@elizabethbryant I am so glad you mentioned the combination of drugs and trauma. I will say that when I was transferred from ICU to the vascular floor I continued to have what I describe as "night terrors" and thinking about it now scares me to tears. It was an awful experience where I felt I was caught in the middle of falling asleep and being semi-awake, and the sounds and visions were awful. I do believe the pain medication played a part, possibly a side effect. It is something I have wanted to look into, but just never have.

Great insight! Yes, you are right. The pain medications are powerful, but also often produce a hallucinating effect, altered sense of reality. Some of those drugs are more problematic than others. They are great when you need them but it is not without consequences as well.

You might want to do some research on this Kari... In case u need surgery or drugs again. My husband had terrible frighting visions while on Morphine. He called me from hospital and said are you coming? It was middle of night. He saw bugs everywhere on walls. No more morphine

I broke my neck. In A coma for 5 weeks. Once I awoke from the coma, I had to endure the possibility I would be paralyzed for life, if I got out of bed, waiting for my second surgery for months. Since I was bedridden for months, I tried to practice what I preached- Self- calming. It helped me endure flashbacks from the past of when I broke my neck, and fear about the future that the surgery to mend my neck would. I would highly recommend a therapist and Mindfulness Baesd Stress Reduction. Dr Ron. don’t give up. Time will heal your
Emotional wounds, if you intend it so. Hang in there I understand.