Beatrice S

I’ve been reading your site and now realize just how lucky I have been despite my recent hospitalization for pneumonia and sepsis. I’m retired and age 66. (Sepsis and Pneumonia)

My illness seemed to come out of nowhere. I had been doing a bit of sneezing for a few days and thought I might be coming down with a cold. I also had a little wheezing and picked up the inhaler I hadn’t used for a while. I certainly didn’t think I had anything serious.

On the early morning of October 7, 2017 I woke up with the shivering shakes and my teeth were rattling. I put more covers on but simply could not get warm. My husband went to look for the thermometer even though I told him not to bother. My fever was over 101 F. I went to sleep again and the next time I woke up, still feeling that I was freezing to death, my temperature was over 103 F.

It was morning and my husband just said now we are going to Urgent Care. He didn’t give me any choice. That morning is a major blur but I do remember a few things. The Urgent Care doctor told us I had “bad pneumonia” and would have to go to the Emergency Room. He gave us a slip and we were seen right away in the ER.

Somewhere along the line I got a lab test for lactate, which was above normal at 2.7. The doctor in ER said I had sepsis. Then my family doctor came in (on a Saturday!) and told me I would have to be admitted. I was put in a regular room with telemetry and given IV antibiotics and lots of fluids. I was well enough to leave the hospital on oral antibiotics on the fifth day.

One of the many doctors I saw said it is just not normal for an adult my age to have a high fever and that it was good I came in right away. I have been majorly blessed all around. I’m recovering my strength but basically feel fine.

I have so much compassion for all the people that have been turned away or not taken seriously and suffered from delayed treatment. I am also very glad that I was not alone when I got sick. I don’t think I would have had the strength to get out of bed. I could have ended up on a ventilator or dead.

Thank you, Sepsis Alliance, for getting the message out.