Post ICU covid fatigue

[Gooddaysunshine]

Hello, I have now been out of hospital for 13 weeks after my post-covid scare which put me in a coma for a month, and in ICU for three months.

I had been making slow but steady progress, but this past week I have really "hit a wall" as runners say, and am totally shattered.

It is not just physical, I can't deal very well just now with personal admin issues, questions from friends and family etc, and just want to hibernate so to speak.

It is not "long covid" as I am up and dressed early each day, more the blitzing effects of what i have been through. I also have had a lot of admin to do lately like trying to sort out transport to my many medical appointments.

Is this postponed fatigue/dip normal in terms of recovery after a long ICU stay/being in a coma?

[Hidden]

Hi. I had a prolonged stay in ICU including a serious bout of covid. I came out of care towards end of last year and still suffer fatigue now. I also think there is an element ptsd, given the extreme nature of the experience in ICU. However I am able to manage day to day, although still not 100%.

[FamilyHistorian]

Hi

I was in ICU for roughly 3 months and for a fair amount of time was sedated and ventilated with a trachy. Not for covid. I had PTSD and both mentally and physically I am still recovering.

I have been out for 15 months I still have memory issues, not as bad on a day to day basis as they were. I have difficulty with concentration and find it easier to do a number of different things for short periods.

And yes I have bad days (singularly or in a row). Sometimes when trying to resolve an issue that’s not really a problem I’m just worn down.

You are not alone and from what I have discovered it’s not uncommon for icu patients not matter why they were admitted.

[LCharles in reply to FamilyHistorian]

May I ask you when u first opened your eyes and they started to turn down the sedation drugs were you actually awake yet? For my friend it’s only been a week being off the drugs, he’s still on a ventilator but doesn’t feel any pain yet? He looks all around, up at the ceiling but not coming out of it. His brain hasn’t been able to signal to his lungs yet to breathe? Basically all he’s doing is looking all around. Did u do that too at first, is that somewhat normal in the beginning?

[FamilyHistorian in reply to LCharles]

Hi that’s a really difficult question. First of all we are all different. In my case what was going on in my head wouldn’t necessarily have corresponded with what my relatives saw. Whilst I was in a coma for under 2 months there would have been times when as part of the weening process I might have come round, that would have been really positive for my relatives but I may not have known. I couldn’t cope with being weened off and in the end my family were told that I would come round when I was ready which obviously I did. I have seen a photo of me all connected up and with my trachy and wearing glasses and I do wonder why!! There was a stage when I was off the drugs but hadn’t come round but without going back over my medical records I don’t know how long that was.

[shar47]

Hi I was on a ventilator and echmo in 2018 after 2 cardiac arrests and 2 heart attacks and I would definitely say that it takes time for your body physically and your mind to recover. Give yourself encouragement every day and praise yourself for every little step you take. Good luck.