Rhian Doyle

I had only just had yet another hernia op a few days before I was struck. I knew I felt tough after the op – but then I’ve had a few collections post op so put it down to that. (Sepsis and Surgery) However four days after surgery, the day of my daughters 5th birthday party, I knew I was not right. It was the 18th Feb 2017 early that morning I woke up with sever pain in my wound, soaking in sweat but so cold. I wanted to carry on for the sake of my daughters party – but hour by hour I felt more and more unwell.

By tea time I had very cold hands, nausea, sweating/shivering, sever abdominal pain , and confusion with severe body aches like I had never had before – everything from breathing to talking was a huge effort.
Early evening I gave in and rang the out of hours doctor who told me to ring 999 immediately- I did that and the rapid response paramedic arrived.

Once he had checked me over and taken my obs – realising I was seriously ill, he had me rushed to hospital by a code red ambulance. I was taken into resus, given life saving antibiotics/fluids etc., then taken to theatre the next day to remove the infection and infected tissue. Sadly the infection was that deep they had to leave me with an open incision 7cm long 6cm deep that had to be cleaned and packed daily until it healed bottom up. I spent 12 days in hospital on antibiotics having my wound cared for – but it took another four months to fight the worst of the infection and for the wound to close. I’m still going through surgery now – but I’m thankful I beat it as I have a husband and young family

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