trauma after icu stay

[ZoeH1974]

hi in2020 I was rushed to kings hospital London with septic shock due to ulcers on my liver. I was in an induced coma for a week and in hospital for 5 weeks. During the last 3 months I have been having really bad nightmares about being in a coma, specifically that my doctor is trying to kill me (i really believed this at the time). I feel I am going mad but my dr is of no use and I don’t know where to turn or go for help. Any advice gratefully received x

[Lux95]

Hi, what you are experiencing is part of post-intensive care syndrome (PICS), and is common. It seems to be one way our minds deal with what they perceived was happening, despite being in a coma at the time. PICS covers a wide range of symptoms just as a way of connecting them to our ICU stay, including ICU-acquired weakness, cognitive issues, depression, exhaustion, stress, anxiety, nightmares, and symptoms similar to PTSD.

I had similar nightmares, though it was a nurse that I thought would kill me. I still remember her name, hairstyle and extensive background details and a long storyline better than anything about my real nurses or the real events during my stay.

It's been 2 years for me, and though my worst nightmares were isolated to my time in the ICU and sedated, the stored stress and trauma still crop up from time to time. Flashbacks, ongoing nightmares or related dreams are common in somewhere around half of ICU patients.

Someone else here will have direct links for possible help options (I am in the US, and relatively new to the forum). You aren't going crazy, though I know it feels like it. I think we suppress a lot trying to cope with the day to day after waking, and during recovery, so it may be good to talk to someone versed in post-ICU psychological trauma.

Until then, be encouraged to know that you are not alone, and the nightmares usually do go away.

[Sepsur]

flash backs & intrusive thoughts can be a sign of post traumatic stress - you may need some professional help - EMDR, CBT & DBT therapies have been shown to be really effective treatments.

[downthemoor]

I found an understanding GP ...they don't all have enough ICU knowledge...one was particularly dismissive....plus also the ICU you were in will have staff who do follow ups. Through this I had psychotherapy....don't suffer without help

[Copse77]

please see the link below that may be helpful for understanding what happened to you. There are other resources at this link too

readingicusupport.co.uk/pdf...

[Misterpaulwood]

It's very common, icu delerium effect a great many people, the drugs our given at hallucinogenic and you don't sleep at all, a coma isn't sleep, so your sleep deprived.Your brain can't process the information it's receiving so comes up with these bizarre scenarios that latter you get as nightmares.

Try to get clinical sycology, preferably a icu specialist.

This has helped me greatly.

Hope this helps

Paul at the Steampacket Inn Knottingley

[Hidden]

Apparantly this is very common ZoeH1974. When I was in a coma I was certain the nurses on my ward were trying to kill me. On one occasion they were taking bets on my time of death and they were all calling it. For me, talking about it makes it easier and makes me realise it didn't actually happen as my brain interpreted it. Hope you can find someone to talk to (not all GPs have the time for something like this) and would reccomend a Psychologist as the others have mentioned above. Stay strong.

[ZanderB]

Hi ZoeH1974

I can echo all of the above. Although the delirium that I experienced was in intensive care, the memory of it all is still with me 3+ years later.

My suggestions:

- try to speak to staff at the ICU that you were in. I think different ICUs vary greatly as to follow-up but do persist.

- speak to your GP. But as has already been said above, they also vary a lot as to what they know about ICU and what support they can offer. I rate my GP but his only offering was 'talking therapies'.

- try to find a clinical psychologist - personally, I found the one that I found (not easy in itself) very good and we did EMDR. This can sound a bit wacky but seems to have lots of good presss.

- join a support group where you can talk about this with people who've been through the same experience.

Sorry that there are no magic answers in what I have suggested but do know that you are not alone or going mad.

[Mernie]

I've had the same problem thinking the staff were trying to kill me I seen a Dr beat a nurse badly and u really believed this happened for a good while and I think when something seems that real to you i will traumatize you for life