Lynne H.

My sepsis story began exactly one month ago in one of the most beautiful places in the world – Hawaii. My family was on vacation celebrating my 50th birthday, my husband’s 50th birthday, and my daughter’s high school graduation. What should have been an amazing experience, turned out to be anything but.

A few days into our vacation I developed a sore throat. After two days I realized I likely had strep throat and headed to the local urgent care, where I was prescribed antibiotics. After two more days, spent mainly in bed, my throat felt slightly better but the rest of me felt worse. I woke my husband up breathing rapidly and shivering uncontrollably. He suggested we go to the ER then, but after a couple of ibuprofen kicked in, I felt better and just wanted to sleep. The next morning we called the urgent care who suggested we come back in because I might have the flu. I passed out while getting ready, but soon we were on our way. Upon arriving at the urgent care, they took one look at me in the waiting room and told us to go to the ER.

We arrived at the small community hospital ER, and I was seen immediately (we were the only ones there). After finding my blood pressure was only 60/40 and my heart rate high, things happened pretty quickly. Unlike some of the stories I’ve read here, everyone in the ER immediately began talking about sepsis. The doctor said that in addition to strep throat I also had a raging UTI, either of which could lead to sepsis. While I was whisked off for a central line, the doctor told my husband to call our support group because I might not make it. (Sepsis and Bacterial Infections, Sepsis and Urinary Tract Infections)

I was transferred to the ICU and given fluids and antibiotics and pretty quickly started feeling a little better. The ER doc came by at one point to check on me and said that I had really given them a scare, but she was pleased to see I had some color back. I still didn’t realize how sick I was and couldn’t understand why my husband wouldn’t go back to the hotel so he and the kids could still enjoy some vacation time. It was only when I was being discharged (just a mere two days later) that the doctor told me my chances of survival when I came in were not good at all. While the elation of being discharged gave me an immediate burst of energy, it didn’t take long for me to realize that I was actually exhausted and weak.

I began looking at sepsis resources to figure out how long I should expect to feel so tired, and that’s how I came across these survivor stories. I feel humbled and incredibly blessed that I was treated and released so quickly when I’ve read so many stories with much different outcomes. So far not a day has gone by where I don’t think about what happened and what could have happened. I am thankful for the doctors and nurses in that small hospital in Hawaii and admire the survivor spirit of all who have posted here.