Susie McLain

My name is Susie McLain, I am a pediatric nurse and now a sepsis survivor. I have kidney disease and developed a UTI. (Sepsis and Urinary Tract Infections) I saw my urologist and PCP for this infection about 6-7 times because after every new oral antibiotic, it came back. My urine was thick, green, smelly. After the last antibiotic didn’t work, I asked the urologist for a PICC line and a course of IV antibiotics. She ascertained that because of my kidney disease, this is how my urine would be. I told no, that we both knew eventually I would become septic and the consequences of that could be bad. She said no, that this is what it would be now because my kidney disease was complicated. She had me convinced I was crazy and over reacting.

About 2 months later, I was at home and not feeling well. I called my daughter to take me to the ER and they called a Sepsis Alert on me. I had septic shock in the fall of 2014 from urosepsis. I had 2 strains of bacteria and was on IV antibiotics for 6 weeks. Long story short, my infection kept coming back, and after 3 PICC’s, 4 IV antibiotics, and oral antibiotics, I was put on Cipro for the rest of my life. I also then got a gall bladder infection and was also septic.

So in 3 years, my sepsis has come back 3 times. I have never felt like myself again. I can’t think clearly, my memory has suffered, I am fatigued like never before. Before sepsis I was active, hiking, biking, rock climbing, running and now I am sedentary with no sex drive (also new) and a great marriage plus 40 lbs and have panic attacks (also new) and fear. (Sepsis and Post-Sepsis Syndrome) I am in brain rehab and see a therapist to deal with all the life changes. I had to leave my job on a high acuity floor to do something easier so my brain could handle it. I just couldn’t manage my old job anymore.

I do have stage 3 kidney disease, not on dialysis just meds and closely monitored but I didn’t feel like this before the sepsis. I have seen doctor after doctor and they look at me like I am nuts. They say I am depressed and put me on meds, menopause (which I already went through) and even chronic fatigue. I have been lucky to connect with some great doctors who are working with me to figure out these after effects. I have worked on many patients with sepsis but never knew as I discharged them, their illness wasn’t over. I am using my experiences to raise awareness about the after effects of sepsis to anyone who will listen. It has become my life’s work to find answers for those of us who still deal with the after effects of sepsis.