Donna Dickenson

For over a year I have been suffering recurrent breast abscess in one breast. I thought I was clear from it until one Saturday morning I woke with a sore breast again. By the Monday morning it was hot and red and swollen and I went to the breast clinic to have it scanned. Was told no pus yet so see how it went. By the Wednesday I was in so much pain went to doctor’s and told to go to A and E. On the car journey there (one hour) I started getting the shakes and feeling ill. Temperature went high and spent next few hours on a trolley in A and E corridor.

Started vomiting and temperature 40 degrees. In so much pain and feeling ill but then I felt like I left my body and was looking up at a beautiful place that smelt lovely and I felt wonder with no pain. Got admitted to a ward and spent Wednesday and Thursday night on IV antibiotics, high temperature and so ill. I kept seeing horrid black hooded figures and was so scared. Had a blood transfusion then told it was a mistake?!!!

Finally had operation to remove copious amounts of pus from breast. Sent home on the Monday still feeling ill and weak and readmitted to A and E on the Wednesday, spending another 6 days in hospital and had two more operations as kept developing new abscesses. Left with two open wounds in breast needing daily packing. Whilst wounds are healing, I look ok but I am suffering with intense random weak periods where my heart feels thumping and fast and legs go weak. Having to spend much time sleeping and laying down. Really am not the active energetic person I was. Feel exhausted doing nothing. It’s a long road to recovery after sepsis. I thought I was going to die several times. I was lucky and didn’t but I don’t feel very alive. Like I am just surfacing life.