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Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) - Let's talk

Posted by Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung, Jan 13, 2017

Have you heard of Post-Intensive Care Syndrome? Sometimes it's called post ICU syndrome or PICS. PICS is defined as new or worse health problems after critical illness. These problems can affect your mind, body, thoughts, and/or feelings.

On Connect we would like to bring together people who have been affected by critical illness, and hopefully lighten the burden you bear. Patients and family members welcome.

Grab a cup of tea, or beverage of your choice, and let's chat. Why not start by introducing yourself?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Intensive Care (ICU) Support Group.

Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jan 27, 2017
In reply to @rosemarya "@elizabethbryant, Thank you for entering this discussion. The situation that I talked about was 8 years..." + (show)
@rosemarya

@elizabethbryant, Thank you for entering this discussion. The situation that I talked about was 8 years ago. I think that I, too, cried afterward, for no apparent reason. Then I would get my husband crying, because we had been through such an emotional event. I had always heard, from other people, that the drugs and trauma were part of it, but I really don't know. Liz, how long ago was your surgery? Do you still have crying spells?
Sending you a hug, Rosemary

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@elizabethbryant Hi Liz: Sounds great and makes a lot of sense, I make smoothies as well. I've never tried the Trivia, but will look for it. Glad to hear that your food plan has eliminated some of the inflammation. You are doing well at taking care of yourself! Thanks for the encouraging post! Teresa

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jan 27, 2017
In reply to @elizabethbryant "Sending you a big hug. My surgery was in April and I cried for no reason,..." + (show)
@elizabethbryant

Sending you a big hug. My surgery was in April and I cried for no reason, the drama of it all and more surgery the doc said to come.
Then two weeks before Christmas my husband abandoned He wasn't up for the situation
as he became confused and we think he had a stroke during my surgery days he won't eat or drink. I turned to my faith in desperation. By the grace of God I was able not be moved emotionally when I had lunch with him and my grandchildren during Christmas. When you walk through this with the
ones you love, we are blessed. Sharing on this site. "We light each others candle" with hope and helpful medical information.

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@elizabethbryant I'm pleased to be a caring friend on Mayo Connect. I do admire the steps you take to care for yourself. By the way, have you looked into speech therapy to help you communicate more effectively? After my vocal cord surgery (implant) I had a lot of speech therapy (almost every year). Perhaps that would help with your communication so that you could be understood better, or maybe a computer-assisted device that you could use and take with you? Just some thoughts, I know how isolated you feel. Hugs, Teresa

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jan 27, 2017

@milindohope83 Yes, empathy makes a difference, always!

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Liz1 | @elizabethbryant | Jan 27, 2017
In reply to @elizabethbryant "Sending you a big hug. My surgery was in April and I cried for no reason,..." + (show)
@elizabethbryant

Sending you a big hug. My surgery was in April and I cried for no reason, the drama of it all and more surgery the doc said to come.
Then two weeks before Christmas my husband abandoned He wasn't up for the situation
as he became confused and we think he had a stroke during my surgery days he won't eat or drink. I turned to my faith in desperation. By the grace of God I was able not be moved emotionally when I had lunch with him and my grandchildren during Christmas. When you walk through this with the
ones you love, we are blessed. Sharing on this site. "We light each others candle" with hope and helpful medical information.

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Thanks Teresa for responding. Lichen planus condition and Severe dysplasia are the issue and John
Hopkins surgeon stated speech therapy would only worsen the condition and I agree. I have limited
amount of speech because the inflammation......raw tissue gets so bad under my tongue.

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jan 27, 2017
In reply to @elizabethbryant "Sending you a big hug. My surgery was in April and I cried for no reason,..." + (show)
@elizabethbryant

Sending you a big hug. My surgery was in April and I cried for no reason, the drama of it all and more surgery the doc said to come.
Then two weeks before Christmas my husband abandoned He wasn't up for the situation
as he became confused and we think he had a stroke during my surgery days he won't eat or drink. I turned to my faith in desperation. By the grace of God I was able not be moved emotionally when I had lunch with him and my grandchildren during Christmas. When you walk through this with the
ones you love, we are blessed. Sharing on this site. "We light each others candle" with hope and helpful medical information.

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@elizabethbryant I'm so sorry that there aren't some better answers for you. Keep up your faith! Teresa

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Kanaaz Pereira, Connect Moderator | @kanaazpereira | Jan 27, 2017

Hello,

I was reading this discussion, and couldn't help but notice the strength in all the messages, despite your difficult times, struggles and experiences.

I've never been in the ICU, but many years ago, I learned that life's turbulent phases do serve a purpose: they make us stronger, more determined and definitely more patient.
There's a saying: "A smooth sea never made a skillful mariner..." and I just wanted to say that I see that reflected so often, here on Connect.
Thank you.

REPLY
1 reply
allisonsnow | @allisonsnow | Feb 1, 2017
In reply to @elizabethbryant "Sending you a big hug. My surgery was in April and I cried for no reason,..." + (show)
@elizabethbryant

Sending you a big hug. My surgery was in April and I cried for no reason, the drama of it all and more surgery the doc said to come.
Then two weeks before Christmas my husband abandoned He wasn't up for the situation
as he became confused and we think he had a stroke during my surgery days he won't eat or drink. I turned to my faith in desperation. By the grace of God I was able not be moved emotionally when I had lunch with him and my grandchildren during Christmas. When you walk through this with the
ones you love, we are blessed. Sharing on this site. "We light each others candle" with hope and helpful medical information.

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Elizabeth I get where you are coming from "I am the same on the inside"
Sometimes I forget (or don't want to admit) the toll this cancer has taken. I make plans to work in the garden ...but my oxygen cord doesn't reach far...I take off the oxygen (yes I cheat 🙂 and I can't work very long...but in my head I am still able to do everything I could before. I am still surprised when I look in the mirror and see the oxygen tubing, it is all I see. The point is sometimes we put the burden of what we can or can not do on our selves. We see ourselves as still being 100% and refuse to work with the limitations we have. If we take an honest look at our own lives it is easier for others to see us as we are now. Don't know if this makes any sense but it is my perspective.

REPLY
milindohope83 | @milindohope83 | Feb 2, 2017
In reply to @hopeful33250 "@milindohope83 I also appreciate your kind and compassionate attitude, Anita. There is no doubt in my..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

@milindohope83 I also appreciate your kind and compassionate attitude, Anita. There is no doubt in my mind that you bless your patients and their families! Teresa

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Thank you so much, Anita

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milindohope83 | @milindohope83 | Feb 2, 2017
In reply to @kanaazpereira "Hello, I was reading this discussion, and couldn't help but notice the strength in all the..." + (show)
@kanaazpereira

Hello,

I was reading this discussion, and couldn't help but notice the strength in all the messages, despite your difficult times, struggles and experiences.

I've never been in the ICU, but many years ago, I learned that life's turbulent phases do serve a purpose: they make us stronger, more determined and definitely more patient.
There's a saying: "A smooth sea never made a skillful mariner..." and I just wanted to say that I see that reflected so often, here on Connect.
Thank you.

Jump to this post

I loved your response and well taken!! Anita

REPLY
Heidi Schaffer | @heids8390 | Mar 22, 2017

I'm a ICU nurse and this morning as I was looking over protocols for convergence I had a flash back to a code situation that related to the protocol I had been reviewing. Definitely took my breath away for a moment and reminded me PICS affects everyone involved with the patient. Thanks for starting the conversations!

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