Claire Wilkins

I had hip surgery in October 2015-mild relief from crippling pain but a slow to heal wound. By December, crippling pain again, ambulance called, ER admission-X-ray, scans, various other options tried. Finally my third spinal fusion surgery in 4 years. Surgery seemed to go well, wound was painful but bearable, 2 days in ICU including my 60th birthday!

I went home 4 days before Christmas. Attended a wound clinic at my hospital but sent home with some soft packing for wound but still in extreme pain in joints. (Sepsis and Surgery) By 26 December I was unable to eat or move comfortably, contacted my surgeon’s practice nurse who advised me to go straight to hospital. After about 30 minutes of questioning following initial triage, results from tests returned and I was rushed to theatre with severe septic shock; basically all of my organs were shutting down.

I spent 2 weeks in ICU -most of which I do not recall except for awful nightmares and a feeling of total loss of all control.

After another 2 wash out surgeries and 6 more weeks on IV antibiotics, 2 blood transfusions and 3 weeks in a rehab facility, I finally returned home.
I am now in some degree of pain at all times,my body has not returned to “normal ” and I feel very tired and fatigued a lot of the time.

My family have distanced themselves from me in many ways as I feel they feel I am not the old me anymore and I am always anxious about picking up germs or viruses and getting sick again.