How good/bad are your lungs upon ICU discharge (COVID)m

[ITrustinGod]

We see lots of stories about people being discharged from ICU or hospital after "recovering" from COVID, but no one mentions how bad their lungs looked such as X-Rays or how full of fluid or inflammation thry are. Any insight on this?

[Sepsur]

I didn’t have Covid, but I did have avian flu & double pneumonia- followed by septic shock - multiple organ failure which included complete respiratory failure - ventilated over 70 days - severe ARDS ( or concrete lung) - X-rays showed complete fluid - in fact consultant said to my wife that my lungs resembled liver they were so dense. When I couldn’t tolerate intubation, nurse hand pumped me to keep me alive. I am breathless still - as much to do with a pleural effusion on left side. Can I live pretty normally? Yes I can despite it all

[ITrustinGod in reply to Sepsur]

You are a walking miracle. Did they have to sedate you while on ventilator?

[Sepsur in reply to ITrustinGod]

57 days

[FamilyHistorian]

The important thing to realise, I think, is that corvid is currently in your face. The truth is that anyone who is in ICU for what ever reason is at risk of damaged lungs. In my case I wasn’t a corvid patient, I was sedated / ventilated for nearly 2 months had fluid on the lungs and infections. Apparently I had a number of drains. I came out mid March and following a continuous dry cough I have now (late November) found out that I probably have pulmonary fibrosis (from X-rays and waiting confirmation from CT scan) caused partially by my stay in ICU but also through my RA drugs.

Yes I’m breathless but like @sepsur you live as normally as you can. what ever normal is!

[Ferham]

My husband was ventilated for nearly 6 weeks in March/April. We recently saw his X rays and CT's for over that time period. His lungs were heavily consolidated with inflammation . His second X ray was worst than the 1st as the Virus took a grip on his lungs . They looked like a pair of net curtains, All we could see was white .

We have had several X rays and CT's since he was discharged, they have improved to the best they probably ever will, we are awaiting an appointment now with a respiratory consultant .

I'm not sure if this is the type of reply you were after ? Thanks

[FamilyHistorian in reply to Ferham]

I think your reply is exactly what is wanted on this site. The truth as it effects you. We are all different, cope in different ways; the experience of others gives some “normality” what ever that means. It’s not all roses and for many there is light at the end of the tunnel no matter how long or many tunnels. It’s not an easy path.

[Rach2Sym]

Hello

Covid-19 and only two weeks on a ventilator seems insignificant compared to most of the stories I’m reading on this site. On discharge, I was obviously very weak, but breathlessness was the major problem. Everyone said, ‘Give it a year’. Eight months on and it’s getting better all the time. Two X-rays since discharge show distinct improvement, which I didn’t need to be told but was very encouraged to be formally told. I’ve assumed that there is some fibrosis and so I’m not sure what my new normal will eventually be. Will I be tempted to ‘settle for’ a reduced normal? Being in my seventies, will I use age for an excuse to ease up? For me, being fit – running, walking and cycling – was always a way of life more than a hobby. I haven’t got back to running yet (though I’ve signed up for a half marathon next October) but, avoiding steep hills, I’m walking for at least twelve hours a week and feel confident on the bike for local trips. I can recommend walking poles; vigorous and correct use of them shares the effort with the upper body, though they might look a bit naff in an urban setting. My heart goes out to anyone who, for whatever pre-existing reasons, can’t get out and exercise, or simply doesn’t have access to green space. The natural world is the essential environment for our species – movement, fresh air, trees, water – these gave us our life in the first instance – and will constantly renew it. My daughter gave me the best advice: “Whatever you’ve got left, make the best use of it”.

[FamilyHistorian]

Absolutely