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• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 31-40 >> Interview 11 >> She realised after her daughter had died how little information there is for parents about rare forms of meningitis.

Her 14-month-old daughter was admitted to intensive care in 2002 because of pneumococcal meningitis. Sadly, she died. Her organs were donated to help two other children survive.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 51-60 >> Interview 19 >> He felt safe in the hands of the healthcare professionals and chose not to visit ICU before surgery for cancer.

Was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2004. Short stay in intensive care following surgery was planned. Spent 4 days in ICU and about 2 weeks in a general ward.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 61-70 >> Interview 20 >> He was glad he hadn't visited ICU before surgery for cancer because it might have made him more anxious.

Was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2004. Because of complication (idiopathic thrombocytopenia, diagnosed in 2000), short stay in intensive care was planned, following surgery. Spent 8 days in intensive care and 18 days in general ward.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 71 plus >> Interview 40 >> He felt reassured because he'd seen the ICU before having surgery and had met one of the nurses who would care for him.

Was diagnosed with an aneurysm in 2005. Intensive care stay was planned following surgery. Spent a couple of days in intensive care and a week in a general ward.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 61-70 >> Interview 16 >> He was surprised when he first came round at how big and uncomfortable the breathing tube was, but soon got used to it.

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 41-50 >> Interview 33 >> He felt that everything about the surgery was explained thoroughly but would have liked more information about catheters.

Had planned triple heart bypass surgery in 2004. After surgery, spent 1 day in intensive care, 2 days in a High Dependency Unit, and 2 days in a general ward.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 30 and under >> Interview 12 >> She wondered how she'd got colitis and why she hadn't been told sooner about having a colostomy bag.

Was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. Had to have surgery to remove colon. Had kidney failure and was in intensive care for about 21 days, High Dependency Unit for about 2 weeks and a general ward for 2 weeks.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 31-40 >> Interview 15 >> She was happy with her care but advises nurses to remember that patients are intelligent people who are temporarily ill.

Was admitted to ICU three times in 2004 and spent, in total, about 1 month in intensive care. Spent several months in hospital, in different wards and had a hospital transfer. Was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease and, shortly afterwards, had an ileostomy.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 31-40 >> Interview 15 >> She asked her family to find out more about Crohn's and looked on the Internet when she got home.

Was admitted to ICU three times in 2004 and spent, in total, about 1 month in intensive care. Spent several months in hospital, in different wards and had a hospital transfer. Was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease and, shortly afterwards, had an ileostomy.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 41-50 >> Interview 04 >> He didn't know how much to tell his partner in case it worried her and hindered her recovery.

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 41-50 >> Interview 01 >> She was a nurse in the ICU where she was a patient, and asked questions over and over again in hospital and when she was back home.

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 51-60 >> Interview 37 >> He had no recollection of his time in hospital and talking to nurses who had looked after him helped him piece together what had happened in ICU.

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 31-40 >> Interview 34 >> He was in intensive care twice and, on both occasions, found out from family, friends and medical staff what really happened and what was hallucinatio

Was admitted to intensive care in 2001 because of acute pancreatitis. Spent 46 days in intensive care and 1 month in general ward. Needed to have surgery and was transferred to another hospital. Spent 4 weeks in hospital before surgery, 30 days in intensive care and 3 months in general ward. Overall length of stay in 2 hospitals was 7 ½ months.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 31-40 >> Interview 15 >> Although she no longer looks at her diary, writing it all down when she was recovering helped her make sense of what had happened.

Was admitted to ICU three times in 2004 and spent, in total, about 1 month in intensive care. Spent several months in hospital, in different wards and had a hospital transfer. Was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease and, shortly afterwards, had an ileostomy.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 31-40 >> Interview 05 >> She learned more about her ICU experience by talking to her sister, and about her husband's feelings because he found them hard to discuss.

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 41-50 >> Interview 24 >> She got snippets of information from family and nurses and from reading her cards and letters.

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 41-50 >> Interview 29 >> She would have liked to know which hospital she was in and why, and to have this information repeated.

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 31-40 >> Interview 34 >> Going from ICU to a ward was a shock, but was glad to be recovering.

Was admitted to intensive care in 2001 because of acute pancreatitis. Spent 46 days in intensive care and 1 month in general ward. Needed to have surgery and was transferred to another hospital. Spent 4 weeks in hospital before surgery, 30 days in intensive care and 3 months in general ward. Overall length of stay in 2 hospitals was 7 ½ months.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 61-70 >> Interview 27 >> He didn't want to hear it would take a long time to recover but realised that people meant well.

Was admitted to intensive care in 2005 because of pancreatitis and septicaemia. Spent 2 weeks in intensive care, 2 weeks in a High Dependency Unit; 6 weeks in a general ward, and 2 weeks in a rehabilitation hospital.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 61-70 >> Interview 27 >> He wanted to know whether his gall bladder would need to be removed but doctors gave conflicting answers.

Was admitted to intensive care in 2005 because of pancreatitis and septicaemia. Spent 2 weeks in intensive care, 2 weeks in a High Dependency Unit; 6 weeks in a general ward, and 2 weeks in a rehabilitation hospital.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 51-60 >> Interview 30 >> She wished she'd been given her ICU diary sooner because she learnt so much from it.

Was admitted to intensive care in 2005 because of epiglottitis and severe sepsis. Spent about 6 days in intensive care and 5 days in a High Dependency Unit.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 61-70 >> Interview 18 >> He appreciated the doctor's direct approach and he and his wife were given all the information they needed.

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 51-60 >> Interview 19 >> Two consultants gave him conflicting views about his cancer diagnosis.

Was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2004. Short stay in intensive care following surgery was planned. Spent 4 days in ICU and about 2 weeks in a general ward.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 61-70 >> Interview 20 >> He had plenty of information from nurses before surgery for bowel cancer, including pamphlets and telephone numbers.

Was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2004. Because of complication (idiopathic thrombocytopenia, diagnosed in 2000), short stay in intensive care was planned, following surgery. Spent 8 days in intensive care and 18 days in general ward.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 61-70 >> Interview 03 >> He would have liked to know before surgery what happens when catheters are removed.

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 13 >> She learnt more from her brother than from the doctors about the pain she might have after surgery.

Had planned surgery in 1998 to remove kidney because of ongoing problems with kidney stones and infections. ICU stay after surgery was also planned. Stayed in intensive care for 2 days. Spent about five weeks in hospital after surgery.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 41-50 >> Interview 13 >> Her doctors didn't seem to appreciate that she might take longer to recover and not need certain injections.

Had planned surgery in 1998 to remove kidney because of ongoing problems with kidney stones and infections. ICU stay after surgery was also planned. Stayed in intensive care for 2 days. Spent about five weeks in hospital after surgery.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 61-70 >> Interview 18 >> He found it helpful visiting ICU when he had a follow-up appointment because much of his time there had been a blur, and he learnt more about his stay

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 26 >> He advises people to keep a diary for their loved ones while they are in intensive care because they will ask a lot of questions when they are recover

Was admitted to intensive care in 2005 because of severe pneumonia. Spent 30 days in intensive care and 8 days in a general ward.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 31-40 >> Interview 05 >> She advises people to talk about their experiences, and relatives to tell them what happened because the more they know, the easier it is to deal with

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.