Vina Kent

I am a sepsis survivor. I’ve had severe sepsis twice in the past 3 months. The first time was crazy. I went to the ER 3 nights in a row because I was so sick and continually getting sicker, but sent home each time. I couldn’t urinate and had a bad UTI, so I was given a Foley catheter to wear at home, but still was having difficulty urinating. (Sepsis and Urinary Tract Infections)

Finally after 3 ER visits, I became very ill… not able to keep anything, even water down, high fever, chills and shakes, very weak and tired… and that only scratches the surface of what I felt. My husband saw how sick I was and called an ambulance. I was taken to a different hospital and within an hour was admitted for severe sepsis due to massive infections in my bladder, kidney and liver (My liver and kidney enzymes were extremely high). The doctors also thought I had HepB and an STD. (Thank God they quickly ruled that out, but imagine my husband’s surprise when he got told off.) I was put on 6 different antibiotics through IV, along with around the clock fluids, pain and nausea meds and who knows what else, I can’t remember. I know I was out of my mind. I even thought I was well enough to make videos to post on FB about my journey, which I later watched and deleted. Man people must’ve thought I was a loon!

I was discharged 6 days later. When I got home, I just wasn’t myself. I felt so tired and weak… still do. And then became very withdrawn and anxious. I didn’t want to go anywhere or be around anyone.

Nearly 3 weeks later I went back to the hospital as I started having the same symptoms, this time I was coughing up blood. The ER doctor was convinced I had se
psis again and immediately had a doctor come in to admit me. They didn’t find any reason for me to be coughing up blood, but my WBC was through the roof, my RBC was abnormally low and all my blood counts and stuff were off the charts.

What’s so funny is, they could never find the cause of the infection or sepsis, but they knew I had sepsis again, however upon discharge, they said I was depressed and while in the hospital this past time, I was never treated for anything other then depression although all my blood work severely abnormal. All they gave me were IV fluids and a broad spectrum antibiotic.

So that’s my crazy story. To this day, I feel in essence abnormal and unlike myself. It is still difficult for me to do many things and I still have feelings of not wanting to have nothing to do with anyone, having very bad swelling in my hands and feet, problems with my bladder, which I’m seeing a doctor about, and still coughing up a ton of brown phlem. I don’t even care to go anywhere for fear of passing out or catching something and getting sick again as my immune system is still very low.

I have been trying to be more active and have been helping my husband do things around the house, but there are days, I really just can’t even get out of bed still.

I’m in the process of creating a Facebook group for survivors names Sepsis Survivors Alliance, as well as a page dedicated to sepsis.