Briana I.

I had surgery a few months ago and about two to three weeks out I was having post-op pain. I did some research and found it is common to still have the type of pain I was experiencing weeks after surgery, so I didn’t think much of it at the time. The situation quickly evolved. I started having bladder pain and called my surgeon’s office and requested antibiotics, because I knew I had a UTI, likely from the catheter they used intraoperatively. The nurse at the office told me if I don’t feel better within a few days, or I have flank pain, to go to the ER immediately and to let them know. (Sepsis and Surgery, Sepsis and Invasive Devices, Sepsis and Urinary Tract Infections)

Fast forward two days later; it felt like someone was kicking me in the back. I felt fatigued and like something just wasn’t right. I let my doctor’s office know and I went to the ER. I was taken back almost immediately and told by the ER doctor he was glad I came in, because I have sepsis. He said if I waited another 6-8 hours (or less) I would have been in septic shock. They immediately started me on IV antibiotics (several different kinds) and monitored me.

I am incredibly grateful they recognized what was going on, even before the labs confirmed it. Thanks to their quick reaction time and initiation of treatment, I survived sepsis.