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
Post ICU feelings.
post ICU body 
Post ICU Struggle
