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What did you find most surprising once you were out of the ICU?
Intensive Care (ICU) | Last Active: Dec 16, 2021 | Replies (107)Comment receiving replies
Shortly after the birth of my 4th baby, I experienced a rare childbirth complication known as Amniotic Fluid Embolism. I was so fortunate to have been in a hospital that had enough blood for the rapid blood transfusion that was needed to save my life. I was given 75 units of blood during the surgery to stop the massive internal bleeding. I spent a week in a medically induced coma on a ventilator in the Shock Trauma ICU. During that same time, my baby was in the NICU. We are so grateful to the doctors and nurses that saved our lives!!!
Your post asks about what surprised us, and this is the surprise I have been dealing with as of late...It has been over ten months since my time in the ICU. I have returned to the patterns of my life, started working again, and am busy with my four children
But over the last month or so, I have experienced this overwhelming sadness that I did not expect. I have no history of depression and this inability to rally my mood has been so surprising and difficult. Has anyone else experienced overwhelming grief so long after a medical event? I truly thought I was over this and could move on with my life, and now I feel like I am a bigger mess than I was when I first got out of the hospital.
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@amandacgrow I am so glad you found this forum and shared your story with us. What an incredible experience you went through. I am so happy for you and your family that you are all well and back running as a normal family does! But that word normal can seem strange, because if you are experiencing your recovery from this event like many others have, things may not seem quite "normal". You mention getting back to your "patterns of life" with kids and work, etc. Many people have talked about difficulties when getting back to those patterns - especially noticing it work. Some people tire more easily, can't concentrate as well, or physically cannot do what they once used to do. And this is actually very normal for many people who have experienced critical illness or injury. The feeling of sadness and grief is also something that I have heard many other share.
I'd like to pull @muriel66 into this conversation as she has shared very kind and wise words with others over the months on this forum, specifically dealing with emotions following critical illness. Thank you for joining this important conversation.