Since ICU and delerium my brain chemistry changed significantly. After years of treatment for anxiety I no longer needed anything on discharge.I also found alcohol and pain relief now has little effect on me - Oromorph, Tramadol, Fentanyl - nothing.
I cant find any research or information on this, and doctors are generally dismissive, but it worries me.
I'm suffering from unrelieved reactive arthritis now, but fear the future should I experience intolerable pain.
Any help or advice?
Hello. Yes that’s strange isn’t it. I have the same thing. I had Tramadol and other pain killers no affect. Plus I’ve had different amounts of alcohol be that wine or beer / cider scrumpy or Pernod not affect
I’ve not been to anyone to have it looked at. Also I can’t eat anything with sugar as it tastes disgusting
Let me know if you find anything
I don’t know about drug tolerances - what I did notice is my pain threshold had increased and has remained so.
Have you thought about acupuncture for pain relief?
That is very interesting, I thought it was just me. But since ICU beer has absolutely no effect on me now, it might as well be water.
I wonder if our brains experienced the ultimate "high" (terrifying as it was) in ICU, and have rearranged things whereby analgesics have little effect now.
I have pleural lining pain, plus neuropathy, post-hospital, but the tablets I have been given have little effect either.
I still get the physical effects after drinking - mild hangover type - but don't get tipsy anymore, and I was always a real lightweight!
Post ICU feelings.
post ICU body 
Hallucinations post ICU discharge 
