What did you find most surprising once you were out of the ICU?

I was touched to see this article come out, and to receive the email that my words were included. I'm now almost three years out from my ICU stay. I go through different phases of how I try and work through the symptoms. Sometimes I need to withdraw from spaces like this because it's too painful to engage, and other times, I feel up for sharing and connecting with others. Anniversaries are tough for me, particularly the ones around my ICU stay. The whole experience has been on my mind more frequently as January approaches. I'm doing a lot of thinking about holding space for my grief this year, and for all the ways in which my life changed as a result of my illness. I have found healing in watching my body regain some strength (I'm still amazed at my ability to walk down the street), and in gaining some distance from that time in my life. However, there are harder days, and I really feel that a lot of the people around me expect me to be "over this" by now, so I tend to speak about it less than I did initially. I confide in my closest friend, who I am overwhelmed with gratitude for. And I thought I would reach out here too, and maybe try to be a bit more active. I'm sending support to all of you, and grateful to have this space to return to after all this time.

I was touched to see this article come out, and to receive the email that my words were included. I'm now almost three years out from my ICU stay. I go through different phases of how I try and work through the symptoms. Sometimes I need to withdraw from spaces like this because it's too painful to engage, and other times, I feel up for sharing and connecting with others. Anniversaries are tough for me, particularly the ones around my ICU stay. The whole experience has been on my mind more frequently as January approaches. I'm doing a lot of thinking about holding space for my grief this year, and for all the ways in which my life changed as a result of my illness. I have found healing in watching my body regain some strength (I'm still amazed at my ability to walk down the street), and in gaining some distance from that time in my life. However, there are harder days, and I really feel that a lot of the people around me expect me to be "over this" by now, so I tend to speak about it less than I did initially. I confide in my closest friend, who I am overwhelmed with gratitude for. And I thought I would reach out here too, and maybe try to be a bit more active. I'm sending support to all of you, and grateful to have this space to return to after all this time.

In Jan.2020 I spent five days in the ICU following surgery for an intestinal obstruction complicated by my age ((91), and a cardiac co-morbidity. I had the full-blown ICU syndrome which was one of the worse experiences of my life. The acute manifestations receded after several weeks, but residual symptoms have persisted now for over a year and a half. I know my age and my cardiac problem obviously contribute to my bad feelings. However, I feel strongly that lingering PICUS is responsible for a very significant part of my symptoms. What I continue to experience is, in most ways, almost identical to those experienced by the Covid "long haulers." I have never had any indication of Covid before or after my hospitalization and doubt this the similarity is only coinsidence.
I have tried all the commonly recommended treatments (PT, social contacts, mind exercises) without improvement.
I am discouraged but not depressed; simply tired of the way I feel,.
Charles

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Hi Charles and @kathylee, have you seen the Post Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) blog by Mayo ICU nurse practitioner and fellow PIC-Family sufferer @andreab ?

She wrote a series of blogs called "Breaking it down" that helps to explain PICS. Sometimes understanding what's going on can help recovery. Here's how to find the series.

1. Go to the PICS blog https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/pics/
2. Enter "Breaking it down" into the blog search. (see attached image).

Hi Charles and @kathylee, have you seen the Post Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) blog by Mayo ICU nurse practitioner and fellow PIC-Family sufferer @andreab ?

She wrote a series of blogs called "Breaking it down" that helps to explain PICS. Sometimes understanding what's going on can help recovery. Here's how to find the series.

1. Go to the PICS blog https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/pics/
2. Enter "Breaking it down" into the blog search. (see attached image).

All the information posted has been helpful. Thanks to all who have contributed. Sad to hear from others with experience like mine. Saddest is that few doctors prepare their patients for PICUS. I am a long- retired physician who discovered that I had a clinically definable complication by surfing the internet. I had severe, recurring hallucinations during my ICU stay. You have said that their severity predicts the duration of the complication. Next months for me it will be two years despite following the prescribed therapies.
Charles.

helpful info. thanks to all

Hi Charles and @kathylee, have you seen the Post Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) blog by Mayo ICU nurse practitioner and fellow PIC-Family sufferer @andreab ?

She wrote a series of blogs called "Breaking it down" that helps to explain PICS. Sometimes understanding what's going on can help recovery. Here's how to find the series.

1. Go to the PICS blog https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/pics/
2. Enter "Breaking it down" into the blog search. (see attached image).