clots causing a stroke, lung collapse and DVT in my left leg. Due to a device that was surgically put in my groin which caused my illiac vein to collapse which stopped the device to stop working which then filled with blood which clotted and fell out and went to various parts of my body nearly killing me. I was rushed to hospital at 4am in the morning next thing I remember is waking up in hospital in ITU being told that they didn't expect me to survive and have brain damage. I was very lucky like all these other people on here . I'm going back into hospital tomorrow to have a 8 inch stent put in my groin as one of the veins is bulging out where one of the clots formed. Hopefully all goes well tomorrow. Keep in touch.

Best wishes Paul x

annie4836 profile image
annie4836

the only way can explain it is, it was so real i could touch and feel, i wish i could explain

jojokarak profile image
jojokarak

They are totally normal (awful I know) I was being chased by the hospital staff who were trying to murder me... 4 years later and they are still as vivid as ever in my memory, but I haven't dreamt about them for a long time... It will fade hopefully soon for you x

Pottley profile image
Pottley in reply tojojokarak

Hi Jo

Thanks for the reply wow reading up on your bits you've been through it stay strong my heart goes out to you. I'm here if you need a chat. Not that I know much about your illness but we sometimes need a chat with an outsider and let off some steam

Best wishes Paul x

jojokarak profile image
jojokarak in reply toPottley

Thanks Paul it's been a long road but fingers crossed I on the other side 😊 I hope your recovery a smooth and stress free one ... And I really do hope the dreams settle down soon 😘 here anytime

Lebabes profile image
Lebabes

Hi I was admitted into hospital with epiletic seizures and put in a induced coma for 17 days in August 2015. The hallucinations are still with me to this day and can sometimes be terrifying and debiliatating. I have been diagnosed with PTSD because of them. Anything in everyday life can trigger a flashback which in turn causes panic attacks and sometimes more seizures as stress is a main trigger for my epilepsy. I also have nightmares where I wake up screaming and sweating etc. I have found this site really useful in realising that it’s not me going crazy. The doctors and nurses don’t prepare you for these things that happen after discharge. I fought for my life for over a month medically but am now fighting a mental battle. I hope that in realising that your not alone in these nightmares is some help to you xx

Pottley profile image
Pottley in reply toLebabes

Hi Lebabes

Thanks for the reply appreciate your interest. Sorry to hear about your illness. You were in a coma for the same amount of time as me. It's been a struggle. All this has made me realise life really is very short and you never know what is around the corner. However we strong and few whom have fought back and have life again. Smile be happy and think positive. It's a shame we can't all meet up and have a night out. We deserve it xx

Lebabes profile image
Lebabes in reply toPottley

We certainly do all deserve a night out lol. It really does put the little things in life in perspective. I have had 2 more stays in critical care since then in a induced coma but fortunately each time was only a few days. Is difficult going to sleep at night not knowing if your going to wake up days or weeks later in hospital. Trying to live life to the full is a way of showing our different illnesses that we are the winners xxx

Pottley profile image
Pottley in reply toLebabes

Hi Lebabes

How are you ? Hope all is well with you ? Are you local to Eastbourne ?

Maybe we could meet up for a coffee if you fancy a chin wag xxx

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