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• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 41-50 >> Interview 29 >> She recalled being ill and a vague conversation with medical staff about what was wrong, but wasn't aware that her lungs had collapsed until she came

Had a planned hysterectomy in 2004. Complications led to a second operation. Was admitted to intensive care because of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Spent 2 weeks in intensive care, 1 day in High Dependence Unit and 1 week in a general ward.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 61-70 >> Interview 18 >> He vaguely remembered hearing about his prospective daughter-in-law's new job.

Was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus in 2004. 2-day stay in ICU was planned, following surgery. Transferred to general ward in private hospital. Had to have a second operation and, because of complications, was admitted to ICU in NHS hospital. Spent 18 days in ICU. Had several more operations. In hospital for 5 weeks.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 41-50 >> Interview 04 >> She felt agitated, confused and thought she was on a plane (she had sepsis).

Had bowel complications and septicaemia. Was in intensive care for nearly 5 weeks. Spent 1 week in a High Dependency Unit and was then discharged.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 51-60 >> Interview 37 >> He had a road traffic accident and his first memory was of being in a ward a few weeks later.

Was admitted to intensive care in 2004 after having a motorbike accident. Spent 9 days in intensive care and 16 days in a trauma ward.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 61-70 >> Interview 16 >> He had expected to feel groggy after coming round but looked and felt much better than before the operation.

Admitted to ICU in 1979 after heart attack. Had another heart attack in 1992 and was admitted to ICU. In 1994, had heart transplant operation and went into ICU after surgery. Back on the ward, developed septicaemia. Had another operation and then went into ICU. Developed pneumonia and spent 8 weeks in ICU. Spent 3 weeks on ward.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 51-60 >> Interview 09 >> He had a severe asthma attack and was moved to a ward after three days in intensive care.

Was admitted to intensive care in 2004 because of a severe asthma attack. Was in intensive care for 3 days and on a general ward for about ten days.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 61-70 >> Interview 03 >> He accepted that he was ill and couldn't move or communicate, but felt looked after and safe (he had Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome).

In 2002 had throat surgery and knew he would go to High Dependency Unit afterwards. Overnight, however, had Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and needed emergency bronchoscopy. Was in intensive care for 5 weeks and in ward for 5 weeks.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 41-50 >> Interview 29 >> She couldn't remember her name, her husband's name or details about her children, job and home (she had a surgical complication).

Had a planned hysterectomy in 2004. Complications led to a second operation. Was admitted to intensive care because of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Spent 2 weeks in intensive care, 1 day in High Dependence Unit and 1 week in a general ward.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 41-50 >> Interview 24 >> She remembered hearing voices, having treatments and coming round unable to do anything for herself (she had pneumonia).

Was admitted to intensive care in 2004 because of severe pneumonia. Spent about 5 weeks in intensive care and nearly 2 weeks in a general ward.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 31-40 >> Interview 05 >> She found it difficult to hold a pen and felt frustrated because her writing was unintelligible (she had pneumonia and sepsis).

Had pneumonia and severe sepsis. Was in intensive care for 22 days, the High Dependency Unit for 10 days and just over a week on a general ward.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 31-40 >> Interview 05 >> She was hallucinating when she came round and felt terrified of the nurses (she had pneumonia and sepsis).

Had pneumonia and severe sepsis. Was in intensive care for 22 days, the High Dependency Unit for 10 days and just over a week on a general ward.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 51-60 >> Interview 02 >> He had a breathing tube in his mouth so got the nurses' attention by shaking a container that rattled (he had pneumonia).

Had very severe cold and coughing in 2005, which turned out to be pneumonia. Was in intensive care for nearly a month and in general ward for about 4 days. Has now fully recovered.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 31-40 >> Interview 35 >> He couldn't walk, drink or talk when he came round but valued being taken outside for fresh air (he had Guillain-Barre Syndrome).

Was admitted to intensive care in 2004 because of Guillain-Barre Syndrome. This is a rare disorder of the peripheral nerves, those outside the brain and the spinal chord. Spent 17 days in intensive care and about 1 week in general ward. Was then transferred to rehabilitation ward in another hospital, and spent about 3 months there.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 41-50 >> Interview 01 >> She sometimes feared she'd been kidnapped and needed to escape because she drifted between clarity and hallucinations.

Was admitted to intensive care in 1998 because of a complication during pregnancy, leading to septic shock. Was in ICU for 11 days and in general ward for 2 weeks. Recovered well and has had no further problems related to that illness.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 41-50 >> Interview 29 >> She found the physiotherapists kind and encouraging, and the exercises made her feel she could do things to help herself get better.

Had a planned hysterectomy in 2004. Complications led to a second operation. Was admitted to intensive care because of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Spent 2 weeks in intensive care, 1 day in High Dependence Unit and 1 week in a general ward.

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• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Coming round and regaining consciousness >> Coming round and regaining consciousness

Coming round and regaining consciousness