Denise C.

I was scheduled for kidney stone sugery (lithotripsy) for August 25, 2023. A urine sample before surgery indicated I had a UTI, and I was prescribed an antibiotic which I could take for 5 days before surgery (because I had been out of town when notified). (Sepsis and Kidney Stones, Sepsis and Urinary Tract Infections) I was assured by my urologist that 5 days of antibiotic was sufficient to treat the UTI. I did not think twice about this.

After outpatient surgery, I was very tired (just wanted to sleep) and somewhat nauseous. My partner thought it was just a reaction to the anesthesia. However within 24 hours I was more tired, and less responsive (cognitively). When he decided to take me to ER, I could not stand. I also felt warm. He called 911. We live in a rural mountain area, but the EMTs  arrived quickly and recognized septic shock. I do not remember any of this. They decided that instead of going to our local ER, I should be flown by medi-flight helicopter to a regional trauma hospital. This decision saved my life.

The EMTs did not think I would make it to the helicopter. My bp was 70/30, and they could not get it up. At the hospital I was immediately treated by a sepsis team and transferred to their surgery ICU unit, where the doctors and nurses saved my life. I remained in the hospital for 8 days, with acute kidney injury (GRF 8) and septic shock among other diagnoses.

I could not move my own legs due to the fluid edema (part of the treatment). I also broke out in horrific HSV sores [herpes simplex] in and all around my mouth and ears. I looked like a sumo-wrestler zombie, with a Rastafarian bird’s nest (my tangled hair) on top of my head. Since leaving the hospital, it has taken over a month for me to feel “almost” back to normal. I still feel as if I am in “slow motion”, but walking 3 miles every morning has helped.

I am retired except for some contract work, thankfully. It feel so grateful that I was able to come home and see the sunrise at our mountain home. I am concerned that the urologist did not retest my urine before surgery (not his protocol), which would have indicated I still had an active UTI, and surgery should have been postponed.

When I went to see my urologist after my hospitalization for sepsis, he said, “Well maybe it wasn’t sepsis, because your cultures came back negative”. What an ignorant jerk. I am also concerned that we received no information about potential symptoms of sepsis after the surgery. My partner feels so bad that he did not know to call 911 sooner. I hope to approach the doctor/hospital and that changes will be made so that this does not happen to another patient. I appreciate the resources that the Sepsis Alliance offers.