ICU: Hi, I’ve got severe asthma and brittle asthma... - ICUsteps

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Christ0706 profile image
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Hi, I’ve got severe asthma and brittle asthma, I was admitted to hospital on the 2nd of jan as I had a flare up and rushed to hospital by ambulance, All my vital signs was bad and they had to incubate me and put me into a coma that day and put on critical care, I ended up with pneumonia aswell and they had to try and drain my lungs, I can’t remember anything about it, I was woken up on the 18th, I was told my heart had started to pack in on the second day, I can not thank the staff enough as they saved my life and got to see my wife and children again, what I put them through was heartbreaking and feel guilty as it was touch and go for me as I did not feel a thing throughout that time. I was stepped down from critical care and was discharged on the 26th Jan. I had the Dras nurses come out everyday and my peak flow is terrible I’m blowing around 260 where it should be around 380/390, I feel so weak and strange and trying to get my head around what happened I can not thank the NHS so much for me seeing another day, I was COVID free but my heart goes out to all the people who have lost their lives and survived this terrible disease and what other family’s are going through please please take this seriously as I did not expect this to happen to me x

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Christ0706
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FamilyHistorian profile image
FamilyHistorian

It’s not uncommon to feel like you do after ICU. Perhaps you are ready for further support.

Your icu may provide follow up care both for you and your relatives. You problem need to ring.

Icustepschester is a charity for providing support across the country. They run exercise and yoga classes and 2 drop ins one for relatives and another for patients plus. … All on zoom.

I know of at least one person in the group who has asthma

Sepsur profile image
Sepsur

I didn’t intentionally put my family through the drama around my admission last time & I am keen to try and not repeat what had gone on. Recovery takes a long time & on some levels, I am still recovering 5yrs later, although I have had several serious hospital admissions since ICU. I have also been under daily treatment for a type of blood cancer that is both a leukaemia/lymphoma.

I am eternally grateful to the staff who saved my life. We have a private FB group that you might find useful.

PeterJu profile image
PeterJu

I was in icu and nearly all of what you said completely resonate with me. Going from healthy to a geologically slow recovery via near death & trauma is demanding, exhausting and challenges you to your very core. I totally endorse Family Historian’s suggestion re joining icu steps Chester or another support group. Knowing you’re not alone and listening to other people who are on the same journey or who have been on it is a tremendous support. Good luck in your recovery. Regards, Pete

Mijmijkey74 profile image
Mijmijkey74

Some odd coincidental vice versa details for me in your comment l haven't yet read fully but intend to. I too have brittle asthma was admitted to hospital on 18th Jan 2018 due to my asthma not expected to survive "l obviously did" and was discharged as an outpatient on 2nd of Feb 2018. My child's birthday is the 2nd of Jan. Our dates are similar for things and the reason for intubation the same. Every so slightly twilight zony. I had been to hospital the previous afternoon/evening/night which I don't recall on the 17th but sent home having been mocked and laughed at told nothing wrong with me that it was all in my head by a male triage nurse and told to stop wasting his time as he had more serious patients to deal with who were in cardiac arrest and to not come back to the hospital again. Just hours later on the 18th l had a massive asthma attack and had to call an ambulance. And everything went downhill from there. Still not fully recovered now in June 2021. Had that triage nurse admitted me I'd never have end up in an induced coma having become to critical to be moved. My heart was failing and my body was shuting down slowly, having the massive asthma attack actually saved my life as if I hadn't had that, the cardiologist after my coma told me I would have just gone to sleep and never woken up again. I question serious how a triage nurse who deals with patients in cardiac arrest who sat in that cubical with me mocking me who listened to my chest and heart and pulse failed to pick up that my heart was failing. I was completely unaware of that fact until woke from coma and told l had heart failure. Incidentally our peak flow readings and expected are much the same. I blow out anywhere on very bad days just 90 or 120, but my estimated/expected is the same as your own. Your peakflow reading of 260 is a good day for me and l'm a cyclist everywhere as don't drive. Done with sheer willpower despite feeling like l'm going to collapse and die. Please put aside your feelings of guilt, you survived and that will be the most important of all to your family above all else. And it is not ur fault you became so very critically ill, that is out of the hands and control of all "unless self induced" who become so critically ill. It is normal you feel weak and strange your whole body, mind and soul have been through sheer hell and turmoil despite you feeling nothing during it, and you not only have your illness to fully recover from, but also the effects upon the body and mind of your coma. That a doctor pointed out to me as being two seperate things to recover from and it is correct. I am much better but still recovering even now in 2021. You must take babysteps and go easy on yourself. Speak to pals if necessary to help you further. They helped me sort some issues out. Good luck and be patient and tolerant with yourself and loved ones too. It is quite a long journey but not insurmountable. x

Christ0706 profile image
Christ0706

So sorry I missed your reply how strange the similarities, hope you are ok now x

Mijmijkey74 profile image
Mijmijkey74 in reply to Christ0706

No worries. Yes the similarities are very odd. Unfortunately my health isn't great but you certainly have far more to deal with and whilst asking if you are ok may seen pathetic with all you have on your plate, do hope you are ok in plenty of other ways and enjoying life best you can. There also two other similarities with date/month and condition. You were discharged 26th Jan and I first woke or rather was shaken out of my coma briefly on the 25th Jan. Different years of course. And three days into my coma it was shockingly unexpectantly discovered I had biventricular heart failure and call to ECMO team/specialists was made. I've no idea what went on with that. I wonder if we have shared other same and similar dates in our lives. That would truly be weird. Take care, stay positive. ☺ x

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