Marsha Stolberg

I am a 74-year-old sepsis survivor. I was very active prior to my infection. I volunteer, keep my own house up and did my own yard work. I also walked 30 minutes several times a week. In April of 2017 I was sent to the hospital with a bowel obstruction. Unfortunately, it perforated before surgery was performed. (Sepsis and Perforated Bowel) Following surgery I had peritonitis and that progressed to sepsis. I also had two abscesses in my abdomen that had their own infections.

Two nights after surgery I crashed. It started with afib that took two hours to convert me to sinus rhythm. After I converted I went into organ failure. I understand I was close to death. I was in ICU for 3 weeks in critical condition and then sent to a step down unit for a week. I was then transferred to a nursing home where I spent 6 weeks in rehab, followed by 5 weeks outpatient rehab. I continue to go to the Wellness Center at the nursing home I was in to work on my stamina. I have been frustrated because I don’t think I have progressed as far as I should have considering the amount of time since my illness. After all I have always recovered quickly from any other illness or surgery. The PT keeps telling me I am progressing and to remember where I was before the illness.

I have other post hospital problems and, in an effort to find a reason, I came across this site. I think I understand better why I have not progressed as fast and why i have other problems that were not there prior. Thank you for this site, the work that is being done and bringing it to the attention of the health care community. It would be great if I could find a support group in my area to discuss this with other patients who experience the after effects of sepsis. I seem to dwell on what I don’t understand because I was so “out of it” during this episode. The only reason I know what I know is because my siblings who were present have told me what happened. Thank you for letting me share my story.