Dawn Smeby dsmeby@mlecmn.net

I had ARDS in 2003 and lost 6 months of my life. My husband was wonderful for me the whole time. We decided after my recovery to live life to the fullest, which we did before this. We bought the full-dress Harley my husband always dreamed of.(We have been married for 21 years) We met lots of good people on rides for charities and had great times together on the bike. On August 16 2008, I lost my best friend, my husband, to a person who ran a stop sign while my husband was riding his bike. What I am feeling right now is a lot of guilt towards buying the bike because I wanted him to be happy after the hell I put him through while I was sick. PLEASE help me get through this!!! Dawn

posted 1/1/2009

Kathy Reynolds kathyanne3@yahoo.com

I just got out of the hospital after 50 days with ARDS. I am home and still on 2 liters of O2 with activity. I would like to communicate with others with this.

posted 12/29/2008

Kim k1m.haynes14@gmail.com

I lost 6 weeks of memory due to my battle with ARDS, which began November 2007. I am having great difficulty coping.

posted 11/23/2008

Mary McCrady cradym@sbcglobal.net

I was diagnosed in July 2008. I had all the symptoms, treatment and came home on September 3rd. I'm very lucky to be alive, but my activities are limited and I am now very depressed. Can anyone give me support on how to handle?

posted 11/17/2008

Janice Carroll cattraveler@hotmail.com

I realized that some of you may have tried to contact me on my MSN or hotmail account and I may have deleted you because I thought you were phishing. If so, I apologize and please try again! I can use support as we all can.

posted 11/16/2008

Michelle Harbor thetinytornado@bigpond.com

I went to hospital for gallstone and bladder removal and things went very wrong.

posted 11/1/2008

Amber McCrea falsified_memories@yahoo.com

At first I couldn't talk about it. I was... ashamed that I had survived. Maybe I should start with my name. My name is Amber, and I am 21 years old. In July of this year, I went to the ER for abdomen pain. It ended up being my gallbladder, which was successfully removed that day.
Unlike normal gallbladders, mine was 16 inches long, the size of a football. The average gallbladder is the size of an egg. After removal, I was coming out of anesthesia, and had a panic attack. I was struggling to breathe. They rushed me to ICU where I had completely stopped breathing. They hooked me up to the ventilator where I was in a coma for 8 days.
They found that I had severe pneumonia in both lungs. I also had MRSA multiple-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) surrounding BOTH lungs AND I had ARDS. The doctors gave my family 6% chance of survival through the coma. THIS is the only time I am happy with the army, for they let my husband come stand by me through the whole thing. The day I woke up, the whole place was quiet with nothing but sobs. They don't know how I did it. During recovery at the hospital, I had a total of 26 doctors, and a handful of nurses just come to say hi to me. I was even called their miracle numerous times. The follow-up appointment after I was released from the hospital was the biggest eye-opener that what had happened wasn't a dream, but reality. When the doctor walked in the room, he flat out said "Wow, you almost died, Amber, and I didn't know what to do." That's when it hit me. That was a few months ago. I am doing better, but I still struggle day to day with reality. They are "guessing" that the reason WHY I made it out alive is my age, but they made it clear that they are still unsure how I did it. Thanks for taking the time to read about my survival. I lost 2 family members to ARDS and my family isn't all that good at talking about it with me, so that's why I turned to you.

posted 10/28/2008

Susan East seast318@aol.com

I had felt like I was coming down with a cold for about 2 weeks before I was diagnosed with ARDS. On July 3, 2008, my daughter came by my home and could tell that I was in distress. I was fully awake and did not want to go to the doctor. She begged me to go and get a chest x-ray. When I got to my doctor's office, my pulse ox was 39. My daughter is an RN and thought the machine was broken. They transported me to my local hospital and within about 30 minutes they had done a blood gas and that was 42. I was in the ICU for six weeks. I was on a vent three different times for a total of 28 days. I am having difficulty with my muscles. I feel very fortunate to have survived, but still do not understand how that happened to me.

posted 10/24/2008

Erika retw@embarqmail.com

My name is Erika. I was diagnosed with gastroparesis in 2000, and they put a gastric pacemaker in me. In 2004, I got ARDS, I was on the ventilator for a while, then I was put on the trach. I spent about 4 months in the ICU. In 2006, I got ARDS again. Both times it was from aspirating. I have had 7 chest tubes and am on oxygen 24/7. In 2006, they said I had ulcerative colitis and would never eat again, so they put feeding tubes in me. Now I am in and out of the hospital all the time with vomiting and chronic pain. It has been awful and I don't know what to do anymore. I have a wonderful husband and great Christian family support, but it is hard on me and my husband. I would love to talk to somebody who understands. I have a lot of dreams about the coma and am afraid to go to sleep and wake up on the ventilator again. That is a brief history of my life.

posted 10/20/2008

Andy Klein foxlynx@sbcglobal.net

I had 2 esophageal ulcers that had burst, and started to throw up blood. I aspirated and ended up in the Akron City hospital. I was treated for the ulcers, but I also ended up with ARDS in the process of aspiration. I spent 3 1/2 weeks on a ventilator, and I was unconscious the whole time. In all, I spent 32 days in the ICU and am lucky enough to have survived this.

posted 10/18/2008

Janice Carroll cattraveler@hotmail.com

 In August 2008, my husband found me semi-conscious on the floor. I remember nothing until I was taken off the vent. I had terrible dreams while on it, and I knew that my hands were restrained (but I did not know it was so I wouldn't pull the tubes out). My husband and I had not been getting along, and after a week home he decided I was as good as new. He also told me that part of the time that I was on the vent, he thought it would be better if I died. We are now separated, after 38 years of marriage. While in ICU, I had aspiration pneumonia, respiratory failure, sepsis, and congestive heart failure. I feel like such a loser and so alone.

posted 10/15/2008

Lanette Banks ards.girl@gmail.com

My name is Lanette and I am an ARDS survivor. While unconscious in the ER, I aspirated and my condition became critical. I was taken by helicopter to a hospital in Mobile, AL where I was placed in the Critical Care Unit. Due to the aspiration, both of my lungs burned and then collapsed. I could no longer breathe on my own and I was placed on life support. I was so sick I could not even survive long enough without life support to receive a tracheotomy. My family immediately flew in from the west to be by my side while I was in a coma. After 10 days of constant support by my side and no response from me physically or mentally, my family went home to pray about how long I should be on life support. After 14 days on life support, the medical staff were going to remove the life support to see if I could breathe at all on my own. Miraculously, on the 13th day, I literally coughed up the ventilator tube which went about 10 inches into my wind pipe. To the medical professionals recollection, this has never happened before. In addition, it usually takes up to 2 weeks for someone to talk coming off life support, and I woke up talking. I am so grateful to be alive and seem to be having a fairly quick recovery considering I was on life support and in a coma. I can't do the things I normally did and took for granted, so I will use my blog to track my progress and hopefully give hope to others who have suffered the same life threatening condition that I did.

posted 10/12/2008

Kelley Byrd kbturtle5@aol.com

At age 33, I was diagnosed with a MRSA staph infection believed to be picked up from the surgeon's office I worked at. I was placed on a double dose of Bactroban and subsequently had a severe allergic reaction resulting in toxemia. The toxemia brought on ARDS. I was taken to the emergency room by my husband and 8 year old daughter on June 10, 2006 in a semi-conscious state. I regained consciousness almost three months later at an ICU unit in a Long Term Care Facility. I was still on a ventilator with a trach and feeding tube, but my husband and children never gave up hope on me. After returning home, I stayed on oxygen for almost a year and still require it for any type of cardio, such as walking. I have severe interstitial fibrosis and osteopenia due to the ARDS and the steroids that saved my life. But there is not a day that goes by that I don't appreciate looking at my loved ones.

posted 10/12/2008

Annette Saenz annetteLsaenz@aol.com

On 02/27/08, I came down with a fever (102 degrees). I thought I had the flu, but over the next couple of days, my condition deteriorated. My family doctor treated me with Tamiflu, a Z-pac and Albuterol treatments. On 03/03/08, a chest x-ray was performed, which revealed a complete "white out" and I was diagnosed with pneumonia. I was breathing with only 5% of my lung volume. I was admitted to the hospital, placed on a bi-pap machine and admitted to ICU. On 03/05/08, I was intubated. On 03/11/08, I was extubated and released from the hospital on 03/16/08. During my admission, it was determined that I never had pneumonia, but had sustained an adverse reaction to Septra (a sulfa type drug). It was extremely rare and only a couple of known cases are documented. I am 6 months post ARDS and I'm recuperating well. Currently, pulmonary lung function is 80%. Some fibrosis is noted, but I pray that I will continue to improve.

posted 10/8/2008

Gary Higginbotham baseballapro@gmail.com

I started off with Kawasaki disease, which is rare for teenagers. The doctors didn't believe it was Kawasaki, but the Infectious Disease Specialist knew that it was. I had three doses of gamma globulins (purified antibodies). I also had six blood infusions and I am the rarest blood type in the world (AB+). Only 4% of the world has my blood type. I began to show signs of improvement, but a couple of days later, I was rushed into the ICU with ARDS. That whole week is just a blank memory to me. They put me into a sleep like sedation and I was on life support for a week. When I woke up a week later I couldn't walk or talk because of the tubes down my throat. I am currently at home doing much better, but I have to get blood work and echo cardiograms every month.

posted 10/6/2008

Misty Cross crssmsty@yahoo.com

The doctor thought I was having an asthma attack, but it turned out to be worse. I was 8 months pregnant at the time. They induced coma and flew me out. The next day they did an emergency C-section. My daughter is fine, but they told my family I was not going to make it. Surprisingly enough, after 9 days in a coma I was better, and I did survive. I now have asthma, but other then that all is good.

posted 10/4/2008

Khendra khendraclassic@tx.rr.com

I contracted ARDS after plastic surgery. My case is a little different. I had a fat emboli. October 2008 is my 2 year anniversary of life. It has been difficult, but I'm happy to be here. Be happy with your body, plastic surgery is not worth it.

posted 9/18/2008

Shelley Brummer shelleyb@vodamail.co.za

I was very ill for 2 weeks, undiagnosed (by 2 doctors), then could not breathe properly for 7 hours. My husband rushed me to the hospital as my lips were going blue. My SATS on arrival were 58% and going down. I was intubated and in the ICU for 10 days, and the hospital another 15 days. It took me months to recover, and I think I suffered some brain damage as I can not remember as well as I used to. I have also developed osteoarthritis really bad and am much weaker than I used to be.

posted 9/3/2008

Bela Maranhas bela.maranhas@comcast.net

I started out with a broken ankle that needed surgery. The day after the operation, I developed a sore throat and then a fever. It kept getting worse until I had to be moved to the ICU. To this day they cannot tell me what caused ARDS. I did have a double pneumonia. They had to induce a coma and give me a paralytic agent. I was on life support and eventually had a tracheotomy. Various organs failed, and I went into heart arrhythmia twice. At one point they told my husband I had a 15% chance of survival. Pretty much everyone had given up. Then there was some very slight improvement and my chances went to 20%. Within a few days they were bringing me out of the coma. I was then moved to Rehab. I stayed there for four weeks. When I left, I still couldn't walk. I went into the hospital for the ankle surgery on 2/21/08 and finally came home from Rehab on 5/16/08. I am still in outpatient therapy. Yesterday I was able to walk for 2.1 miles in 50 minutes.

posted 8/27/2008

Michelle Lofton MLoftonRN@aol.com

I woke up one morning very short of breath and weak. I called 911 and was taken to the emergency room. I remember the ride to the hospital but not entering the emergency room doors. The next thing I recall was 6 weeks later. I was being transferred to another long term hospital, closer to my daughters. I had a trach, oxygen, PICC line for IV's, feeding tube and a foley. I was on the ventilator a total of 4 months. I lost almost all of my hair. I had every infection possible and some of the germs colonized and will always be present but hopefully not active infections. I went to inpatient rehab for 2 weeks and I am home now. I have been getting PT and OT in the home and am slowly becoming stronger. I spill or drop (or both) everything I touch! I am walking with a walker, continue to have the feeding tube (not used) and trach for oxygen and suctioning secretions. I use the nebulizer every 4 hours. I am finding myself becoming increasingly depressed and angry. I do not sleep well at night, and the meds do not help. I am looking to talk and exchange with others and their daily life and adjustments due to ARDS. I struggle with the smallest of tasks and know networking can be so helpful.

posted 8/27/2008

Christina Loveall chjloveall@comcast.net

I got ARDS in August of 2005, and am still recuperating. I was in a coma for a month, and suffered damage to my brain due to lack of blood oxygen and high fever. I have trouble with my speech, and I am wheelchair/walker bound. I don't have much memory to what happened from weeks up to my hospitalization, to a month after I was awake and sent to a rehabilitation hospital. Besides the fact I cannot drive or walk well, the change of who I am upsets me the most.

posted 8/25/2008

Erika retw@embarqmail.com

I first got ARDS in 2004. I was intubated and had a trach, and was in the ICU for almost 4 months. The doctors said the cause was aspiration. I had a slow recovery, then was diagnosed with ARDS again in 2006. Altogether I have had 7 chest tubes, a trach, and feeding tubes. The doctors discovered I had ulcerative colitis and gastroparesis, and that was why I aspirated. The feeding tubes had to come out because I kept getting a staph infection. I am able to eat with restrictions, but not after about 3 in the afternoon. I am on oxygen 24/7 now and it sucks. But the Lord has decided to keep me around for awhile yet. I do get depressed sometimes, but I have a great husband and that helps. I think this has been harder on him then me sometimes. Well that is a little of my story.

posted 8/18/2008

Kathy Nabors khnabors@earthlink.net

In June 2002, I was diagnosed with pneumonia in 1/3 of one lung. Three days later I was in ICU fighting for my life. The pneumonia had filled both lungs and I developed ARDS. I was life flighted to UTMB in Galveston and was on ECMO for 13 days. During that time I had 36 transfusions, suffered a blood infection, and developed pancreatitis. I was successfully weaned from the ECMO machine but did not wake up from my drug induced coma. A CAT scan showed a brain bleed. I didn't wake up for 10 days. I was released from the hospital in August, spent 10 days in a rehab hospital, and walked out on my own without needing supplemental oxygen. On September 11, 2002, my pulmonary function tests were normal. I have experienced no cognitive or physical problems other than a propensity to chest congestion with a cold. I have no memory from the time I was admitted for pneumonia until the time I woke up in ICU in another hospital. I thought that I had been moved to a new room overnight because the wallpaper border was different. My friends and family filled in the blanks for me.

posted 8/17/2008

Robin comagirl@bust.com

I contracted a viral pneumonia 13 years ago when I was 25. Within 36 hours, I was taken by ambulance with a 20% O2 sat and intubated. I woke up 36 days later and remained on a ventilator for another two weeks. The road back was tough, but I'm 100% better physically, emotionally, and mentally.

posted 8/11/2008

Steve Moe srm1540@bellsouth.net

I have had ARDS four times since 1990. The last time was 2000. I was on the vent twice and bipap the other times. I still have chest tightness, and a slight wheeze. I take Spiriva, Albuterol and Advair Discus. My physicians think I got ARDS as a result of aspiration or a mold or spore. I have not had ARDS since I quit smoking. This disease has taken a significant toll on my overall health. I would like to hear from others with like circumstances. Thanks.

posted 8/3/2008

Debbie Herring livelovelaugh0821@yahoo.com

My name is Debbie Herring and I am 40 years old. I am an ARDS survivor. I really don't know what to say other than I am so happy to find this website. I had pneumonia that developed into ARDS. This was two years ago. The only memory I have was being in the emergency room and the next thing I know I woke up (after the worst nightmares you can imagine) 6 weeks later and couldn't talk because of the trach. I could hardly move I was so weak. They had put me on life support in a drug induced coma because I couldn't breathe on my own. I developed blood clots in my legs and had to be put on Coumadin, and was on Haldol for hallucinations. I stayed in the hospital for about 6 more weeks then, I was transferred to a nursing home so that I could learn to walk again. When I finally got to come home, my Coumadin level got too high and caused internal bleeding, so I had to go back in the hospital for blood transfusions. It has been two years now and I still have problems and would love to talk to other survivors.

posted 7/18/2008

Suzanne Lee suzanne@rsi.brcoxmail.com

I am a thirty year old ARDS survivor. I was admitted to the hospital with pancreatitis and developed staph through my IV's. This led to sepsis and full-blown ARDS. My family was told I had a 0% chance of surviving but the docs wanted to try the oscillating vent. I was put into a paralyzed-induced coma for three weeks. I have been told that my progress was nothing short of a miracle. I have recently been discharged and have returned home. I am off of O2 support, had my trach removed, and am able to walk unassisted now. This process took only 3 weeks compared to the 9 months it takes some people- some even longer. I feel very blessed and I am convinced that I wouldn't be here if it weren't for the constant support and prayers of family, friends, even strangers. This is a devastating disease that I had never even heard of. A 17 year old girl was admitted in the ICU days before I left. I tried to console her family and give them hope by witnessing my recovery. I am very sad to report that she passed last night. I feel what some call "survivor's guilt". Who knows why I was so fortunate and she wasn't? I suppose it's in God's hands and it just wasn't my time. I did have very intense dreams during my comatose state, I even saw and spoke to family members who have passed. If you or a loved one is going through this very difficult time please feel free to write me. I'm sure we would have a lot in common. If you have a loved one who is ill, DON'T GIVE UP HOPE!! My family slept in the ICU waiting room for a month and never missed visiting hours even once. They spoke to me, played music, and kept a vigil around me at all times. I know for sure they gave me the energy to fight as hard as I did. I dreamed that I was dead and all I could think of was coming back so my family wouldn't have to deal with such a terrible event. It is so important to learn about ARDS and to understand the options you or a loved one may have for treatment. You can never have too many prayers. Send me an email about your story.

posted 7/1/2008

Mobey mobey23@yahoo.com

I'm from West Africa, and wish to be in friendship with others from all over the world.

posted 6/29/2008

Deanie Bennett dthebeanie@verizon.net

On May 4, 2008, I went to the ER at Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Bel Air,  MD. I was having problems breathing and my legs where twice their size with fluid.
So I thought I would get a shot of antibiotics and a water pill and go home, but that's not what happened at all. I was taken to the CCU, and that's where I stayed for 8 days. I had a infection of some sort and an oxygen level of 32%, which is not good! I was on a c pack but that didn't work so I went on the ventilator. My husband and my children were so afraid of losing me. I was in a drug induced coma for 6 days and all the doctors and nurses did a great job with me at the hospital. My family did what the website said to do, they talked to me and touched me and no negative talk or crying in my room. My husband brought things from home for me like my pillow and blanket from our bed. And he was always there; if he had to go home then the kids were there with me, so I was never alone. I think with all the positive words and prayers from people that were there in my room with me made me fight harder to get better and I did. I did have not so great dreams, but I have just came back from vacation a week earlier. Our friends that went to Mexico with us had brought pictures to my room and they were talking about Mexico and my nightmares were about Mexico. I'm back to work now; I was out for 5 weeks. I'm doing good and haven't smoked for almost 2 months. I hope this helps someone. Please know that there is life after ARDS. Just remember that the love of your family and friends is the best medicine in the world. May God Bless you all.

posted 6/27/2008

Cynthia A. Cole cacole56@earthlink.net

In June-July 2001, I was diagnosed with ARDS after battling pneumonia for 5 days. I was in the ICU, rehab, the whole nine yards of recovery. Thanks to my incredible doctors, nursing staff and after care professionals .... I am a 7 year survivor!

posted 6/25/2008

Elaine Connell econnell@alltel.net

On August 8, 2001, I had a bowel resection that had a massive leak. Because I was a post liver transplant patient, I was transported to UT Medical Center at Memphis. I was very septic from the bowel leakage, but that problem was resolved when I contracted the ARDS. I was placed on the vent and later a trach. From August 8 until September 17, I remained hospitalized.

posted 6/19/2008

Jon L. Brock jon.brock@oesc.state.ok.us

On December 21, 2007, I received a liver transplant at Baptist Integris Hospital in Oklahoma City. The surgery was an overwhelming success and upon waking in ICU I felt great except for some expected soreness. Within two days I was walking around ICU and released to a hospital floor where I continued to improve and walking around the floor. On December 24, I began having trouble breathing and was given external oxygen. Because my need for oxygen became so severe, I was readmitted to ICU where I remained for nearly 50 days. My oxygen requirement was as high as 15-21 liters per minute. I was intubated for two weeks but awoke being very weak and still requiring lots of external oxygen. During the 82 days I was in the hospital, I lost a total of 56 pounds. Currently, I am able to exercise, have returned to work, and have gained much of my weight back; however, I still require external oxygen with the slightest exertion. I would like to learn if my experience is typical for ARDS and what are the hopes for my regaining my former activity. Granted, I have come a long way but there is still a long way to go.

posted 6/10/2008

Debbie coleman3278@comcast.net

On March 2, 2008 I went to the ER after being sick in bed for almost a week. I was put in ICU immediately. I had bilateral pneumonia and sepsis. I was placed on a vent 4 days later and spent 15 days in ICU. I came home at the end of March. I am having a hard time getting on with my life! My husband says I am different and he says I must have lost some brain cells. And has also called me crazy. I am forgetful and uncharacteristically jealous. I would like to talk to people with a similar experience. Thank you.

posted 6/8/2008

Nichole Kearse nichole.kearse@excellus.com

On March 16, 2008 my fianc� drove me to Strong Hospital for an asthma attack at 2am. I remember small bits and pieces, the rest was explained to me. I remember walking in to the ER and I was very dizzy, but walking on my own. I filled out my paper work as Jason parked the car. I was taken into triage and Jason followed. the next thing I knew I woke up in ICU sore and tired. That was March 27, 2008. This is what happened in between. After they took my blood pressure, I became delirious, coming in and out of consciousness and not really able to talk. My oxygen level was at 73, and they treated me with Albuterol and oxygen continuously, with little improvement. They took an x-ray and discovered I had pneumonia, so they sent me to trauma because the treatments weren't helping. I was then taken to ICU, paralyzed, coma induced and intubated for 7 days. My fingers and toes swelled up so big from the liquids, it was hard to look at. I was restrained because I tried to fight and pull out the breathing tube and IVs. I woke up to 3 family members in my room and 6 more on the way. I had thought I had been stabbed in the stomach and that was why I was in the hospital. I hate hospitals and pushed myself as soon as I woke up and was out by April 1st and back to work by April 7th. I am now part of a study to see why ARDS happens and what can be done to treat it. My prayers are with anyone who is going through this with a loved one, or has gone through it themselves. Feel free to contact me to talk.

posted 5/12/2008

Frank Paolini cheftheman200020002000@yahoo.com

I had ARDS 7 years ago and it has been hell ever since. I still cannot work and have medical problems. I had a cold and when it led to ARDS.

posted 5/11/2008

Ruth Benedict carsoru@yahoo.com

I was admitted to the hospital on March 6, 2008 with what was thought to be pneumonia. What I had was influenza "B" and staphylococcus aureous that rapidly progressed to pneumonia. I became septic and developed ARDS. I was placed in a coma on the 8th of March and had a tracheotomy on the 12th. I have no memory from the 6th until the 24th; I spent 4 weeks in ICU. I believe it was the 3rd of April when I was taken off the ventilator. I'm happy to say I'm at home now and look forward to a slow recovery.

posted 4/30/2008

Bill Prather flughoffdia@hotmail.com

Two years ago, I went into the hospital for knee replacement surgery. Something went wrong & I was moved to a larger hospital. While there, I was placed in a coma, had a heart attack and developed Hospital Acquired Pneumonia. When I came back, I had to be supported on oxygen 24/7. I was transferred to a support facility, and sent home just before Christmas. I had home care and was eventually released. I took an exercise class for patents and completed it. We bought a treadmill and I was working out on it as well as using weights and rubber stretching bands. Then in August of last year I woke my wife up and said I couldn't breathe. I was rushed back to the hospital by the EMTs and I coded while in the ICU. I was brought back, and started bleeding from the lungs. After 3 units of plasma and 4 of whole blood, I was again placed in a coma for one week. When I awoke, my hands were so swollen my wife had to feed me. This time when released, I went to 2 different recovery hospitals before being sent home. I was back at square one and had home care again. Two months ago I was going to my dentist and I noticed I was extremely short of breath. My doctor ordered a CAT Scan and diagnosed me with bronchitis. After a strong dose of antibiotics and minimum walking, I am once again getting around. At rest, my O2 is at 3 liters, but when up and walking it is at 10 liters.

posted 4/5/2008

Merle Gamble mgamble@eznet.co.nz

I got ARDS in 2007 after being admitted to hospital with a perforated bowel. I developed sepsis and was sent to the ICU straight from operation. They operated three times before they knew I had ARDS. I was in the hospital for two months. I am still recovering; I take 2 steps forward and one back or so it seems but I'm sure I will make it, I just find it a really hard battle especially with the lack of support here. My worst moments are feeling lost after being in the ICU for so long and the nightmares. My hair fell out and my skin is still peeling on my face. Has anyone else had these problems? I consider myself very lucky although it may not sound it as I have survived and my best friend has just been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

posted 2/3/2008

Cindy Williams cindy_coleen@msn.com

I was in the hospital with ARDS from 10/23/06 to 1/4/2007. I am home now and trying to function, still on oxygen and not getting much support from the family (husband and 12-year-old daughter). I had moved away from home right before I got sick, and my friends are in Denver. I am awaiting Medicaid and Social Security disability. The doctor told me not to even think about going back to work for at least a year. I am taking care of things around the house, but it takes a lot of effort and everything is a chore. Any words of encouragement would be helpful!

posted 1/28/2008

Audrey Broughton audreyisblessed@hotmail.com

My name is Audrey. I am a 55 years old female. I had eight hours of back surgery in May 2007 due to a long history of scoliosis and back problems that worsened. I was moved to ICU/CCU the following day and diagnosed with ARDS. I do not remember any of this. I thought I was coming out of surgery 25 days later when I was waking up off the vent. I was in the hospital for 30 days and transferred to a a Rehab hospital. I could not stand or walk, and had no use of my right leg and thumb on my right hand. I was in a wheelchair at this time. I came home from Cardinal Hill Rehab Hospital using a walker and later used a cane. It has been eight months since my battle of back surgery and ARDS. I do have to use my cane some days. I have worked ten years in a factory and the past twenty five years in the hospital pharmacy in my home town. My plans after back surgery was to return to work. Nine months later I still have trouble getting up and down, standing long periods, sitting long periods, walking long periods, laying long periods, doing my shopping, cooking and housework on my own. I have trouble with memory and have forgot a lot of things. I am trying to re-train myself with the help of others. I cannot go to sleep without the help of sleep medication. I have days that I only feel like laying down. I am not the same person .I weigh 134 and I have lost 22 pounds and a lot of muscle; I really have aged in these past months and have not gained any weight back. Yet I wonder what the percentage of recurring ARDS would be? Are ARDS survivors always afraid of it happening again? Will we ever be the same? Are any of you experiencing any of my fears and symptoms? I guess I have a lot of unanswered questions in the back of my mind. My husband is a great support but I know that it is hard on him also having to deal with everything that has happened and everything that's going on now. I want to take time to thank GOD for bringing me through; without him I would not be here today to tell my story. I also want to think my husband, family and my church family for their prayers. I would like to say if you are not a Christian, please give your heart to Jesus. You may not have another chance.

posted 1/26/2008

Tina tiny69_@hotmail.com

In Sept 2005, I woke up with a stabbing pain right below my right rib. It would not go away, so my sister rushed me to the ER. I was diagnosed with a 2mm kidney stone. They sent me home with a filter to catch the stone and pain medicine. I took one pain pill and went to bed. I don't recall anything except for me being rushed back to the hospital the next evening. And from there waking up 2 3/4 months later. I became septic, had kidney failure, had a heart attack and developed ARDS and was put on a vent. My family had been begging the doctors to check my gall bladder since that's where the pain originated, but they kept saying tests were showing my gall bladder to be fine. Well my mother finally got her way, and they took me into surgery to remove my gall bladder. They found out it was gangrene, and it fell apart on the surgeon as he removed it. A few days after surgery, the doctors noticed me getting better. I was off the vent and sent home a few weeks later. My 2 young boys had to move out of state to go stay with there dad while I was in the hospital. I had to learn how to write, walk and feed myself again. I went back to work 5 months after I was released. I am so thankful to have a second chance. The only thing is I am still struggling from the scar the trach left.

posted 1/24/2008

Noah Crouse noahjcrouse@comcast.net

Following a serious auto accident, in which a broken femur resulted, I was diagnosed with ARDS. Luckily the doctors caught it pretty early, but it still resulted in two week stay in the ICU (in a drug induced coma & on a ventilator) and a month long stay in the hospital.

posted 1/23/2008

Christine Hills firechild76@hotmail.com

On December 31, 2007, I was diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia. The next day I was transferred to Riverside hospital from Athens, Ohio and was then diagnosed with ARDS. Five hours after arriving in Columbus, I went into respiratory failure, and was intubated, put in a paralytic coma, and on a ventilator for six weeks. I lived in my dreams as my body fought to stay alive. I remember the nightmares very clearly to this day. After six weeks I awoke and found I had a trach and could not speak, eat, drink, or walk. I was in the ICU another eight days and then was transferred to a rehab center where I learned to walk again and received care. This experience was life changing for me. The more I learn about how sick I really was, the more effectively I deal with the changes it has brought to my life. I am much better now, but live in fear of getting sick again. My lungs are not well today, some sort of infection has started brewing in my lungs. It is very scary. Please share with me and help me to understand what I've gone through and continue to go through today.

Love, Christine Hills

posted 1/18/2008

Kyetia Watson kyetiaw@aol.com

On May 7, 2007, I went to the hospital with a very bad headache. I was given morphine and 2 loratabs and sent home. I returned the next day and the same thing happened. I went to see my primary care doctor and left there in an ambulance around 4 pm that afternoon. By 9 pm, I was intubated and put in the ICU. A headache is the only symptom I had, but it hurt so bad I could not open my eyes. Apparently the emergency room thought I was just there to get drugs and just kept sending me home. While in the hospital, I had two heart attacks, pneumonia, and sepsis. They said I had a urinary tract infection that turned septic and I was put on the ventilator. I stayed in the ICU for 8 days and sent to a unit for 3 days. It has been almost 8 months since my ordeal and I still have some problems. I can't seem to get past the memories, which are very few, but what I do remember was very very bad. I have memory problems, had heart stents put in, and my lung function test shows I have only 60% of my breathing now. I have went through long periods of depression and I have the worst fear of going to the doctor or hospital and seem to dwell on what happen to me quiet often. I just can't seem to get past it. My memory has not improved much since then, but I am doing pretty good and very thankful to be alive.

posted 1/7/2008

Debbie Prosperie dlynn1202@netzero.net

I was just released from a 23 day stay in hospital from ARDS. I am