Rosemary Rimmer-Clay

I developed a urinary tract infection. (Sepsis and Urinary Tract Infections) I had a cup of tea and went to bed with a hot water bottle. The pain got worse and worse. I went to the loo and saw that I was urinating blood. I felt very scared, and very ill. I was on my own, with no one to ask for help. I began to feel light headed and very weak. I felt very, very cold, I hurt all over, then I had a severe- a very severe- fit of shaking. My entire body was shaking violently. I had never experienced anything like it, in my life.

As I lay in bed I was fascinated to see a small army of knights in full armour fighting all over my duvet! To be honest, I wasn’t scared, I was entranced. I looked away and looked down again- they were still there, having fierce sword fights. Then I looked up and there was a huge tiger beside my bed, staring right at me. I realised [even though I was light-headed] that this was pretty weird. I got out of bed and feeling very shaky, I got ready and went out to see my doctor. I was definitely not behaving sensibly- I didn’t call an ambulance or call for a taxi. I caught a bus into town and hobbled in to see my doctor. I was not a reliable witness to my own illness- I didn’t mention the shaking, or the hallucinations, only the cystitis and the bleeding. The doctor was shocked that I hadn’t come in before. I got some very powerful antibiotics, and went home. Nobody mentioned sepsis, [it was fifteen years ago]. I often wonder what would have happened if I had just snuggled down and done nothing.