4 ms·
I noticed a lot of the same things when my dad was in the ICU. Some additional thoughts: 1. "Almost every patient has delusions and nightmares" I personally f
by Ensorceled 4y ago
I noticed a lot of the same things when my dad was in the ICU. Some additional thoughts:
1. "Almost every patient has delusions and nightmares" I personally felt "off" when visiting my father. The sounds, smells, lights and constant buzz of activity all contributed to a feeling of being in a surreal dreamworld. Lack of sleep contributes. I can't imagine what my father experiencing.
2. Food was HORRIBLE. One meal was a low quality hamburger on a plain, white bread bun with a slice of "american cheese", fries, iceberg lettuce salad with a couple of slices of cucumber and a single slice of tomato, a container of apple sauce and glass of milk. Lots of salad dressing and ketchup. They wouldn't let us bring better food into the ICU and my dad didn't want to "make waves".
3. Family is critical. My father got better care because I, or my brother, was there to act on his behalf. Having obnoxious family members is worse than having none from what I saw.
- etrautmann 4y agoYes - my wife is a physician and she routinely describes how well meaning family members make care harder for their loved ones by trying too hard in the wrong ways. Requesting more care doesn’t get you better care - “squeaky wheel gets the grease” doesn’t really apply in many situations.
- Ensorceled 4y agoI certainly saw that. The issue we had was my sister grilling everyone who came into the room, or even walked by, often the same questions that she already asked that person earlier. I could see everyone starting to dread seeing her. The “squeaky wheel gets the grease” doesn't apply if people are avoiding the patients room. My father's cardiologist was explaining the procedure he was about to perform and my sister and mother were so upset they just flooded him with irrelevant questions and questions that he had already answered. I kept trying to get them to stop talking over top the surgeon and actually listen to the answers he was giving. He finally asked me if I could "socialize this with your family" so he could return to the operating room.
- throwaway2037 4y agoI have heard an equal number of stories that are exactly opposite. Only through aggressive, pushy "squeaky wheel" behaviour was someone able to get the correct care.
- Ensorceled 4y agoMy dad definitely got better care because both my brother and were assertive in our advocacy, but my sister’s aggressive, undirected badgering didn’t help at all.
- hansthehorse 4y agoAs someone who has spent much more than my fair share of time in ICU and on "the floor" I can honestly say that being in the hospital is similar to being in prison in one respect. Having someone on the outside working for you is critical. Medical staff will almost immediately try to establish a power dynamic over you to keep you cooperative and docile. Having people from outside who are polite but inquisitive and questioning is key. I've also noticed that people who have frequent and varied family visitors get more attentive care than those who never have visitors such as the elderly whose family may all be gone and friends can't really travel.
- amatecha 4y agoI had a family member who wasn't even in ICU, and still experienced delusions simply from being sick and being in the hospital for a few days. He thought there was a group of family members around the corner waiting to jump out and surprise him and was insistent that I tell them not to disturb the other patients. I had to argue with him to get him to accept that, no, there is not a random group of family members waiting to jump out. He insisted he heard them talking and stuff. It was pretty disconcerting for me actually because he has always been a psychologically-bulletproof person. Definitely an eye-opening moment for me.
- cwillu 4y agoNow thinking about how this applies to the acute mental health wing.