Roberta M.

July 2 2023, I went to a 4th of July cookout. I was saying I didn’t feel right. Didn’t eat much. Went home. Hubby wanted to walk the stores. I did. We went to eat and I ate a large meal.

That night I got aggravated about something. Started shaking and panting (like a dog). Quickly started vomiting, rolling around in pain, incontinence and more.

This went on for hours. Hubby finally stood over me waiting for the ok to take me to hospital. I saw terror in his face/eyes. Told him to get me dressed and take me in.

He wanted to take me to the closest hospital but I insisted he take me to the better one about 5 more miles down the road. Thankful I did.

Entire drive I was vomiting in a red solo cup. That sick. He went in and asked for help to get me out of car. They came out and took me in. This is important. I have it noted in my chart I have a high tolerance for pain.

They took me to back quickly as I was actively acute. Found out I was in full Afib 172 bpm. Severely low BP. I had code sepsis called on me multiple times. I coded 6 times. The room was so busy they kicked hubby out of it.

I finally was coherent enough to tell them where pain was. Along rib cage on right. Tests done nothing seen. MRI done something seen, more ultrasounds and it was determined my gallbladder was septic.

Because of Afib I couldn’t have sedation. They did an awake surgery to put in a drain on my gallbladder.

Then they determined I was in full thyroid storm. So more tests and stuff. They gave me some pain meds and I slept but still couldn’t eat or drink anything.

Because of my heart I couldn’t have surgery to remove gallbladder. Or thyroid. I had to fight for months to get any semblance of normalcy

I had to wear a life vest. Go through a botched cardioversion. Then had thyroid removed close to Christmas. Christmas Day it was found out there were two small tumors in my thyroid.

Then two weeks later hubby took me to hospital again with symptoms of sepsis. Hospital sent me home with anti nausea meds and said see your doctor. I saw her she was furious they sent me home like that.

Quickly called my surgeon for gallbladder and set up appointment. Surgeon took one look at the tests and said it had to come out asap.

I had it taken out that week. Surgeon reported my liver was growing fat to protect it. He also said I walked in to surgery when most would have been on a gurney screaming for pain meds. He was amazed.

So gallbladder was chronically septic at that point.

So, 9 days in cardiac critical care due to sepsis. 7 days on cardiac critical care due to thyroid removal complications (calcium kept dropping) and outpatient removal of gallbladder.

Now I constantly feel weak, low back pain, deteriorating mouth, and constant exhaustion.

But I survived that is amazing.

I did not lose any fingers or limbs.