Returning to work after ICU

[Dolphinsandwales]

I work in a nursery in the baby room and I was due to return on 5th July for 1/2 a day. I left hospital on 4th April. After going talking to family they have advised I get my sick note extended. They advised that I not return to work till I have had my repeat CT SCAN and see the consultant in outpatients for the results.How long did all of you (who work) wait till you returned to work???

[Sepsur]

I was self employed so returned to work when I was capable. Be careful not to go back too soon - remember your immune system probably won’t to operating at full capacity so infections are common place for us. You may find your energy levels are depleted as is your concentration. Critical illness is the gift that keeps on giving

[Dolphinsandwales in reply to Sepsur]

Thankyou. I was told if I got ill like this that I may not survive. It's hard having Autism, ADHD and mental health issues, I'm anxious about returning to work. I was told before I left the hospital that I should have a minimum of 3 months on sick leave, 4th July. It threw me when others said I should take more time off. I'm just anxious about it all.

[Slip-Digby in reply to Dolphinsandwales]

I was in intensive care for 4 weeks. 3 weeks in a coma on life support / ventilator and a week recovering (Legionnaire's / Status Asthmaticus / 2xPneumonia-ARDS & respiratory failure) - I should not have discharged myself when I did, but I did.

It was six months before I could even walk and then it was wonky walking.

Being self employed, mentally I should have not been within 5 miles of my businesses for at least another 6 months on top.

Still, went back to work, fooked everything up and lost 2 perfectly good and profitable businesses along with the staff therein.

Don't rush

[Dolphinsandwales in reply to Slip-Digby]

Oh dear poor you I hope you are recovering now.

[Sepsur in reply to Dolphinsandwales]

Sometimes rushing back too early just prolongs your recovery - I was told it would take me 10 days to recover from everyday I was in ICU - that made 900 days of recovery 😊. In my case, with the gift of 20/20 hindsight, that was about right.

[Dolphinsandwales in reply to Sepsur]

Thanks for the advice

[Heretotellthetale_]

hi, I am not sure of your circumstances but I have been told my recovery will take around 18 months, I came out of hospital at the end of Jan and will think about returning to work towards the end of the year at the earliest.

[Dolphinsandwales]

Thankyou. I was taken to hospital from the GP surgery on 14th February 24, I had a chest infection my oxygen was low. By 15th February 2am I was put to sleep for 3weeks. During that time I was given dialysis and 3 blood transfusions. The main issue was flu A (sepsis, pneumonia, chest infection) I didn't come round as quickly as the medics had wanted me to! I had a tracheostomy, a catheter and I was fed through a tube. Physio was so hard! Learning to walk etc. I was taken to a ward on 21st March during that time I had a CT scan, my lungs are scarred! Finally left hospital on 4th Aprii, 2 months tomorrow! I was so happy to leave.

[ZanderB in reply to Dolphinsandwales]

Your experience sounds similar to mine. Just over 3 weeks in an induced coma, pneumonia, tracheostomy, fed through a tube, et cetera. It was bad enough gathering the strength to walk, etc, and dodging covid (this was late 2020, so lots of covid around and no physio on offer). I went back to work too soon and did too much. My cognitive functions were scrambled and it took me so much longer to decipher the information that I had to work with. I'd get up at 2 or 3 am to work, thinking that I just had to work harder - of course this destroyed an already badly damaged sleep pattern.

After a year, I reduced to 3 days per week which has been great, but you should have a detailed conversation with your employer about how you return to work (assuming that it's the kind of employer who is interested in having such a conversation). I went down to three days without realising it was, in effect, permanent and now a 'business case' needs to be made for increasing days. But I have been told that, at least in theory, I should be able to add a day per fortnight and then a day per week (so that I get to 4 days per week) and so on (though I am doing other interesting things with my life now and find it hard to imaging returning to 5 days per week - I think I will be able to keep on going a lot longer on 3 days. I can see now that I should have arranged a long-term temporary reduction in days per week so that it would be easier to increase them when I felt ready. It's tricky. I there anyone who can mentor your return to work?

[Lux95]

I went to a new job 2 months after being released, and it was a mistake for me, but it was also a unique situation, and a perfect storm of a bad situation I didn't expect. I thought I had physically recovered enough after going through physical therapy, but didn't count on the suppressed emotional and psychological side effects that I wasn't even aware of.

There is no rule that fits everyone, so you may be fine returning. It may even be beneficial.

For me, the new job turned out to be a dysfunctional mess where I was lied to and thrown under the bus for someone else's very costly mistake. Obviously that's a worst case scenario, and the last thing we need after surviving an icu stay, or anytime. That probably stalled my recovery as I ended up living on adrenaline, stress and in a constant state of near-anger for the next 8 months. I paid for it the second year out of ICU with low energy, no enthusiasm, and an inability to enjoy anything. Probably depression, I guess.

Everyone and every situation is different. Had my job been the way it was pitched to me, it might have been fine. Just take it slowly. Sedation and all of the trauma of an icu stay throws our bodies, minds and nervous systems into survival mode for quite some time. Many of us find we've lost our conversational filter and say what we think - more than prior to the ICU at least.

[Dolphinsandwales in reply to Lux95]

Thanks for the advice. Take care

[BigH63]

Hi. I didn’t go back to work. Like heretotellthetale said I was told 18 months im not there yet and still find it hard to do lots of things around the house all day. Taking breaks is so crucial but needed. You say you work in a nursery? That would scare me as Sepsur said we are very vulnerable to infection. I’ve been waring a mask since discharge last march and have been fine, but forgot once when around my young grandkids and caught a chest infection that took me back to hospital a few weeks ago scary!

So yes I would wait for your CT scan add you’re consult appointment then go from there but all parts of recovery need to be considered mental health and physical etc.

good luck

[Dolphinsandwales in reply to BigH63]

Thanks for the advice

[Gurberly]

I was in ICU/HDU for approx 5-6 weeks, then a further 4 weeks on ward based care.

I guess we are all different and a lot would depend on the nature of the issues that took you to ICU in the first place and the nature of your work

On discharge from hospital the consultant signed me off for another 6 months, however a few weeks after getting home, my work advised me that due to the length of time I was off sick, that I would be moving me to half pay as per company policy at the 6 month anniversary.

A quick battle with HR and Occupational Health who want me to stay off for the full sign off period, I went back on a phased return basis (which kept me on full pay) and then back full time a month or so later.

I do have a desk job driving a computer, and my work/HR/colleagues were very accommodating. I was also allowed to work from home (issues with DVLA confirming I was OK to drive), so that made it a lot easier for me.

Had I been in a manual job, or a job that required me to be on site etc, then I guess I would have a very different story

[Dolphinsandwales]

Thanks for the advice

[Rdance]

I think everyone’s recovery will be very different. It took me 9 months to be back to work without being patient facing (I work in nhs with children) and a year till I was back into clinic but I had nerve damage to 3 limbs which is still a problem.

I guess my consideration for you is do you feel you can physically do your job as you are responsible for other people’s little ones. I would check things like are you able to get on and off the floor which I guess you might have to do with a child in arms?

It’s probably worth a discussion with your GP as to whether they would advise you wait as well.

I found that I got to a point where I just needed to try it to see if I could be in clinic and my work were great about it. It may also be of consideration as to whether you can agree a phased return to work and over how long a period that can be?

Hope that helps and whatever you do hope it works out well for you and your recovery continues well.

[Dolphinsandwales in reply to Rdance]

Thanks for your advice

[Sk8inpancake]

Hello, I took the full 6 months off work that I was entitled too. I have returned full time after a phased return for 6 weeks. I am still under the care of the hospital but had to return as I needed the wage unfortunately. I'd take off as much time as you can. You might feel ready and be bored but honestly it is the best decision I made. I wish I wasn't full time now as I'm still in and out of hospital and waiting for appointments, a follow up MRI. So take it easy and take what time you can. Once you return to work you will be tired and feel like you never left. I can just about manage work, chores and seeing friends. I'd love to return to exercise but can't manage that as well at the moment. Good luck x

[Dolphinsandwales]

Thankyou for the advice. I hope you continue to improve.

[madonbrew]

Hi, I was in hospital over Christmas and look after my mum. I only had a short spell in ICU but only just feel now like I'm starting to feel slightly more back to normal. I don't think I would have coped well going back to work before now if I was still "working", however, like the others have said, it's individual and you know how your body is feeling physically and how you're doing mentally and emotionally. I think the biggest thing is remembering you have been through a huge experience and to look after you!!

Take care 🙂

[Dolphinsandwales]

Thankyou

[Leenk8]

Hi there, I own a nursery and may have caught infection from there last July which led to septic shock, major surgeries, ventilation and 4 week ICU stay plus 3 week ward for rehab. I started to go 5 mornings in May and it was exhausting so I cut back to 2 to 3 mornings which is better. I don’t go into the classrooms though just management. I am quite drained with just the energies of the staff and parents because it isn’t easy working in childcare facilities. Please dont go for the rest of this year I would recommend. Im surprised your consultant hasn’t advised you as I was told to stay away for at least 6 months as infections are so common in the nursery environment.

[Dolphinsandwales]

Thanks for the advice, the consultant just said I said I should have at least 3 months off so I went with that. The 3 months runs out on 4th July. I want to stay off till I have had the CT scan and got the results. Unfortunately I don't know when my CT SCAN is yet.

[Leenk8]

Go with your intuition. Definitely wait until your scans are done and clear.

I was discharged in February, 7 months later and I only went to work 3 months after this only because I had to otherwise I was going in once a week.

Listen to your body not the professionals. They will never know how you feel

[Dolphinsandwales]

Thanks for the advice

[Theivy]

Please don't rush back, take all the time you need your GP will be more then happy to sign you off. We all are just a number at work. I'm still signed off until Aug when I plan to go back on reduced hrs and even then both OH at work and my GP have said anything and we are signing you off work straight away. I was with my consultant last week nothing has changed since my Jan 30th scan still have cavity in my lung , scaring I've been off work since this happened Nov 23 as you know 27 day coma. I still have entire days that I'm shattered, still on painkillers, emotional getting help for that, anxiety, crying. Consultant told me last week yes your doing amazingly, wait until a year's time you'll be feeling so much better. She had told me this was going to be a log recovery boy was she right.

Take care and please please look after you don't rush back they do t expect you to... its ourselves feeling that X

[Dolphinsandwales in reply to Theivy]

Thanks for the advice I hope you feel much better soon.

[Theivy in reply to Dolphinsandwales]

Thank you, you too.