Coping With ARDS

I had surgery in April 2007 to remove a stint from my common bile duct and to reroute it to my small intestine because of complications of previous surgery. The surgery went well, but about 2 days after surgery, I started to have internal bleeding. I was given 3 units of blood and 2 of plasma. I started having problems breathing, and I showed signs of having an infection. I was moved to ICU and diagnosed with ARDS.

I was placed on several different types of respirators, without improvement. They had to put me on life support, I had tubes everywhere, a tracheotomy and ventilator to breath. My lungs had collapsed, and they had to put a tube into my lung to drain the fluid. They couldn’t get the ventilator pressure regulated properly at first and I developed a condition where my lungs developed a ‘leak’ and air went throughout my body between the body tissues and skin which caused me to swell up like a balloon.

I was comatose in the ICU for about a month. I was then moved to the Special Care Unit for another 2 weeks and then spent the last 2 weeks in rehabilitation. The Dr. told us that I had severe scarring of my right lung and had lost about 90% of my lung function! I was discharged from the hospital the first of June, 2007. I went home on oxygen, extremely weak, and unable to write. I remained on the oxygen and rehabilitaion for about 2 months after coming home.

Since then, I have done well. My lung function is now back to about 50% , and I am able to resume most of my activities. ARDS was something I had never heard of. I am in pretty good health, or I don’t think I would have made it. It was an, extremely, difficult time for my husband and family. Their love and support has been crucial to my recovery. I hope my store may comfort others who may be experiencing ARDS.