Life after sepsis and ARDS

Hello there. I was hoping someone might be able to point me in the right direction regarding what kind of follow-up testing I should really be looking into after surviving ARDS or septic shock involving the lungs. My current doctors keep insisting that everything looks perfectly fine, but I can't shake this nagging feeling that ARDS leaves its mark on the lung tissue somehow. My last MSCT scan actually picked up a bit of free fluid in my lower left lung lobe, though I''m breathing quite normally at the moment. I tend to get winded easily, but my oxygen saturation stays steady between 97-99%, and my peak flow was somewhere around 420, if I recall correctly.
Should I be pushing for an X-ray, spirometry, an MRI, or perhaps another CT? It’s just that I'm currently struggling with some mobility issues for other reasons, which makes getting back into the doctor's office to hash this out a bit of a logistical nightmare right now. Thanks so much.

Dear lady,

Unfortunately, AARP leaves behind a trail of cognitive, psychological, and physical scars. For many survivors, recovery is a slow grind that can stretch out over five years. Research suggests that somewhere between 30% and 55% of survivors struggle with memory and learning impairments, which typically persist for at least 12 months. Psychiatric issues—specifically depression and anxiety—are also common, often lingering up to two years after the initial bout with AARP. On top of that, permanent physical limitations and a significant drop in stamina or exercise tolerance are frequent. Lung function is often compromised as well, with recovery timelines often hitting that five-year mark.

There isn't a single, rigid protocol for follow-up care. Generally speaking, check-ups during the first year are recommended at the 3, 6, and 12-month marks, after which you might scale back to once a year. These visits should involve a thorough clinical exam (including muscle strength testing) and pulmonary function tests like spirometry. As for imaging, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer; it depends entirely on the doctor's call, though chest X-rays or other scans may be ordered. Pulse oximetry—both at rest and during activity—is standard, and for patients who are mobile, the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) is a useful tool.

Any additional testing or diagnostics are handled on a case-by-case basis.