What do I need to watch for after I go home?
Going back home can be hard if you had a long stay in the ICU or have any problems after being in the hospital. It’s important to know that problems can happen, and that life may not be the same after you go home. This is normal for many ICU survivors. You may have memories that seem very real, but aren’t. This can be shocking, scary, and stressful for you, your family, and friends.
It’s important to get help if:
- you’re worried about your physical or mental recovery
- you have trouble sleeping, bad dreams, weakness, depression or other
problems listed above
- a loved one has told you they have noticed changes in your behavior, thinking, or how you’re able to do day-to-day activities
- you just don’t feel like yourself after getting back home
- you start to have money problems if you can’t go back to work or have to pay for healthcare to help you recover
If you or a loved one are worried about your recovery, please talk to a healthcare provider.
After leaving the hospital, how will my other healthcare providers know if I had ICU delirium?
Your medical information is shared with your new healthcare team when you move from the ICU to another part of the hospital. This includes information about your medical history, ICU stay, medicines you take, tests, treatments, and how you’re doing (your recovery and progress).
When you or your loved one leave the hospital, your discharge summary will also include the above information. But this information isn’t always shared with your family doctor or other healthcare providers outside the hospital. For example, if you needed to stay in the ICU because of a car accident, your medical history may list your injuries but may not include information about the delirium you had in the ICU.
It’s important that you have all of the information you need to continue your care and help you heal and recover. This includes knowing:
- follow-up appointments
- medicines to take
- the rehabilitation plan
- if you had any problems related to your ICU stay (such as ICU delirium or muscle weakness)
Let your healthcare providers know what happened during your hospital stay and share any information about your care with them.
What can I do if I have questions about my hospital stay?
If you have questions about your hospital stay or can’t remember what happened, contact the ICU care team at your hospital. The ICU healthcare team can help fill in the gaps. You can find the contact information for an ICU in Alberta by searching for your hospital on the Alberta Health Services’ Information for Patients and Family.
For More Information
- Health Link – Health Advice 24/7: 811
