Jill Polidan

I went in for a “routine” laparoscopic small bowel resection for Crohn’s disease. (Sepsis and Surgery) After surgery which turned out to only be partially laparoscopic, I never came off oxygen and my kidney function was low. Three days after surgery I complained of severe pain in my chest and abdomen. (Sepsis and Pneumonia) I was diagnosed with pneumonia and had a thoracentesis.

The next morning I was extremely short of breath and ultimately intubated. I had extremely low blood pressure, collapsed lung, pneumonia and my kidneys shut down amongst many other things. I was moved to the ICU where I was sedated and placed on continuous dialysis. I was diagnosed with severe sepsis (septic shock). They eventually found the source of the issue which was a perforated bowel due to surgeon error. (Sepsis and Perforated Bowel) It took 5 days of bowel contents leaking into my abdomen before it was figured out.

I went back to surgery for a washout and an ileostomy. I was intubated and sedated for 10 days and was in the hospital for a month. I still have kidney damage, memory problems and emotional issues that I’m working through but I am so happy to be alive!