Deborah Olson
My sepsis story is from over 10 years ago and the reason I’m deciding today to share this is because my life has never been the same since recovering from sepsis! I continue to have extremely brutal health challenges, including two types of cancer, bowel and bladder issues and continuing G.I. issues! Unfortunately, my health challenges since having perforated diverticular in 2014, that led to sepsis, 21 days and the hospital with four days in ICU and them bringing me back once. (Sepsis and Perforated Bowel) When I finally got out of there, I had a wound pump, a PICC line, a catheter and was on home health care with a colostomy bag. I am actually a lucky survivor, as I was fortunate enough to qualify for reversal of the colostomy. This all took place during the month of March of 2014–my surgery was on my 51st birthday.
Since “recovering” I left my job as an elementary special education assistant of 8 years because I was too emotional to do my job to the best of my ability. I did turn that into a positive by deciding to return to college to complete my Bachelors degree in Child and Family Studies. I also went to a certification to became an aromatherapist, which helped me to transition myself off all the anti-depressants my medical HMO had placed me on over the past ten years in an effort to treat the PTSD and depression I had already experienced.
In 2020 I, like many others, helped my youngest two teens through their time in online learning. My son has autism and Down syndrome however, and we were no longer comfortable bringing in outside help for him. But before then I had repeated battles with health care providers—basically being gas lit! I have yet to find a primary care provider since my health has gotten worse. I was told in December of 2020 I had bladder cancer, was treated surgically for it twice in office and once in the hospital—then found out six months later I never had bladder cancer. It is however part of my medical chart! In January of 2022, imagine my hesitation when a routine mammogram showed DCIS and pre cancer. I did not believe them, and did not take it seriously until I walked into radiation oncology and spent 18 sessions in treatment. Since I was originally diagnosed with diverticula, and have spent this last ten years as equally unhealthy, I have also lost 40 pounds, barley weighing in at 106. There are so many days I cannot get up without an energy drink, or supplements of B12! I have these episodes (twice since August of last year) where I am so cold, and in so much pain all I can do is scrunch up in a fetal position. The last time I was out of state visiting my daughter, and ended up in emergency with no insurance. That caused me an 8800.00 bill I will be paying on forever!
Life has been brutal and to be honest there are times I wished I did not survive. Too much! Yes, I agree, but it is my story and my goodness, I am 61 (in March) and feel like I am 81! So having recovered from sepsis is still a challenge, especially if you do not have good medical providers willing to listen to you.
