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Getting home

Getting home is a huge step on the road to recovery. While it is often an enormous relief to be back home, some may find the first few weeks a bit of an emotional rollercoaster in terms of readjusting to everyday life. In this section, we've provided some general information and advice on the common physical and psychological issues you might face,what you can do to help the recovery process along, and the types of help that might be available to you and your family after you get home.We've also included a few short pieces on other people's experience, which we hope you will find helpful.

 

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Article: Flashbacks

What are flashbacks? Flashbacks are vivid and frightening memories.They can be intrusive, which means that they pop into your mind completely out of nowhere (or are sometimes brought about by something that reminds you of a particular event, even if it was really a dream or hallucination) and can make you feel like you're reliving a particular experience. You may feel like you have little or no control over them. Is it common to have flashbacks? Patients often...

Web Link: Free prescriptions and sight tests (over 60s)

This link takes you to DirectScot's website and their page on free prescriptions and eye tests. This page gives advice on who is eligible for free medicines, eye tests and other health care costs.

Web Link: Getting home: a short video from former patients

This is a link to a short video, in which 2 former patients and their partners talk about the first few weeks of getting home.  Borrowed, with grateful thanks, from the INSPIRE (ICU) research team in NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde

Web Link: Getting home:family members' experiences

This is a link to a short video, in which 2 couples talk about their experiences in the first few weeks of getting home. Borrowed, with grateful thanks, from the INSPIRE (ICU) research team in NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde 

Web Link: Getting out and about for wheelchair users: Euan's guide

This link will take you to a website called Euan's Guide. It was originally developed by, with and for disabled people (particularly wheelchair users). Euan's guide is a site where patients and their families can find a list of wheelchair accessible places and add honest reviews about their experiences of visting them.Even if you're only using a wheelchair temporarily, it's good to hear about local bars, shops, hotels, coffee bars, visitor attractions, etc that have...

Web Link: Going back to work

This link will take you to the website of Healthy Working Lives.Although this page is intended for employers, it will give you some insight into your rights and your employer's responsibilities if you are thinking about going back to work or retiring early.

Article: Hair loss

Article length: 1 minute (Read now or tap the button above to add this resource to your personal library to read later) Is hair loss common after Intensive Care? Some (but not all) patients experience hair loss or thinning in the weeks and months after Intensive Care. What can I do about hair loss or thinning? Hair loss can be upsetting as it may affect your appearance and confidence. Ask your barber, hairdresser or pharmacist or GP about any products that might help. Your barber...

Web Link: Healthtalkonline

This is a free online resource for members of the general public and has sections on a range of illnesses and conditions. There is a section on Intensive Care; one on patients’ experiences and another on relatives’ experiences. There are video clips, voice recordings and interviews which have been typed out word for word, which many patients and familiy members find really useful.

Web Link: Healthtalkonline:patients' experiences of Intensive Care

Many people find it helpful to hear that other people's experiences are similar to their own. This link will take you to the Healthtalkonlone website and to the section on patients' experiences of Intensive Care. Here, you can watch short videos, listen to voice files and read their interviews.

Web Link: Healthunlocked.com

Many people find it helpful to hear that other people's experiences are similar to their own or to share their experiences online.This link will take you to the Intensive Care web page of Healthunlocked.They have a blog page in which patients and family members can ask questions and share experiences of Intensive Care and the recovery process.