Life after the ICU: the first months of crash recovery
The first months after intensive care, from the view of a critical care specialist and a rehabilitation psychologist
Coming out of intensive care can feel like a second shock. You may be glad to be alive but too weak for everyday tasks. You might remember very little of your stay. Or you might recall vivid scenes that didn’t happen the way you saw them. A critical care specialist goes over the illness and the treatment you had. A rehabilitation psychologist helps with changes in emotions and thinking that can follow. [1, 2]
Get a clear, simple account of your stay
Ask for a short summary of why you needed intensive care and the main treatments you got. Find out which injuries still need follow up. A relative may have kept notes, or the unit may have kept a diary. You get to choose when, or if, you read it. Don’t push yourself to rebuild every hour of your stay. Ask who you can turn to with questions that come up later. [1, 2]
Watch for changes beyond your crash injuries
After a critical illness, some problems can linger. They include weakness, fatigue, a poor appetite and changes in sleep. Trouble focusing, anxiety and frightening memories can last too. [1, 2]
Keep a short log of what holds you back each day. Examples include walking to the bathroom, eating a meal, remembering instructions or sleeping. Share these changes with your team. They can decide if you need physical therapy, occupational therapy, nutrition support or mental health care. [1, 2]
Ask if the hospital has an ICU follow up service. If it doesn’t, take your log to your primary care provider and injury specialists. Make sure one person is coordinating your medicines, appointments, equipment and help at home. Family members may need support as well. The experience can affect everyone who went through it. [2, 3]
Signs you need more help
Don’t write off a new fever, worsening shortness of breath, fainting or new weakness as normal ICU recovery. Get medical advice promptly. Fear, nightmares, low mood or memory problems may get in the way of daily life. If they do, ask for an evaluation instead of putting it off indefinitely. Recovery has several parts. Each one may call for a different kind of help. [1, 2]
Questions for your follow up visit
- What should I know now about what happened in intensive care?
- Who is in charge of coordinating my recovery?
- Is there an ICU follow up clinic, or another place where these problems can be reviewed?
Name the three biggest changes
Sources and further reading
- 1NHS intensive care and recovery
- 2York Teaching Hospitals after your ICU stay
- 3MedlinePlus leaving the hospital discharge plan
These are general insights from critical care and rehabilitation psychology. Get a medical checkup for physical symptoms that are new or getting worse. Ongoing distress is a reason to seek support.
Keep learning
Safe Driving Resource Center
Guides, self-checks and articles for drivers, parents of new drivers, and families recovering after a crash.
