Sam Phillips

I’m a 46-year-old Caucasian male in good health with a wonderful wife, a 25-year-old son, 23-year old-daughter and surprisingly, a 5-year-old son. We enjoy outdoor activities and are very active during work and play.

I’m a Sergeant and shift supervisor with the Criminal Investigation Division of our Sheriff’s Office. My life isn’t good, it’s great! This “is” as good as it sounds… Until May 2012, when I had an upset stomach. I tried to settle it by drinking a carbonated soda and eating saltine crackers. This didn’t help. The next day my wife noticed my stomach bloating. I hadn’t had a bowel movement in two days nor was I vomiting. I’d had my gallbladder removed in October of 2011 and had experienced various forms of gastric distress. I blew it off as another problem associated to this.

By that afternoon I had severe pain right below my ribcage to the point that I couldn’t take a full breath. My wife had been insisting I go to the emergency room and I finally did. Thus it’s true. Married men live longer.

I went to the hospital and my blood pressure was 195 over 110. It usually runs 110 over 70. The doctors took fast action to get my blood pressure down and started a battery of test to try and diagnose what was causing my distress. I was admitted and after less than an hour of being in a room, I was moved to the Intensive Care Unit and a crash cart was placed outside my door. I knew it was a crash cart due to my experience in Law Enforcement.

I’d never been admitted in a hospital except to have my tonsils and gallbladder removed, both were outpatient procedures. At this point, I became scared, which is uncommon for me. After seeing six doctors, five being specialist, two days later and after every test imaginable along with my skin turning yellow then orange, I was diagnosed with septic shock from an obstructed bile duct. They sedated and intubated me. They then went then went through my mouth with a EGD – esophagogastroduodenoscopy that had tools that the physician could use to clean out my bile duct and widen it.

This was followed by 5 days of IV antibiotics, morphine and various other medications in the hospital. Then they installed a peripherally inserted central catheter. I got to come home thanks to lots of prayers and great doctors.

I had a home health nurse for 10 days of antibiotics. The infection disease doctor was going to give me Rocephin twice a day through the PICC line but after doing the calculations, she decided it wasn’t strong enough and opted for another antibiotic. I’d never heard of this illness or could fathom the havoc and destruction on a human till “It happened to me.”

Knowledge is power become aware, don’t ignore any possible signs and don’t be afraid to mention it to your doctor if you suspect it. You know your body better than anyone. Doctors are well-educated guessers. Not to downplay a physician’s role but they go on experience and teaching. You know when something’s not right with your body. Don’t become another statistic….