Needing to know what happened to me in ICU.

[S-A-E]

In July 2021 I had a cycling accident; I was knocked off my bike by an electric Porsche that tried to pass me on a very narrow lane that wasn’t anywhere near wide enough to be passed safely. Thankfully the driver stopped and administered CPR on me, which kept me alive until the ambulance service arrived and took control. Apparently the air ambulance was scrambled but it returned to base as it couldn’t find a suitable place close enough to land.

I was struggling to breath, so was intubated at the scene and then driven at high speed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. It is from this point that I need to know about the treatment I received - having a number of brain bleeds, I was fitted with a pressure monitor into my scull and pressure was drained off from a point in my spine. All this happened under an induced coma. Sadly I was unable to be brought out of the coma as I had contracted pneumonia.

When I eventually did wake up from coma, I was quite delirious and had some very weird dreams. But I’m not aware of what was done to me.

I was discharged from hospital at the end of august, and it has taken until now and some very strong grit and determination to recover to about 98%. I can at last drive again, shower on my own, cook meals etc etc, I’ve just got to overcome fatigue late in the day, and also get it on my bike again., but my recovery has been pretty amazing.

[strawberryjam]

S-A-E I admire your grit and determination. To get back to 98 percent, even though it took 8 months is a tribute to your strength as well

as the medical care you received ! Enjoy life! Best to you .

[S-A-E in reply to strawberryjam]

Thank you for your kind words. I believe that a positive mental attitude and sheer will and determination played a huge role in the recovery. However, it goes without saying that the medical care I received in hospital has been exemplary, they and anyone else in critical and hospital care are all heroes in my view.

[FamilyHistorian]

I too was cared for by the QE and was there from Dec 19 to March 20 nearly 2 months of that was in a coma.To answer your main question you can email the QE data protection team who will provide you with your full record most of which is typed. When I was there the physios were writing theirs - slightly hard to read. The icu day to day notes start at the end and work backwards.

I didn’t read them straight away and then started to read them a couple of days at a time. They will tell how you were cared for and how seriously I’ll you were.

I was offered a return visit but because of covid I haven’t been yet.

Whilst we are all different hallucinations are not uncommon as is the tremendous weight loss particularly from muscles.

ICUSteps have a range of documents that explain what you might have go through.

Critical Care Support Network offer opportunities via zoom on a weekly basis and include drop-ins including one specifically for relatives. Exercise classes at different levels, relaxation classes and various well being activities.

[S-A-E in reply to FamilyHistorian]

Thanks FamilyHisyorian - I’m sorry to hear you were In there for 2 months, and in a coma too….feel for you.

Thankyou so much for your ideas and suggestions, I’ll certainly get proactive.

Cheers, S-A-E

[Sepsur]

Take comfort that you can from the fact that you probably had a series of procedures that would have been extremely unpleasant if administered while you were conscious

Respiratory failure that requires intubation requires sedation. Propophol & fentanyl are commonly used for this type of sedation. These drugs make it easier to tolerate the tube in their throat, make it easier to cough, rest while the ventilator does most of the work of breathing and the ordeal goes quick for the patient. Occasionally patients deteriorate to a point where paralytics are used to place patients in an ‘induced coma’. If it is becoming increasingly difficult to oxygenate and repositioning isn't helping, you may have to be turned in a prone position. At this point you want all oxygen consumption to be for maintaining vital organ system needs.

Sedation & paralysis make it easier for staff to do what is necessary to keep us alive without the added difficulty of a confused and resistant patient ripping out tubes etc etc & it also makes it easier for us to synch with life support machinery . You may have had chest drains & catheters- suctioning of the lungs was gross. Being comatose also makes for speedy administering medication & supplements

[S-A-E in reply to Sepsur]

Wow…..my neuropsychologist has advised to get someone close, my wife, to right down a diary of events for me. Your comments will be extremely beneficial to her report, so thank you so much.

You mentioned about the patient removing tubes etc, that’s exactly what I did a number of times, to the point where ICU inserted a trach…, after which I massively improved.

All good stuff, so thank you so much.

Cheers, S-A-E

[emha22]

Hi S-A-E. Im sorry if this is long but it has really helped me to relay this and I really hope it helps you even if its a tiny bit.

Anyway I just wanted to say you are f-ing amazing and not alone in this. For the first time in 2 years I have related to someone and it genuinely feels unreal.

I was hit by a drunk driver when I was 20 (June 2020) and was in a coma for 5 days followed by over 2 and a half months In hospital. I broke pretty much every bone in my body and have a number of long-term neurological issues that make me disabled.

Even-though our stories are slightly different, I relate so much to your story and even though im sure you are just as sick of hearing it as I am but you are incredibly strong and inspirational!

Firstly the story itself, hearing someone else has has their life turned upside down in one singular moment is comforting for me as there are days I feel as if I am watching everyone live their 'good' life whilst mine was completely tampered. Regardless, I am glad to hear you received care and recovered as much as you possibly can, you deserve every good that comes your way.

Next the hallucinations, you are not alone in feeling completely weird about it all. I had multiple hallucinations when in ICU due to the ketamine and morphine drips which made me go absolutely crazy and only remember tiny chunks from that period of time. Super weird feeling like I said but all that matters is we both made it through.

And finally the discharge. Through shire determination I was able to drag myself out of that hole and began walking 4 months post-incident even though I was told it could be up to 18 months before I walked again. In the following 9 months I dedicated every waking moment to rehab to enable me to feed, clothe, wash, cook and clean for myself without help. Finally I was able to move back to my university house 9 months later to gain some more independence. I may be more physically independent but I really struggle with the mental recovery everyday even 2 years later. To hear you learnt to live again fills me with so much joy for you and you earned it through your dedication to rehab. I admire your positivity and it inspires me to continue trying to recover both mentally and physically.

Go you S-A-E! Keep being the hero you are.

[S-A-E in reply to emha22]

Dear emha22

Thank you so much for your comments, they mean so much.

It is pure grit and determination that got me through my hospital stay. My wife has written a diary of every day I was in hospital from the accident to my discharge, and I am truly in awe of the medical teams that looked after me.

Grit determination and self belief are so very important - I have still have a life ahead of me, and my wife and I intend to live every minute together.

Your own story echos mine in that you have recovered so amazingly well; still a way to go yet to be 100% but you will get there. I used to say whenever I was asked how I recovered so quickly, and came out of hospital just 7 weeks after my accident - “it’s the Viking blood in me”, people got very fed up with me quoting that, that in the end I did a DNA test with ancestry.com. I was sk made up with the result - 4% Norwegian but also 40% Welsh; 39% northern English; 15% Scottish and 2% Irish. But I’ll take the

4%.

I was adamant I wasn’t going to be in hospital long even though said that with my brain injury it could be several months, and to completely recover and return back to normal could be years. The only thing left for me to conquer is a little fatigue late

afternoon and get back out on my bike.

And the reason I am on here is to share my experience and to try and find some closure as to what happened to me to keep when I was out of it. It helps that my wife had written a diary of daily occurrences from my admission to A+E to my discharge, what also has helped is yourself and other members commenting on my post.

To end on - believe in yourself and believe you can fully recover…..GO GIRL.