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Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) - Let's talk
Intensive Care (ICU) | Last Active: May 22 3:02pm | Replies (598)Comment receiving replies
As the one year anniversary of my ICU stay approaches, I am both celebrating victories and facing new challenges. I previously shared that I suffered neuromuscular damage that left me using a wheelchair for six months - I'm happy to report that through extensive PT and the passage of time, I've progressed from wheelchair to walker, and now to just a cane! I'm thankful to be able to get around easier and get back on public transit, and to have so much more of the world be accessible to me. However, despite this improvement, I'm seeing an increase in intrusive re-experiencing symptoms (sometimes full on flashbacks) to my time in the ICU with the anniversary coming up in January. On one hand I'm thankful for the new year ahead - and, I also want to remain realistic that my symptoms may intensify as the anniversary gets closer.
Rosemary, I am thinking of you and your family during this challenging time. Thank you for reaching out. I came to this page tonight unsure if I would share, but your words have encouraged me to do so.
Replies to "As the one year anniversary of my ICU stay approaches, I am both celebrating victories and..."
@alex12119 , I am thinking about you. Now that the festivities of the holiday season age drawing to an end, how are you doing as you approach your annual ICU anniversary? How can I help you? I am here, and I am listening because I care.
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@alex12119
Thank you so very much for your response. I appreciate your kindness toward me and my family during an unpleasant experience. The challenging situation for me was that both involved someone else in ICU. There were 2 separate situations, and each involved instances that were too closely related to my past experience(s). One had a sad ending, and the other, (an infant) has a hopeful outcome.
Congratulations on the victories you have achieved and are able to celebrate! I have a sense that you are a very determined individual and that you will not be turned away from a challenge at this point in your journey to your future. With your January anniversary within view, have you thought of any thing that you might want to do to divert your mind from some of the hard times? Maybe by planning something special and looking forward to a special event would be something to look forward to. How do you think that would work for you?
Since we are in the midst of the holiday season, and I am aware that many people were not looking forward to the holidays and celebrations. For a variety of reasons it is not the happy time because memories and sadness don't magically end at a certain point after a major event like a serious illness or a loved one's death. Reminders like sights, sounds, smells, etc often bring back a sudden and unexpected flood emotions. I won't pretend to know what kind of symptoms that you might experience, but I can understand your concern for the flashbacks that are hiding just out of sight. Everyone of us is different so I would like to offer you a link to some people who might have some ideas from their own experiences that might be interesting to you in the Group>discussion>Just Want ToTalk.
Have you taken a look at the Discussion Group>Just Want To Talk? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/other/ Join the discussion! Ask your questions, share your story, or just say hello. Here are some topics that could be a good starting point: How about a laugh, (hopefully); Art for Healing; Holidays are not happy family times for everyone; Music Helps Me; What Pets Can Do: Health and Healing.
Alex12119, Have you discussed your fears about flashbacks with one of your doctors or someone whom you can trust? I am here, and Connect is open 24/7. How can i help you?