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The heartbreaking loss of our friend @Sciencing_Bi has led a lot of folks to ask a very understandable ?:
"I thought she was getting better! What happened?!"
This raises the issue of what happens when someone survives critical illness generally, and COVID specifically.
THREAD
"I thought she was getting better! What happened?!"
This raises the issue of what happens when someone survives critical illness generally, and COVID specifically.
THREAD
We've known for a long time that surviving to leave the ICU & then leave the hospital is just the first step on a long road to recovering from critical illness.
Many people have lots of problems for quite awhile after an ICU stay, affecting many body systems. (2/n)
Many people have lots of problems for quite awhile after an ICU stay, affecting many body systems. (2/n)
Fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, hair loss, problems with thinking & concentration, problems with language & memory, joint pain, muscle loss, PTSD... these & many other issues are common after an ICU stay.
It's so common, there's a specific name for it. (3/n)
It's so common, there's a specific name for it. (3/n)
It's called post-intensive care syndrome, or PICS. In the last several years, specific clinics have been formed to try to better treat PICS.
But, what causes PICS? Research is ongoing, but there's a *ton* we don't know about this. We do know some, but not nearly enough. (4/n)
But, what causes PICS? Research is ongoing, but there's a *ton* we don't know about this. We do know some, but not nearly enough. (4/n)
So, that's w/ any illness that requires ICU care. What about COVID?
We still don't even know the specifics of what COVID recovery looks like. Is it the same as other critical illness from a viral pneumonia? Maybe.
Many think there are additional problems unique to COVID. (5/n)
We still don't even know the specifics of what COVID recovery looks like. Is it the same as other critical illness from a viral pneumonia? Maybe.
Many think there are additional problems unique to COVID. (5/n)
Blood clotting problems, blood vessel injuries in multiple organs (e.g., brain, kidneys, lungs, others?), maybe scarring in some organs, possibly autoimmune issues, & likely things we haven't even seen yet.
Remember, no one had even heard of COVID 6-8 months ago. (6/n)
Remember, no one had even heard of COVID 6-8 months ago. (6/n)
So, even if severe COVID behaves just like other critical illnesses, recovery will be long & complicated for many people.
COVID *could* turn out to be much worse than other critical illnesses. We just don't know yet.
So, it is VITALLY important to do what we know works. (7/n)
COVID *could* turn out to be much worse than other critical illnesses. We just don't know yet.
So, it is VITALLY important to do what we know works. (7/n)
1. Wear a face mask. They work.
2. Wash your hands.
3. Maintain physical distance.
4. Don't gather in crowds.
5. Be guided by the science and the true experts. Not politics. Not celebrities. Not charlatans. Not wishful thinking.
(8/8)
2. Wash your hands.
3. Maintain physical distance.
4. Don't gather in crowds.
5. Be guided by the science and the true experts. Not politics. Not celebrities. Not charlatans. Not wishful thinking.
(8/8)
