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← Return to ARDS Support: my story and looking to help other survivors
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ARDS Support: my story and looking to help other survivors
Intensive Care (ICU) | Last Active: Mar 21 10:37am | Replies (40)Comment receiving replies
@plexicone Hi Steve, I realize it has been a few years since you posted this but I still want to say thanks for sharing. I was online in the ICU for 4 days and 2 on a respirator with ARDS. Like you, I am not sure what caused my ARDS but my hospital discharge packet said I also had pneumonia. It sounds like you have long term lung damage. That must be a huge change in your life. I have been out of the hospital for about 6 weeks now. Like you, I still have some activities like just walking up 2 flights of stairs that get me totally winded. Glad to hear I am not alone and my post-ICU life is a normal thing for survivors.
Replies to "@plexicone Hi Steve, I realize it has been a few years since you posted this but..."
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Hi Jennifer, You're welcome! I didn't meet any other ARDS survivors for 10-15 years after my experience so I felt it was important for newer survivors to know they weren't alone.
My lung damage is well controlled with medication and it has enabled me to have a fairly close to normal life in most areas; without the medications I'd probably be homebound and unable to work. It's going to take time for you to get to a new exercise baseline. Keep exercising and pushing yourself because you have to get your lungs moving everyday.
The first year post ICU can be difficult as your body is different now; things don't work as well as they did before. Your mind is different too. You went through a unique experience as an ICU patient and you will have some triggers that will elicit some memories that will trigger some strong emotions. All of this is normal being post ARDS and post ICU. Don't think you're losing your mind; this normal.
Congrats on surviving and welcome to the club of ARDS and ICU survivors!!