Did you have any rehabilitation or physiotherapy after you were discharged home from hospital?

There is more and more information about the benefits of physical rehabilitation after critical illness, but many patients still receive very little input after discharge. What are your experiences?

[barbsky]

I remained in MK hospital from Feb to June 2005. I was not allowed to go straight to my own home as I had so desperately wanted but luckily I received a place at Rayner's Hedge Neuro-Rehab Unit at Aylesbury.

I then had an extensive period for physio and rehabilitation which enabled me to live on my own again safely.

(Rayner's Hedge is no longer there!)

[Kymmer in reply to barbsky]

In Canada we have nothing like that I went from icu to medical card for 2 days then discharged because it was so busy they needed the bed inly thing was my co2 because I have COPD walked a couple time with physio came home nothing. Have fallen alot moving back to Ontario where my nusre oractioner will help me alot. Will keep u informed

[JudithICUSteps]

Hi Barbsky

That sounds a very comprehensive rehab input, although I think others aren't always so well arranged. We hear at the Bristol support group that many patients get home and are not that able physically, putting a huge strain on familiy members to do physical caring, and it always astounds me. There is often too much duplication and lack of communication. Anwya, not to damn the system, we are striving to improve the continuuum of rehab and recovery. Thank you for your message.

[Kymmer in reply to JudithICUSteps]

I am on my own no family to help that's w he y my nurse practitioner is my best solution

[ICUsteps-Dawn ICUsteps]

Unfortunately I had neither physio or rehab and my road to recovery was long and extremely challenging at times. i take heart when I hear of units that now have such processes in place.

[JudithICUSteps in reply to ICUsteps-Dawn]

We are in the process of reviewing rehabilitation services in our trust and regionally, as we here your kind of experiences too often. I would be interested to know how you managed, and who helped you, if anyone. have you returned to your former physical level? thank you for your response, it is vital that we hear these comments. best wishes.

[ICUsteps-Dawn ICUsteps in reply to JudithICUSteps]

Hi Judith, I was very lucky to stumble across forward thinking people. My GP went above and beyond, calling in on me at home on his way to social events etc and always being mindful that my experience had changed me. The physio that saw me on the ward bent the rules and still sees me recording different ongoing problems and the pain clinic where I had previously been a patient facilitated my seeing a burns psychologist (much of this has kind of been off the record and I was fortunate). I haven't returned to either my former physical or mental level but view it more as a change now than a negative outcome.

[Kymmer in reply to JudithICUSteps]

As if April 7i am returning to Ontario from Saskatchewan to my original nurse practitioner whom I know will help me

[mike999]

I was very lucky as a serviceman to go to the Defence Rehab Centre at Headley Court where I received intensive physio, psychiatric and occupational health treatment. It certainly got me back to work quickly, but I soon discovered there was a much longer struggle to get back to real mental and physical fitness. The abilty to talk back to staff at Headley Court, provided some very welcome support. But ultimately the best decision I made was to be honest and frank with my boss that all was not quite right.

[Offcut]

I lost 3 stone in 40 days and was seen by a nutritionist after 3 months and told what to eat but was not told when to stop. I was sent to physio rehab to get my breathing and exercise limits found. I am 92% O2 at rest but if I over exercise will make it drop to 80% and give me cramps in my legs

[Kymmer in reply to Offcut]

80 is to low u need to find out why it becomes to low

[LucyT]

Having been on a ventilator for over 2 weeks, I was then moved to a general ward for 4 hours before they allowed me to go home! I was desperate to get home but once I was at home I wish I'd stayed in hospital - I felt so vulnerable! I had no rehab initially but was given rehab at Headley Court Military Rehab Unit 18 months after I had been discharged from hospital. It was a bit late so took a longer to recover - I'm still not 100% and its been over 4 years since I was in ICU. I would strongly suggest speaking to your GP if you don't get given physio and rehab after you are discharged from hospital.