We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Privacy Policy
OK
Apply a filter below to refine your search results.
What kinds of memories or dreams do people have? It is very common for patients to have strange memories, dreams or hallucinations. They can seem very real...so real, that no matter how strange they are, patients are often unsure whether they happened or not. They can often be remembered in detail for some time afterwards. The dreams that people have can sometimes be very frightening, but sometimes pleasant or funny. Here are some examples of other people's dreams.We hope they...
This is a link to a short video in which 2 former patients talk about their strange memories of the ICU. Borrowed, with grateful thanks, from the INSPIRE (ICU) research team in NHS Glasgow & Greater Clyde.
The dreams that patients have (no matter how “crazy”) can seem so real, can be remembered in such detail or can be recurring, that some patients feel compelled to try to make sense of them. “You’re thinking, there’s no way that I’ve been on a sailing boat, on a whaler or stuck down a drain. So then you start thinking, “Well, okay then. That’s fine!” …but for all that you discount it, you still get it coming back into your...
From what other people have told us, it seems that these memories, dreams and nightmares either gradually fade with time or that they were more able to ignore them with the passing of time. If they continue to trouble you, however e.g. if you continue to have upsetting flashbacks, anxiety attacks or problems sleeping, you should talk to your GP about the possibility of Post-Traumatic Stress. Your GP may ask you to fill in a questionnaire about how these memories, dreams or nightmares are...
This is a short article in the British Medical Journal.It was written by a former patient who was training to be a Doctor at the time when she became ill.
Feeling tired is very common It’s very common to have problems sleeping in the first few weeks after you get home, even though you may feel very tired. You might struggle to get to sleep, have broken sleep, sleep for much longer than usual or sleep at different times to which you normally would (including napping during the day). Why can't I sleep? It's likely that many people suffer from sleep deprivation during their time in hospital. Some people wake several...
This link will take you to the Patient website and their page on insomnia (poor sleep). They offer common sense information and advice on sleeping better, which you can download or print off, if you like.
Is it common to have strange dreams after going to the ward? Yes, it is very common to continue to have strange dreams after being transferred to the wards. In fact, some patients only "come to" on the wards and often don't remember very much about their time in Intensive Care (or how they ended up there) and have very strange dreams or memories.
This is a short video in which Professor Tim Walsh (a Consultant in Intensive Care) explains the reasons why many patients have strange dreams during and after their time in Intensive Care.