Recovery After a Hospitalization for Sepsis

Sepsis is the body’s overwhelming and life-threatening response to infection. Sometimes sepsis can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death. Every 20 seconds someone in America is hospitalized with sepsis, though more adults and children are surviving each year. In resource restricted countries, sepsis complications -- such as death -- are higher especially in infants, children and the elderly. Sepsis survivors may experience new problems that can continue for years, such as difficulty with memory and concentration, anxiety and depression, weakness and difficulty completing routine tasks. This video offers strategies for sepsis survivors and their families. The Sepsis Alliance and the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM), through the SCCM THRIVE initiative, are dedicated to raising awareness about sepsis survivorship.

[@JHS270694]

Another Sepsis survivor. Thankfully, I don't have many of the above symptoms or their severity. But I do have concentration & physical stamina problems. It's an upward struggle, one that I'm determined to overcome through good nutrition and exercise. Luckily, I was still in the operating theatre when they figured out something was wrong with me. Didn't go into Septic Shock but I do remember being utterly delirious and physically very weak whilst I was in the thick of it. I was also in a lot of pain due to my surgery. My bowels completely switched off for a week. My arms are still numb from all those drips and antibiotics going through the canards. Still on painkillers but It's gradually getting better. It's just frustrating to know my blood cultures came back negative. They couldn't figure out what the specific bacterium was. Anyone who has had one done knows how painful it is to get it done. I was honestly contemplating my mortality everyday I was in that hospital. I believe I've come out a stronger character than before. I won't let this second chance go to waste. I also just want to remind others reading this that it's not always doom and gloom. And that they're not alone in their suffering. It's a surreal experience not many people can understand and sometimes it feels like nobody does. Just wanna reiterate, there are others like you. We're hard to find, but we're there. As cliché as it sounds, the thought gives me comfort. Peace.....

[@brandonhenderson1901]

Thank you. I went through the same thing and cried while reading this

[@Carol-D.1324]

My experience with sepsis was in 2015. My life hasn't been the same since. My memory has been greatly affected, long & short term. I can have a conversation with someone today, and not remember it at all the next day. Driving at night is no longer possible. I live in a very small town (less than 2000 people), and I will be driving to the store for milk before it closes, and I will suddenly have absolutely no idea where I am. It's like I have suddenly been picked up and put back down in a foreign place. I will keep driving, waiting for something to start looking familiar. I might realise where I am eventually, but sometimes not at all. I can call my husband and he can tell me how to get back home. I talk to people all the time who I have absolutely no idea who they are, but CLEARLY they know me. Because of this, I have learned the art of faking my way through a conversation. My whole life is scheduled by reminders on my phone (appointments, what time to pick my daughter up from school...). It's unbelievably frustrating! None of the doctors at the hospital EVER discussed the after-effects of sepsis. Not one single doctor told me ANYTHING about how much my life would be changed and affected. Why isn't this discussed more with patients?!?! I was told NOTHING! Why?!?! Its treated like a dirty little secret! I thought I was going crazy! I discovered all of it myself via the internet. Sepsis also left me with an uncontrollable head and neck disorder that started almost immediately after I was hospitalized. It started as a slow figure eight movement that I wasn't even aware that I was doing. It then turned into a fast nodding movement, I have had this now for well over 3 years. Has anyone else had this happen?

[@jimmielittle877]

No mine was over 6 months to get over brain fog, that duh feeling , renewed a permit and had to p/u 5-4 but went to pick up 6-4!now I still don't have the energy I had last year and can only do some of the walking I did last year, very frustrating.

[@Carol-D.1324]

jimmie little Thank you for your reply ✌️

[@soggychip3784]

Boo hoo no sob stories

[@madisynwood6937]

I had sepsis and it was horrible returning to school was the hardest thing they didn’t understand neither did my parents

[@storminnorman7445]

Hopefully you're doing better now. Wish you the best.

[@SarahSmith-fe2sd]

Madisyn Wood I had sepsis my teachers kept asking me what it was I was like it’s an infection 😊

[@csmitter]

Thank you for bringing awareness to this. I am TPN dependent for life and have been septic multiple times due to hospital-acquired infections. Each time, I felt like I'd been hit by a bus for quite a while. After the worst one, I had body aches, severe malaise, insomnia, acute stress reaction/PTSD from my time in the ICU, sensations of restless legs syndrome during the day, and other symptoms for many days after my cultures were negative and my infection was treated. It took months to feel human again and I've never returned to baseline due to damage from hypotension in the ICU, long-term effects of medications used, and progression of my underlying disease as a result of the physical stress. It was also tremendously stressful for my family. I'm glad you're doing this campaign, since it can be confusing and concerning when you feel like you should be all better but you aren't. Even for events like heart attack and pulmonary embolism, some excellent hospitals still do little or no patient education about expectations. It takes more than a day or two for the body to recover from a major stressor that causes cell death, release of inflammatory mediators, ischemia-reperfusion injury, etc., whether that stress comes from the body's reaction to infection, clot, traumatic injury, or other medical events. One thing I would like to see happen is greater emphasis on access to mental health services and support during the initial hospitalization and upon discharge. Having social workers and chaplains available to talk to patients and family members in the ICU and on the floor is a great start but helping them to connect to outpatient mental health services, the way that you are set up with home health or psychiatric inpatients are connected with outpatient follow-up, would be greatly helpful for some. Once you're outpatient, some of the therapists aren't prepared to deal with the issues that come with serious medical illness, and perhaps this is another area to target awareness and education efforts. Thank you for all your work!

[@jimmielittle877]

I had diverticulitis, ruptured intestine, and had my stoma repaired and it took over 6 months to start getting a normal feeling mind but I'm still not able to physically do what I could last year. However I'm very thankful to still breathe air✅

[@SarahSmith-fe2sd]

I’m a sepsis survivor at the time that the ambulance person said I had sepsis I was scared cause I knew sepsis could kill you and I knew I was going to make it though and I was right 😏 and I’m only 15 wow I made it #survivor

[@GoBuddieGo]

I realize a lot of these comments are old but I’m a survivor and I don’t think my family has fully grasped how serious this is because they’ve been rushing my recovering process. Asking me when I’m going back to work or making me walk despite some days I’m feeling too weak, I know I need to walk to avoid blood clots but they want me to go for small walks outside and I just can’t do that yet. My body is still very much weak since it’s only been a week since I left the hospital. I’m a lot more tired than usual yet I struggle to sleep, my appetite is nowhere near the same as it was before I eat like a bird now and throw in anxiety and depression because I’m beginning to feel like a burden to my family now. It’s just rough dealing with this and I’m glad for videos like this that shine a light on the severity of sepsis even during the recovery process.

[@jerzysmyl4875]

Two weeks since I've cut myself in the garden. 24hr later when I got told at the A&E that I've got to stay in hospital with temperature raising quick redness spreading even quicker. Felt useless and if I wasn't going to make it till next day. After loads of antibiotics and other medicines four days later I've left hospital. I'm a lucky surviver. But tonight I have been out first time since hospital and I'm not who I was before. Just keep working about everything. Hope your stories will end up well. All the best people :)

[@lindaguida4074]

My Dad had sepsis, pneumonia, UTI….he’s a survivor! In LTC for life!

[@courtneyclark2884]

I'm a survivor but still dealing with the after effects and living is oh so very hard day after day

[@StarContract]

How are you doing today?

[@martinemikita9281]

Ur not alone... I'm 3 weeks post sepsis, pneumonia, influenza B... I was on life support for 5 days.... everyday is difficult and different.

[@RainHavok1111]

I was released 2 days ago from ER admittance. I still don't feel right. I'm dizzy, foggy, nauseated, weak, & I'm very bloated. Infecrion was in upper GI. PLS HELP NE

[@777Ryank]

I hope you are well.. Yah bless

[@SarahSmith-fe2sd]

RAIN HAVOK go back

[@codybarry8204]

Please tell them they need to help you, give you something for this discomfort and they need to make sure they didn't miss something

[@LD-xi1be]

Hi everyone. I am 20, my girlfriend is 18. I don't know how to manage. She has uro sepsis. She stayed at mine last friday and the symptoms started coming. Shes still hospitalised. I'm so scared.. and lost of losing her to sepsis. I keep having mental breakdowns thinking about it. I dont know what to do😭

[@ga3829]

What’s her status now

[@soggychip3784]

Nobody understands sepsis isint bad it's what comes after it that hits hard. My parents hate me and think I'm a moody kid who needs to be dissaplined. I'm always getting in trouble and they just think I use sepsis as an excuse for bad behaviour

[@fcknmark]

Praying for you man they don’t understand

[@chrislilblu4137]

@@fcknmarkyou must show them the research reports and studies and any articles or videos showing the after effects of sepsis. Really educate them.

[@jeniferreeves5526]

I had sepsis in my left lung I had an emergency surgey they took it out along with CT scans before my surgery lt caused me confusion to put it in a nutshell I've been to hell and back to this day I am hurting and struggling 😢

[@SarahSmith-ur4ll]

I had sepsis I survived via ambulance it was scary

[@sexie601]

My dad was just diagnosed with this horrible infection caused by MRSA. It affected his knee area. He’s very weak and is unable to walk or stand. He’s in pain daily. Does anyone know how long it will take before he’s able to walk again? I’m terrified and helpless. I pray everyone recovers 100% from this infection.

[@EagleRockers]

How's your dad doing now? My husband just got hospitalized today and they think it might be sepsis.

[@sexie601]

@@EagleRockers my dad was placed on an antibiotic called Vancomycin. It’s one of the few antibiotics that will treat this infection. He was administered it by a vain IV twice a day for 8 weeks. It was a rough time. But with completing the medication and therapy two days a week, he is doing well!! He’s back conscious and alert. He’s eating again. He’s walking, driving etc. about 80 percent back to normal. We are so thankful and highly blessed. I pray your husband heals very quickly.

[@EagleRockers]

@@sexie601 So glad to hear about your dad. Thank you for your prayers, they are much appreciated. Be well, take care and God bless!

[@codybarry8204]

@@sexie601 thank you for leaving the information here. I'm having issues years layer after a hysterectomy/sepsis.. and I need some help they aren't giving. Thank you so much!

[@calosrocomo4713]

People died after sepsis cause done doctors

[@avenue4313]

is this like a common cold that can turn crazy bad ?

[@jimmielittle877]

No this is life and death in ICU after surgery for 6 days then over a week more just to come home, I've been out of work now for over 11 months.

[@Carol-D.1324]

jimmie little I am so sorry you are having a hard time. I understand EXACTLY what you are going through.

[@Carol-D.1324]

I wish it was that easy. I had zero symptoms until the day it started. I woke up dizzy and by the end of the day, I had completely lost the ability to walk and talk and was going into multiple organ failure. All in the span of 12 hours. I honest to goodness thought I was going to die. I can only assume it’s different for everyone. Great question though.

[@mimi_hugs6957]

I had a hernia repair. When I got back to my room after surgery I woke up long enough to throw up and hear a nurse yell something. The next time I woke up was 3 weeks later in ICU. I had a HUGE open hole in my abdomen. My small bowel had been cut during the hernia surgery and I got sepsis. I stayed in ICU 2 more weeks and in the hospital a total on 3 months. I wish they told me what to expect 3 yrs down the road and I wouldn't have been so hard on myself. It is life changing but very happy to have a life.

[@soggychip3784]

@@jimmielittle877 not just after surgery you dimwit

[@AlkaVivaEU]

water-ionizers.info/en/2017/10/04/molecular-hydrogen-therapy-ameliorates-organ-damage-induced-by-sepsis/