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@smoky

Hi Annie. I ended up in the ICU from a horrible reaction to a pain med. prescribed for severe back pain. After 6 six weeks,some of the symptoms of PICS that I have are hallucinations or memories of the ones I had while in ICU (I don't know which), severe short term memory loss, the ability to speak sentences in the correct order only if I can think of the words, pain, dizziness, walking with a cane after using a wheel chair then walker, now cane, headaches. That's all I can think of at the present. I ended up with a trachea that after speaking with the doctors will remain for life. I am hoping to speak with "someone" at the hospital to set up or produce a pamphlet or something to give to those who are subjected to this syndrome. I think it would be a more proactive way to deal with this than to let the patient or family have to endure the side effects of the ICU.

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Replies to "Hi Annie. I ended up in the ICU from a horrible reaction to a pain med...."

@smoky, I applaud your efforts to inform staff at the hospital to help inform patients. It is quite possible that staff are not fully aware of PICS (Post Intensive Care Syndrome). The Society for Critical Care Medicine has resources to help develop resources for hospitals and clinics https://www.sccm.org/MyICUCare/THRIVE

@andreab, ICU Nurse Practitioner at Mayo Clinic, writes a blog describing PICS for patient, families, and health care professionals here on Connect:
- Post Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/pics/