Judi Jagger
Monday, September 5, 2016, was the day for routine but fairly major gynaecological surgery in a mid-size private hospital in Perth, Australia. (Sepsis and Surgery) The next day I felt much better than I was expecting and, although requiring monitoring, all my obs were normal so the surgeon was talking discharge on the Friday. However, not happy with my uncooperative bowels, an enema was ordered for Thursday afternoon. I suspect that this is key to what happened next.
In the early hours of Friday morning, I started shivering uncontrollably but the night staff said that my temp was not elevated at that time. As the day progressed, my condition deteriorated with BP dropping to 77/44 and a temp of 41C (105.8F). I was hallucinating and very frightened. The nursing staff responded quickly, consulted the surgeon and I was transferred as an urgent case to the ED of the better-equipped city hospital. A line was put my pulmonary artery to artificially elevate my BP and I was sent to ICU. Unbelievably, I stabilised overnight, but I believe it was touch and go for a while. My family was informed my body had experienced septic shock and I later learned that they call the arterial line ‘a direct line to God’.
Given that I am 73, the doctors were amazed that I rallied so quickly and put it down to my level of fitness. Until now I had been healthy, not requiring medication, a non-smoker and social drinker but not especially active. But last year I had an inexplicably urgent ‘call’ that would not leave me, to walk the Camino de Santiago in Spain. We made this happen in May when my husband and I walked a 300km section of the Camino from Portugal into Santiago de Compostela. There is no doubt that the training and the actual walk raised my fitness levels sufficiently to win the battle three months later. I am calling my recovery a miracle.
After a few days in the ward and another few days in the original hospital, I am now slowly recuperating at home. It is terrifying how quickly the condition deteriorated and, like other survivors, I am frightened of a recurrence as I’m not sure if my body could cope again. The only effects appear to be strange dreams, some peripheral nerve damage to toes and fingers and extreme fatigue. I know how lucky I am.
Reading the tribute stories on this page reinforces the feeling that it was far too close a call. My heart goes out to all with the saddest stories to share. I am so grateful to hospital workers everywhere who are underpaid and largely undervalued by society until we need them. I also thank my family who spent long hours in the hospital with all the worry of uncertainty. In my second chance, I will do everything I can to raise awareness of sepsis and its dreadful consequences.
