Sepsis Awareness Month
What you can learn from my (previous) sepsis diagnosis
I am taking a break (just for a hot second) from my regular posts about pandemics, infectious diseases, vaccines, and prevention, to acknowledge that September is officially SEPSIS Awareness Month.
Sepsis is a rare, but serious complication that occurs when the body goes into overdrive to fight an infection. If untreated, sepsis can cause the loss of a limb, organ failure, or death. In the US, 1.7 million people are diagnosed with sepsis each year and more than 270,000 people die (that’s a case fatality of 15%, though there are reports that the case fatality is more than 50%, meaning more than 50% of people diagnosed with sepsis will die from it). Globally, more people die from sepsis than from cancer.
Bottomline — sepsis is no joke.
We should all understand how to prevent sepsis, and we need to work to improve early detection and treatment.
Personally, I had very little knowledge of sepsis until I was diagnosed with sepsis in April 2019. And because I knew so little (and I have been known to be a bad patient), I did not recognize the symptoms of sepsis and (probably) waited too long to get the care that I needed. This resulted in a weeks-long hospital stay, thousands of dollars in IV antibiotics, and nearly four weeks of wound care (complete with a visiting nurse coming to our home three days per week during that time).
My experience with sepsis began on a Saturday morning. While making breakfast, I bumped into our kitchen counter with my backside and experienced some crazy pain. That pain continued throughout the weekend and the pressure, stretching of my skin, and redness right around my tailbone increased hour by hour. I finally ended up at the ER on Sunday night because the pain was more than I can handle (and my pain tolerance is high). When I arrived in the ER, my blood pressure was extremely high and it was determined that I had an infected cyst on my tailbone.
The cyst was too deep under my skin and too close to my spine for it to be drained.
I was given a prescription for Keflex. And told by Dr. James that if my pain got worse or I developed a fever I should return to ER because these were the early signs of sepsis.
It won’t happen to me, right? I’ll be fine…
By Tuesday evening, I was not fine. I had the following text exchange with my physician.
Her worry convinced me to go to the ER right away.
As I got into our car and pulled onto the street, it was the first time in my life that I thought I shouldn’t be behind the wheel of a car. I was running a fever of 103* by that time, I was fatigued, I was cold and clammy, my heart rate was through the roof, and I was so uncomfortable sitting (read: in so much pain). Thankfully, the hospital is only six blocks from our house. I arrived there safely.
I was admitted to the hospital where they were able to drain and clean my cyst (which was one of the most uncomfortable medical procedures I have ever experienced). I needed five days of IV antibiotics to get the infection under control. And the incision made to drain and clean my cyst had to heal from the inside out. Meaning they did not stitch it back up. It was left open and every day it was packed with antibiotic materials (and some synthetic collagen) until the skin grew back and filled the wound. It was a long and painful process.
My experience with sepsis has not been lost on me… I recognize that in a world without access to healthcare (including wise physicians - thanks, Dr. AM) or antibiotics I would have died from sepsis. Which resulted from a cyst on my backside!
When I was released from wound care weeks after my sepsis diagnosis and hospital stay, the surgeon who was caring for me signed my You Completed Wound Care certificate and told me —
“You worked your a$$ off for this.”
You get it right…?!?!
A$$ = butt cyst. It was very funny at the moment! Who am I kidding it is still funny. The cyst on my butt landed me in the hospital for a week. With SEPSIS.
I have fully recovered from sepsis. And my cyst has healed nicely (it is basically a lot of scar tissue now).
But having had sepsis (as a healthy 42-year-old) is a reminder that we are all susceptible and we should understand what sepsis is — again, it is a serious complication that occurs when your body goes into overdrive to fight an infection.
The symptoms of sepsis include —
An infection that is not getting better
A fever, shivering or feeling cold
A high heart rate and weak pulse
Shortness of breath
Extreme pain or discomfort at the site of infection
Confusion or disorientation
It is important to note that sepsis symptoms vary from patient to patient, and it can be difficult to diagnose. There is NO confirmatory diagnostician test; diagnosis requires clinical judgment.
We can take steps to prevent sepsis by preventing infections, practicing good hygiene, knowing the signs and symptoms, and acting fast if you suspect you or a loved one has sepsis.
Sepsis is no joke — it is deadly.
Happy Sepsis Awareness Month!
Here’s to preventing infections, good hygiene, knowing the signs & symptoms of sepsis, and seeking care as soon as sepsis is suspected.
Cheers to no sepsis!
Questions? Want to know about my experience being septic?
Be sure your friends and family know about sepsis — we are all susceptible.
I am so glad to hear you survived. Just knowing the signs and symptoms is SO important. I didn't realize how sick I was until it was nearly too late.
I had it in Feb 2021. I am lucky to still be here. Did not know the signs and when I got to the hospital, I had low blood pressure and 2 infections from kidney stones and a UTI. Was in the hospital for 11 days on IV antibiotics. But I made it through. So keep track of the signs and go to the er.