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Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) - Let's talk
Intensive Care (ICU) | Last Active: Sep 16 7:52pm | Replies (609)Comment receiving replies
When I spent 5 days in ICU with sepsis, dehydration, acute kidney failure, and endstage liver disease, I was in and out of awareness. I was sometimes halfway aware of my surroundings, or activities happening to me and around me (only if I was moved, or a sudden noise). I have a partial recollection of the people and of the procedures. But I had no context time.
I have a vague recollection of being flown to another hospital. And arriving there. Although not in ICU, I was on the transplant floor at Mayo Methodist, and for the first few days, I continued to be in and out of awareness.
Later on, when I asked my husband, who is my caregiver, to explain to me what had occurred, I was shocked. So much had occurred that I didn't even realize. And on top of that , my memory of it, was all jumbled. For a while this really bothered me. But now, as time has passed, (8 years) it is not a concern to me, anymore.
Rosemary
Replies to "When I spent 5 days in ICU with sepsis, dehydration, acute kidney failure, and endstage liver..."
What can you do about “anniversaries”. I’ve heard Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (Dr Zinn) deals directly with PTSD. HE SAYS MBSR reduction focuses on what IS RIGHT with you, even in serious medical situations. How does one heal from PTSD?
@beitel I read your post and responses of other people with interest because I also have had hallucinations related to medications. Morphine, dilotted (hydromorphone), tramadol and other opioids. My hallucinations, however, were interesting and humorous to me and I kind of miss them. I knew that they were hallucinations as they were happening and just watched to see where they would go and what would happen. I am an extremely curious person so that may be part of it. I remember seeing Brunhilda's red eye hovering above the door (actually the red light on the smoke alarm); the floor of the car disappeared and the dashboard turned into an airplane control panel and we were whizzing past stars and ufos (yard lights); my cat and people stood in corners, sat in chairs and walked around my room (when no one else was in the house) for some examples. I was careful not to drive while using these medications, but they did not interfere with my daily activities other than not driving.
I wonder why I can find my hallucinations humorous and other people find theirs terrifying. Does it have something to do with my basic personality? Interesting.
@user_cha272278 Hello again Dr. Ron,
I found your questions to be very thought-provoking (I like that!). When you speak of "What can you do about anniversaries" what type of anniversary are you thinking about? Related to the time you were so ill or something else?
Teresa
@beitel I am so glad that you found this conversation. You will find by reading through the posts here that you are absolutely not alone with what you are experiencing. You have been through so much and have multiple reasons to be having the feelings and symptoms that you are. I really encourage you to also read through a blog I have been posting called "Breaking it Down" that explains the details of Post Intensive Care Syndrome. I hope you will find the information helpful. Please continue to reference that site as well as engage in continued conversations within this group. Here is a link to the site I mentioned:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/newsfeed-post/new-breaking-it-down-series/
Thanks for the heads up . I have been feeling really anxious and out of sorts. Lots of memories flooding my mind.
@beitel - you can direct your message to a particular person by adding their @name. They will get a notification in email that you have addressed them.
To access the link that Anne included, just click on it and you will be able to view it.
Does it help the anxieties and memories by jotting them down to “file” for later. Or can you find a level os calm by doing something that you enjoy?
When I was in ICU for 5 weeks in a coma - (and near death at one point) I was on what I called a “NOT SO -Merry Go Round, inside my head“. Since Your executive functioning part of your brain is shut down, you do have AN idle mind - hence the devils playground (figuratively speaking). You have NO FILTERS. What do all these weird dreams mean— it means your brain, (which needs 20 percent of your body’s entire Oxygen) is being starved.
Same with drugs used in surgery, pain relief etc. They shut down part of your brain
. After my second neck surgery, I woke up in the recovery room, face up, but I could have sworn I was facedown (the position I was in (face down) during my broken neck repair surgery) .
Feeling is NOT BELIEVING! I would have bet every penny I had that when I woke up in the recovery room, I was STILL facing down like during surgery. It was a complete shock when I opened my eyes in the recovery room, and realized I WAS face up (even though I felt that I was face down.). My take-away from this - don’t always think something’s true because it is your experience, and two- don’t under-estimate the power of drugs on your mind. Hang in there. Ask for a different type of drug (there’s a new one every day :-). Dr. Ron
Dear Rosemary- you have such wisdom. I have attached my small story- that basically says - hang in there, things will get better if you hang on to HOPE like a life preserver. After just 7 short years, all the lights in my mind, have finally turned on again. Never quit. Have a great week. In friendship. Ron. Make Today Count.
Please share- if feel the only reason I was spared was to share.
@rosemarya -- Thank you. I have never tried doing that. I try to block things out and the busier I am the better. It is hard for me to find " calmness " or relax. I actually bought a Kayak hoping that would be some sort of relaxation. I have noticed I am feeling more depressed lately and tears just show up. My mom said that she is having a hard time also with the one year coming up, so are my kids and other family members. We are all grieving differently. Will this go away after the 1 yr mark? Our lives have changed so drastically.
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@beitel - Becky, some patients have talked about re-occurrences of fears, dreams, flashbacks around the event anniversary. Just want to give you an advance notice in case it happens.