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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
Hello,
I'm considered a trauma patient. December 2013, I was on my way to work and was hit head on by a sleeping Drive (MVA). I do not remember much and was flown by helicopter to a Trauma 1 medical center. I was in a coma for a month and in rehab facilities for 9 months. My injuries were extensive. Broken pelvis, TBI, damaged abdomen/bowel, many broken or fractured bones, blood clots, and many issues. This was three years ago. After many surgeries, rehab, and now back in rehab to walk without a walker. My biggest issues have been retraining of bowel and bladder and I'm still going from one extreme to another in this area. Other issues are with family members not understanding the severity, which I'm trying to overcoming issues with counseling. They were there in the beginning and now are estranged. I'm trying to rebuild my relationships with the ones I can. I still at times have some memory loss. Doctors consider me a miracle, while the daily pain and struggle remind me of where I'm at today.
Replies to "Hello, I'm considered a trauma patient. December 2013, I was on my way to work and..."
@suzyann you sure have had a lot to deal with. I am impressed by your strength. I think family members love us so much they don't want to realize how much a person is going through, if they do they will feel horrible and try to avoid that.
The bladder and bowel issues may sound minor but they are really not at all. I had fears of bowel problems when I was on lactulose prior to a liver transplant. Lactulose forces bowel movements, often without much warning, so I was frequently afraid to go places. I always have bladder problems, being somewhat incontinent and these days I am supposed to drink 80 - 100 ounces of water a day so that sure exacerbates the problem.
JK
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@suzyann I am really glad you found this conversation and am so inspired by your strength to be where you are at today. You bring up a point that @rsinger22 mentioned "I feel like people that do not go through do not get it ". Unless you have personally experienced critical illness/injury, it is difficult to maybe impossible to fully be able to empathize with the person who has. This is such a common conversation that previously critically ill/injured people are having. Once the physical injuries of the trauma are improved, many people think you are all better. But there are injuries that one is unable to see - and those can be very long lasting. Have you participated in support groups, counseling, or anything else to attempt to make this connection with your family members?