More thoughts on the ICU

I'm not sure what this simple device is called. But my respiratory therapists and nurses encouraged me to use it religiously. When I first picked it up I could not move the blue cylinder on the lowest setting. This simple act of blowing into it to move and hold the blue cylinder between the hash marks forced air into my covid pneumonia filled lungs. As I was able to move it and change settings I saw a corresponding improvement in my oxygen demand. Covid attacks the lungs creating acute respiratory distress. The combination of a 15 day steroid treatment, a 7 day regime of remdisivir, to fight infection, nurturing caregivers, pushy physical therapists, persistent respiratory therapists, engaged physicians how checked in with me and my family daily, and a patient willing to fight for every breath constituted a partnership that saw me move to a recovery floor 19 days after admission

My $48,000 ICU bed. The bed was self adjusting. It adjusted to my movements while learning to sleep prone ( on my stomach).

The bed in the recovery room was smaller and did not self adjust to my body movements. To accommodate my height the frame at the bottom of the bed was removed. I still slept prone (on my stomach) and my feet overhung the edge of the bed. I still sleep prone and am finding it more comfortable now than sleeping on my back. Note the monitor at the head of the bed. The room was equipped with a fraction of the life support found in ICU. The essentials were an oxygen line and monitor. I used the monitor to temper my movements to ensure I didn’t go into oxygen distress when moving. I took my first shower in this room 20 days after admission. It was exhilarating even though it cost me oxygen distress.