After a severe illness, especially when you've been unconscious or sedated for extended periods, it’s common to have trouble recalling the events that took place. You might have also experienced vivid dreams, nightmares, or hallucinations that left you feeling uneasy.
You may even have the impression that the medical staff were causing you harm due to the treatments meant to aid your recovery. These feelings are normal for those who have been critically ill, as they can be linked to the illness itself or the medications used. While it may be difficult, discussing these experiences with someone you trust can be beneficial, and there’s no need to feel ashamed or embarrassed.
Below is some helpful information to better understand some of the things that occur during a stay in an intensive care unit (ICU), which may help clarify your memories.
Staff in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
The ICU team consists of various professionals. The doctors are often anaesthetists, skilled in providing pain relief and medical care. Along with the nurses, you may also encounter speech therapists, physiotherapists, dietitians, and other supportive staff during your stay.
While you may meet many of these professionals, you might only remember a few faces and names.
Doctors
A consultant typically leads the medical team in the ICU. Each day, the consultant and their team visit patients, reviewing treatment and making necessary decisions. You may recall them examining you or discussing your care plan. In addition to daily check-ups, doctors from other specialties, such as surgery or orthopaedics, might visit to assist with your care as needed.
Nurses
In the ICU, one nurse generally looks after one or two patients. Your nurse is responsible for most of your care, particularly in the early stages of your stay, and will collaborate with other healthcare professionals to ensure you receive the appropriate care and treatment.
Nurses perform tasks for you that you may not be able to do, such as:
- Taking regular blood tests
- Adjusting treatment based on test results
- Administering prescribed medications and fluids
- Monitoring your vital signs like blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen levels
- Clearing fluids from your chest using suction
- Turning you regularly to prevent bedsores
- Cleaning your mouth and teeth
- Bathing you in bed
- Changing bed linens
- Applying surgical stockings to improve circulation
- Applying eye drops to keep your eyes comfortable
Physiotherapists
During your ICU stay, a physiotherapist will work with you to maintain your lung health and prevent stiffness in your muscles and joints. If you were on a ventilator, they will guide you through exercises to strengthen your lungs and muscles to facilitate breathing without the machine. This will reduce the risk of lung infections.
As your recovery progresses, physiotherapists will assist you in regaining strength, eventually helping you get out of bed and moving around again.
Dietitians
A dietitian will evaluate your nutritional needs and determine how best to feed you. This could be through a nasogastric tube (a tube running from your nose to your stomach) or, if necessary, via an intravenous drip.
Speech Therapists
If you have a tracheostomy (a tube inserted into your throat connected to a ventilator), a speech therapist may work with you to assess your ability to speak with a special valve and determine when it is safe for you to start drinking and eating normally again.
Planning for Your Recovery
Recovering from a critical illness can take several months. To monitor your progress and identify any potential physical or psychological issues, staff may perform health checks before you leave the ICU, before hospital discharge, and a few months after your ICU stay.
Based on these assessments, they may create a rehabilitation plan tailored to your specific needs, covering aspects such as:
- Differences between ICU care and general ward care
- Your future physical, dietary, or medical needs
- Who will manage your care after leaving the hospital