ICU survivor 7 months later

[Hammer65]

Hi,

Just to introduce myself to this fabulous group, I am a survivor of ICU from January this year.

I attended an outpatient appointment expecting to have dressings applied to my foot and possibly having a cast within 24 hours I was on the operating table having a life-saving operation. Unbeknown to me I had contracted Covid, Sepsis, Gangrene and osteomyelitis - quite a potent cocktail of infection!

The outcome was I had a bellow knee amputation of my left leg. With hindsight, it was an excellent decision by the surgeon as subsequent analysis of tissue from my calf showed the infections were travelling rapidly through my body.

I spent 8 days in ICU. Of course, I don't recall much before the last couple of days. Then, in my semi-lucid state, I do have patchy memories. Especially when they removed one of the lines. Seemed to go on forever and I used the F word more in a couple of minutes than ever in my life !!!

But ~ I made it to the regular ward for three more weeks before discharge and the beginning of my real road to recovery. . . . . .which is still definitely a work in progress.

[Frazzled88]

👋 Hammer65

Frazzled 🙃

[Sepsur]

have you come across this charity

findingyourfeet.net/

it deals with people with amputations & transplants - its chair is an amazing woman called Cor who is a double amputee 😊

[Gooddaysunshine]

Good luck with your recovery. I am glad to hear that prompt NHS expertise saved you from something potentially worse.

Hopefully you are getting the physio etc and any psychological support you may need, given the often dislocating mental effects of ICU.

[Hammer65 in reply to Gooddaysunshine]

Thank you for your comments. I do have a physio program, but prefer to tailor it to my own liking. I use the hospital advice for exercise to keep my hips, knees and back mobile. But I also use online classes for upper body workouts and cardio - I soon realised that as a wheelchair user the muscle groups around the neck and shoulders are vital ! I use classes crested by "Adapt To Perform" which are really useful.

Psychologically I have been offered no support at all, although I haven't asked either. I suffered anxiety and depression before my illness, and my wife informed the hospital staff of this during my stay. I have been doing really well mentally until very recently. The initial buzz of feeling "lucky to be alive" has gone and been replaced with "how do I stay alive". I use my lack of mobility as an excuse to stay in the house and I haven't been out in public at all aside from my hospital appointments. THink i need to speak to my GP to initiate some kind of therapy/counselling.

[Gooddaysunshine]

Yes the euphoria does go after a while, but I found that was when the planning for “the next stage” started.

I did not have any amputation but my right leg was not working and I had a walking frame ( now use a stick). I went through all my complicated post-ICU issues with my GP, and we worked out a rough route ahead,

Also, I was able to self-refer to the local mental health services for the Borough, and fortunately my hospital ICU psychologist also keeps in touch.