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!!