I am 5 weeks post critical care. I went into hospital for a hysterectomy. After my operation all seemed fine. I was very sick after the op. I then asked my partner for my asthma inhalers as I felt my chest was tight ..... from there i don't remember much.. I hate not knowing. I went into ICU onSaturday and early hours Sunday I was put into an induced coma. I woke up on Friday and moved to a high care respiratory ward. on my notes it says i had aspirated pneumonia and septic shock. My partner was amazing. but he doesn't want to talk about my time there as it was very upsetting for him. He wants to know close that chapter, but i want to pull it all apart and pick at it... I need to know what happened to me! I have requested my notes and read through them all... but its all very raw and upsetting for me x
need some support please: I am 5 weeks post... - ICUsteps
need some support please
Are you in UK? Have you looked on icu steps website? Everything you are feeling is wholly normal, same for your husband. If you are in UK, check out the icu steps support group nearest to you.
I am 2 years post icu and still don’t fully comprehend what happened, however my husband needed EMDR to get over his experience, which is a form of CBT.
yes im in the UK xx
Can you access ICU steps support group?
I was in ICU for three weeks including 10 days in an induced coma following a very nasty road traffic incident in 2007. I went through sepsis, peritonitis, kidney failure and ARDS (acute respiratory disorder syndrome). The dreams, nightmares and fantasies you have been through are familiar to many of us - you are not alone. Great that you have a supportive partner - I am single and leant on friends and family very heavily.
Like you I had a very strong need to learn about a blank in my life, the ICU were great and let me into the ward so I could see where I was and patch that period into my life, I got my notes too.
Your poor partner has seen you at your lowest ebb and wants to move on, for those who have been through it many of us want to learn more, analyse and fill in the gaps.
It is a long haul, I had conselling (not enough!), try your GP see if you can get some on the NHS. I was VERY determined to get through the physical and mental side and move to life as I had before the crash - it was hard work but worth it - don't give in.
Your experiences in that terrible world are something that only those who have been through it will have a clue - but there are sympathetic and empathetic folk who you can share with. ICUsteps have a number of drop in centres where people can meet and share, I would have loved to have had access to one of those, I felt very lonely and isolated as I had no one to relate too.
Even after 11 years I have echoes of my time in ICU but I live a very happy and busy life. It sounds weird but you and I have and so many others have lived through sights and experiences that are unique to us - I regard it as a privilege (I said it was weird!), one I wouldn't wish on anyone but YOU are very special to have got through as you have
It’s almost 11 months since I went into 2 Comas with Sepsis, pneumonia, Mrsa and organ failure. I still don’t know what happened, and I probably never will. I was diagnosed with PTSD afterwards and had CBT which helped me a lot. I wish you well in your continued recovery x
Shaving of personal areas without consent 
Hospital Support
I need some help to come to terms with a few things
Still confused after a month
