Help, advice and support for patients and families in Critical Care in Belfast
Recovery After ICU
What happens after Discharge?
Recovery from critical illness can be a long journey. Some patients report improvements in symptoms up to 2 years after returning home. It is common for patients to experience challenges in their recovery that feel unexpected and surprising to them.
Often difficulties become less noticeable over time and not all patients experience problems. Generally patients who have a prolonged serious illness may experience greater challenges.
It is important if symptoms persist to get help early, as left untreated they can sometimes get worse.
Common problems experienced after critical care
Common Psychological Problems
It is very common to experience psychological issues after critical illness such as anxiety, nightmares, poor memory or hallucinations. Click on the image above to learn more about this.
Memory Loss
Many patient's after critical care report that their memory is not as good as it was. This can be due to the effects of a critical illness or some of the medications necessary as part of their treatment. If this persists you should seek help from your GP or Follow-up clinic. Click on the Image above for guidance on what to expect and how you can help.
Nightmares, Dreams and Poor Sleep
It is very common for people to experience significant sleep disturbances following critical care admissions. Click on the image above for information on how to manage this.