Intensive care rehabilitation

[Mandaharry]

My 17 month old son has just been in intensive care for 13 day, 8 or which he was heavily sedated on a ventilator and on a drug to paradise him. Thankfully he is well and home now but in a weaning program to get him off the drugs without suffering withdrawal symptoms BUT although happy and eating etc he has no strength in his body and even struggling to hold his head up by himself let alone crawl or walk like he was doing. Can anyone recommend anything I can do to help his muscles get stronger.
Thank you xxx

Ensure that he is eating and drinking well. Keep on with very gentle encouragement. Take yourself back a few stages of development and try things like tummy time, play lots of games that involve reaching and grabbing things.

Ultimately he is 17 months and has been through a lot. I'm going to assume that he has not been out of hospital for long if he is still on some kind of clonidine for withdrawal. It does take a lot of time but the PICU team would have told you if they thought there would be a long term impact from his illness. 8 days of ventilation and drugs is a lot and it will take some time.

If you are worried and want more advice call your health visitor snd ask them to pop in for a visit.

I'm glad your little boy is feeling better and hope he's coping OK with withdrawing from all those drugs.

DD took quite a while after 10d in PICU with septicaemia, though she had another 9days in hospital after that. She was weak, appetite not great but little by little she picked up each day. It took a long time for her to be "normal" again but she had been very ill and was back in hospital a month later for further surgery that took her a good couple of months to get over in and out of hospital for treatment post op. Fast forward she is now 5yrs old and in every respect lively and happy and healthy. Don't expect too much too soon and you will get there - this is also very tough on you and I remember those days very well when she first came home and the complete frustration I had, particularly waiting for some answers from the hospital too. Try and ensure you find some time to relax a bit yourself.