Destroyed by hospitalisation during pandemic.

[Sliced-and-diced]

ICU and hospital stay earlier this year destroyed me. Filled with dread every time I have to go back there after discharge for a follow up appointment and need some coping tips please.

[Sepsur]

Have a look at cc-sn.org - they are a friendly lot 😊

[Hidden]

A prolonged hospital stay and being in ICU can be a haunting experience. Last year I was in ICU for an initial 4 weeks and then returned to ICU for a further 10 weeks. For me the worst aspect was the ICU delerium I suffered, but this stopped once out of ICU. I have since been back to the hospital for follow appointments on more than one occassion. I have come to terms with my experience by focussing on the positive ie the ICU team saved my life, and although it was quite a stressful time, the care given was exceptional.

[Sliced-and-diced in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. Unfortunately I was kept in the dark about much of my care, the communication was very poor who has had a very negative impact. But it is reassuring to know there are good experiences out there.

[Hidden in reply to Sliced-and-diced]

Although the experience for me was stressful, and the doctors at times seemed a bit eccentric, I feel lucky that they did all they could to assist my recovery when I was very ill.

[FamilyHistorian]

I came out back in March 2000 straight into lock down. Many things caused flash backs and emotional breakdown. In August of that year I was contacted by a physio via video conferencing. She was in a hospital office and I just broke down in tears. She obviously was wearing a uniform and the office was clinical. Since then I have been to a different hospital and although very apprehensive about going in I was able to do this because I had built strategies for coping. I am also able to watch hospital and ambulance TV programmes. This doesn't mean that I don't get emotional I just cope much better.

Through CC-SN mentioned by Sepsur I started going to drop-ins on zoom and sbsequently their exercise classes. We had a talk from an expert on CBT and I subsequently had counselling for 10/11 sessions. We are all different but certainly talking with others who have been there helps. No judgements but many solutions.

[Sliced-and-diced in reply to FamilyHistorian]

Thank you. Hoping that I will get to a place where I can talk about what happened without getting distressed.

[FamilyHistorian in reply to Sliced-and-diced]

If you come to the CC-SN on a Thursday evening nobody is bothered about people being distressed. Its natural. The first couple of times I was in tears most of the time and could hardly talk. Even now some things still touch a nerve, deep breath and keep going. Its really good to see thers in the same boat and you don't have to participate if you dont want to. Therr is also a relatives group.

[Gooddaysunshine]

I am the same, and in fact I have three separate follow-up appointments next week. Before I go I tell myself that the medical staff are regularly checked for covid, and are getting their booster vaccine jabs around now too. I make sure I have a fresh mask for each visit - my own, not from the communal stack in hospital - and my own hand sanitiser, which I liberally use.

If I get there early I remain outside the hospital until 10 - 15 mins before the appointment.

I also stay well away from other patients.

Finally, if I have to go onto any scanning equipment I make sure they have cleaned it since the last patient.

Finallly, I take a book to read if there is a delay, as something to take my mind off things.

All in all I must come over as slightly neurotic, but the staff seem to be understanding, given my own ICU coma nightmare earlier this year.

[FamilyHistorian in reply to Gooddaysunshine]

Neurotic ..... NO.... thats the way of life now. Not many people understand!

[Sliced-and-diced]

Thank you!