Toby Palma
In late October of 2011 I was working in Early Intervention and, because my sons were older, I was also working on my Masters degree with loving support from my husband. Our lives were busy but were filled with love. There was a long weekend coming up so I decided to plan a visit to Reno to visit my oldest son, who was attending college there.
I was really excited as this is my favorite time of year knowing that Thankgsgiving, birthdays and Christmas will soon be here! Little did I know that instead of enjoying a fall visit to Reno, I would be fighting for my life.
I hadn’t been feeling well during the week and knew it was a bladder infection, so I decided to go to Urgent Care after work. (Sepsis and Urinary Tract Infections) I was sure I would be better in a few days after taking antibiotics. I felt really, really sick by the time I made it to Urgent Care. I remember telling the doc I’ve never felt this bad ever from a bladder infection. He was not concerned, gave me my prescriptions, and sent me on my way. By this time I was so weak, I could hardly drive home.
The next morning I told my husband to take me to the ER. I just knew that something was very, very wrong. Unfortunately for me the ER doc thought that the antibiotic hadn’t had enough time to work and told me to go home and finish the prescription. I was so scared and so sick. I was getting weaker by the hour and soon couldn’t drink or even make it from my bed to the bathroom. I remember becoming confused and feeling unimaginable pain. This time we went to a different ER and was told that I was very, very sick. I was barely able to speak and breathing was becoming harder and harder. I remember the nurse placing 2 IVs, one in each arm and saying we are on sepsis protocol.
The remainder of my hospital stay, I really don’t remember much. I just thought, so this is what dying feels like. My official diagnosis was urosepsis and, thankfully, the third doctor recognized my symptoms and took my infection seriously. I am thankful everyday to be alive but often wonder if those other doctors would have recognized my symptoms sooner and treated my infection more aggressively, I would not have developed sepsis. Even after being discharged I had to learn to walk again and sleep is still an issue for me. I also suffer from PTSD.
As far as long term effects from sepsis, my body has never been the same. In 2012 I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and in 2015 with rheumatoid arthritis. (Sepsis and Autoimmune Diseases) I feel that my body’s overwhelming inflammatory response to my bladder infection triggered the MS & RA. Finally, with the combinations of medications and many years of hosptializations, I am having more and more good days. I will continue to spread the word about sepsis as I still find that not enough people know what sepsis is and how quickly it can take a life.
