Kathy G

Hi!

I had trouble finding others who have traveled this journey so was elated to find this site!

I am a 60-year-old female with a long history of chronic UTIs. During 2016 I had several with difficulty getting rid of them despite treatment. (Sepsis and Urinary Tract Infections)

In October 2016 I had yet another infection and after 3 rounds of antibiotics thought it was cured. I didn’t bother going in for a follow-up. However, in November I began having periods of not feeling well: tired, weak, dizzy spells and flu-like symptoms that never turned into flu. NO UTI symptoms! I just brushed these symptoms off through March 2017.

I began having bad night sweats and more pronounced symptoms by the second week of March. I now had chills, but no fever! I went to the ER on Sunday, March 12th, but was sent home with normal blood work and prescript

I became sicker once home. Called ambulance on Wednesday morning due to this and a new symptom…a God-awful smell. I had felt a lump on my left buttock and feared it might be cancer.

The ER doctor lanced and drained the lump. He sent me home with more antibiotics. However the hospital called back early Thursday morning telling me to come back because my blood work was “abnormal.’

I began to lose track of time once I arrived back in the ER. I recall doctors coming in and out, loads of blood work and questions, but mostly I just remember laying there waiting for some information.

Finally on Friday afternoon a doctor came in to tell me it appeared I had a serious life-threatening condition requiring surgery. I don’t recall much of what followed until I woke up in my private room.

I found out my UTI had caused sepsis which in turn caused Fourniers Gangrene…the lump in my buttock. They had to cut into my buttock about 4 inches deep and 10 inches wide to remove all the bacteria.

I have had a long recovery: months of IV antibiotics, visiting nurses to dress my wound, wound vac treatment, a colostomy & severe fatigue. I am one of the fortunate ones despite the severity of the sepsis and ensuing infection. Many die from sepsis and related conditions. I only lost a small portion of a body part no one ever sees and does not affect my ability to function.

I am blessed!

My only word of advice is if you have an infection of any kind, don’t put it off. Get treatment and be diligent about following up!