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

Discussion

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

Intensive Care (ICU) | Last Active: Sep 16 7:52pm | Replies (609)

Comment receiving replies
@nissi

Hey,
Day 41 in the hospital after respiratory arrest, seizures... 3 days on a ventilator in ICU, loss of mobility on left side. Now they don't know what to do with me (my pulse goes above 170 when I am on my feet). So I sit in a hospital bed in a tiny hospital that hasn't a clue what to do...

I have been in ICU too many times. At 17 when I broke my neck and had a TBI. Then when I had a full-blown stroke five years ago (lost everything but got the clot-buster and got most back). The times my blood sugar bottomed out (10, 25, 37...) and they couldn't stabilize it. And for three autumns in a row, respiratory arrest.

I hate hospitals. I have yet another PCC line. I feel like a GOMER - who stays in a hospital this long?? My PTSD is at an all-time high but there is NO emotional support... I got to the point where I ASKED.

The speech therapist did a camera study for the dysphagia. Yep, seems aspiration is an issue. She says I can get stronger. And I think... Yeah... And every year I still aspirate and end up not breathing, but just pretend that hasn't happened... Invalidation.

It gets crazy-making!

Jump to this post


Replies to "Hey, Day 41 in the hospital after respiratory arrest, seizures... 3 days on a ventilator in..."

Nissi,

You post makes me think you may be having Autonomic Dysreflexia. The severe increase of you heart rate when standing is one of the signs. The broken neck in you teen years should always be a signal to the medical personnel to watch for your body to act very strangely. Sure, you medical personnel may tell you it only affects your blood pressure, but having dealt with a son with a C1-C2 injury I learned this buggeroo can also affect more than just your BP readings. I've given you a web article to read more about it.

Also http://www.unitedspinal.org is a big help with information and maybe you were not given them as a reference tool.
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/322809-overview

Hey Nissi,
I see you have had three respiratory arrests during autumn. Fall and spring are really tough on me because of all the stuff flying around in the air from the farmer's fields as they plant or harvest. Do you live in a rural area? I have to keep the windows closed during harvest and planting seasons so I can breathe a little better since my house has crops on two sides and there are very few wind breaks.
Steve