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• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 41-50 >> Interview 04 >> Seeing the same technician on her second visit made her more relaxed about the tests.

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 30 and under >> Interview 17 >> Because of his pneumonia and chest pains, he was admitted to intensive care where doctors could keep a close eye on his progress.

Has sickle cell anaemia and was experiencing chest pain, which turned out to be pneumonia. Breathing difficulties led to ICU admission and, because of multiple organ failure, spent about 12 days in ICU. Following ICU, spent 2 weeks in general ward.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 51-60 >> Interview 30 >> She didn't feel ill or have pain but a serious throat infection and sepsis caused her breathing difficulties.

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 71 plus >> Interview 22 >> He praised the care and treatment he had and felt he was very well looked after.

Was admitted to ICU in 2004 because of a rare infection caused by slight dog bite. Had finger and toes amputated. Was in intensive care for 17 days and was discharged after a short stay in a general ward. Later attended another hospital for skin grafts.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 41-50 >> Interview 13 >> She had pain in her chest when she came round and, in her confusion, felt she was drowning (she had planned surgery to remove a kidney).

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 51-60 >> Interview 19 >> He couldn't move much because he was attached to lots of equipment but always had good pain relief.

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 51-60 >> Interview 32 >> She would rather have a bit of pain than hallucinations caused by morphine.

Was admitted to intensive care in 2004 because of a perforated duodenal ulcer and septicaemia. Spent 29 days in intensive care, about 6 weeks in a general ward, and 6 weeks in a rehabilitation hospital.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: Patients' experiences >> Aged 41-50 >> Interview 28 >> He disliked having physiotherapy but knew he needed it and appreciated the physiotherapists' support with hindsight.

Was admitted to intensive care in 2004 because of septicaemia. Spent about 7 weeks in intensive care and 4 weeks in a general ward.

• 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 41-50 >> Interview 01 >> She found the care on the ward excellent and felt like she needed to do more for herself once she was there.

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 13 >> She felt weepy having had surgery but knew these feelings would pass because she'd had them before.

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 33 >> He had very little pain after the operation and on his second day back home was able to walk a mile.

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.