What happens when I come in?

If you are having surgery at the hospital, you will be told about intensive care before you arrive and a space will have been booked for you after your operation.

If you are an emergency admission, it is unlikely you will know much about intensive care. Doctors and nurses will keep you and your relatives informed the whole time, about your care and treatment plan.

Families can visit at any time of day. Relatives can also phone during the day or night to speak to a nurse about you and your condition.

When you have been ill and in intensive care, it may take time to return to your normal self.

Things to look out for include:

• Eating and drinking. You may lose your appetite and you may need help eating and drinking after you leave. In hospital, you may be given meals or drinks fortified with extra nourishment, and you may need to continue with these food supplements at home.
• Changes in mood. You may find you feel down, depressed or irritable. These are normal reactions after being very ill and will subside with time. Discussing your experiences may help, and may assist your recovery.
• Activity. At first you may be tired and find it hard to do activities. This will improve with time – though everyone recovers at different rates. You will need to increase your activity over the following days and weeks.
• Sleeping. You may find your sleep pattern has changed, probably due to the disruption of sleep in intensive care. You may feel tired and lethargic but as you recover, you sleep pattern will return to normal. You may also have strange dreams – often due to the drugs you receive disrupted sleep and altered hormone levels. These will subside over days or weeks.

Going to a hospital ward is a big step on the way to recovery if you have been in intensive care. You may feel apprehensive, but feel free to ask ward staff any questions you or your family have.