Hi, Im new to the forum and second day post discharge home.I was in ICU for 2 weeks ventilated with sepsis and 1 week on a rehab ward...and what makes it worse is that im a senior nurse with 30 years of NHS experience !
Already I feel that im going to be this way forever.....my weakness and stamina are unbelievable...the smallest tasks feel almost too much. Im waiting for community physio....just reaching out so i dont feel so alone with this huge mountain i have to climb!
Hi
Getting dressed would send me back to bed for the morning. I was in ICU for 90 days - 57 comatose - I said to my wife “this is an insurmountable task I have in front of me...”
You just have to bite the bullet & continue any physio exercises that you did in hospital - again ICUsteps do a good physio supplement
icusteps.org/assets/files/b...
Have you seen any ICUsteps literature? Do you have a support group near you?
Turns out I am a registered nurse, from across the pond, and went through the same thing. I thought I would never get strength back. I was in the medical ICU for three weeks due to septic shock caused by pneumonia. On the ventilator for over 2 weeks, I was in a medical unit for a few days then home. I had a visiting nurse, physical therapist and occupational therapist all coming to our house. I was so determined to get better as fast as I could. They thought they would have me in their care into July and I came home May 23, 2016. They all discharged me from their care in three weeks. It did take quite a while before I felt I was close to where I was before I got sick. Three years after there are still some things, not 100%. I still have twinges of pain when I take a deep breath from where they did the thoracotomy on me. I tried to give myself little goals every day. And if you find you're having any emotional issues - anything that could be PTSD, reach out and get help for that. I didn't start with that until November 2016. I had bad ICU delirium. Keep reaching out!
You are not alone and though it may seem insurmountable things will improve for you. I watched my younger brother go through this. He has spent over 20 years in NHS. One year on he is much better. He came home walking with a stick- my previously fit football playing running non smoking person. It was sespsis he had in CCU and ICU for 8 weeks. He set himself small goals being able to get round the house and upstairs. Now he is back running. Believe me you will slowly start to improve. I hope this helps to know that strong recovery is possible
Hi there bcj1,
You're definitely not alone. Getting home after three months in hospital (only 12 days in ICU) I would need a nap after walking downstairs... another after breakfast, etc. Slowly I was able to walk to the end of the street, then to the main road, then a whole 10 minutes to get to our local coffee shop. Eventually strength returns. Keep trying every day to push yourself just a little. Be happy when you have good days, go easy on yourself when you have bad ones. Drop a note on here if you need any support as the people here are amazing.
We are all rooting for you to have a full recovery.
Take care,
Liam
Glad you are home and alive! Plenty of small steps and you will get your strength back. I am 15 months after 8 days in ICU
after food poisoning lead to sepsis and acute kidney injury led to multiple organ failure. Coma dreams were vivid and shocking leading to a warped sense of truth and imagination! Happy to say I am so much stronger and happier than then. My hair is thick and glossy and I am very fit. It was slow but set small challenges and my strength returned. Such a trauma is bound to affect you deeply but life is precious! Good luck with your rehab. Let others help until you can cope again. We were lucky to survive. Xx
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