Seeing a former ICU patient authored Intensive Care Medicine ‘From the Inside piece’ referenced in this The BMJ new clinical review has made me very proud!! Management of pain and sedation in the intensive care unit | The BMJ bmj.com/content/387/bm…

⭐️ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝗖𝗨 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘂𝗺 David Richards David Richards survived a severe case of ARDS in 2009-2010. As part of this he experienced severe delirium. In a really informative paper he describes how

Yes, #delirium can be frightening, as I experienced and expressed to my family through scrawled writing. All my written notes were saved and incorporated in my #ICUdiary. Transitioning to reality - the diary of an ARDS survivor: rdcu.be/doNTm #WDAD2025

While trach'd and on the vent, these are my responses to being told that what I was seeing and hearing was not real, in an attempt to calm me. But it was real to me. #Delirium is a miserable and terrifying experience that is never really over, the memories linger. #WDAD2025

Fifteen years after my ICU event (H1N1-ARDS), the residual issue that continues to impact me the most on a daily basis is my short-term memory. I can trace the source back to the post-coma #delirium period, through the written communications that were incorporated in my #ICUdiary

Return visits to ICU GHFT Critical Care (GRH) and Glenfield AICU, were a big part of my psychological healing and provided an added layer to my #ICUdiary (rdcu.be/doNTm) However, it should be approached with caution because it does have the potential to re-traumatise. #delirium

In the days following my release from four-weeks of sedation, my partner made the following note in my #ICUdiary: “I think Dave is confused.” #delirium

A vital service for ICU patients that should be accessible for all. The psychological recovery is every bit as hard as the physical recovery and often longer lasting. #PICS #delirium #PTSD #ICUdiary

🫁 In 2009, David Richards became one of the UK’s H1N1 adult ECMO survivors after swine flu led to severe ARDS. His journey—from collapse to coma to recovery—is powerful and deeply human. Read the full story on my Patient & Family website: 📷 ecmo.life – David’s

Congratulations Dr. Ely WesElyMD

Fantastic! Seeing my bed-space and the layout of the unit, provided an additional layer to my psychological healing that complemented my #ICUdiary. Transitioning to reality - the diary of an ARDS survivor: rdcu.be/doNTm #PICS #PTSD #delirium #ICUdiary

My written response to a senior nurse at GHFT Critical Care when asked that very question: #delirium #ICUdiary

I had a dreadful time with #delirium, driven by auditory and visual hallucinations. It is evidenced repeatedly through my real-time handwritten responses, from when I was unable to communicate verbally, that were saved and incorporated in my #ICUdiary (rdcu.be/doNTm)

The format of the book may not appeal to everyone but I enjoy comic art. Beautifully paced and illustrated, with much I recognise in my own #delirium experience and each time I read it, I am led down a different path of reflection. The author describes her #ICU event wonderfully.

My handwritten notes provide a unique real-time perspective of my ICU experience, while I was in the grip of #delirium. I expressed my fears to my partner by telling her, “I'm frightened” and the impact this had upon her can be seen in the response, “This upset me very much.”

This arm belongs to my cousin and he is pictured making his 100th #blooddonation earlier today. I received multiple transfusions during my time on #ECMO, which was beset by bleeding complications so I have many reasons to be grateful and proud of this achievement. #blooddonor

Very proud of my 15-year-old son, William, who has been selected to receive his first international vest for Wales in discus.🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

An important aspect of rehab that I neglected because I was too focused on my end goals of returning to work and competitive sport (I failed), that I didn’t see the need for intermediate goals. Looking back, that was a mistake. Goals need to be sustainable, as well as achievable.

“I cant remember anything.” As written by my hand in real-time, while still a patient in the ICU and unable to communicate verbally. I relied on my #ICUdiary to reclaim the lost time. Transitioning to reality, the diary of an ARDS survivor: rdcu.be/doNTm #delirium

"Solitude, isolation and loneliness". Words I used to describe my delirium experience in this e-book (Perception versus Reality) by Walking Home From The ICU - daytonicuconsulting.com/awake-and-walk… Transitioning to reality, the diary of an ARDS survivor: rdcu.be/doNTm #delirium #PICS #ICUdiary