Donna Swain

Unfortunately, I am all too familiar with sepsis. I am very prone to UTIs, but it is rare that I recognize that I have one because I get no symptoms, until it’s too late! (Sepsis and Urinary Tract Infections) Without the usual symptoms of a UTI, the infection gets out of control and I quickly becomes septic. I must be very careful with this because in 2015, I had a liver transplant (unrelated to my UTIs or sepsis). (Sepsis and Organ Transplants, Sepsis and Impaired Immune System) Unfortunately, when I become septic, I get very confused, disoriented, and unable to answer questions or even tell anyone my name.

I have been blessed with siblings who call and check on me regularly, so they have been able to recognize when I have become septic. I have a sister who lives only a few miles from me, so when she is alerted, she comes to my house and takes me to the local Hospital ER. Just a few months ago, I had a serious case of sepsis, one of the worst cases that I had ever had. My sister called me and recognized that I was in trouble. She took me to the ER, but had to stay with me because I was totally unable to speak to the doctors or nurses. In fact, I knew nothing until 24 hours later when I awoke in my hospital room. I was still a bit confused, but I was better. I recovered and was released about four days later. UTIs that become septic tend to put me in the hospital 2 to 3 times per year. I am so blessed to still be alive because sepsis can kill a person within days, if not hours, and you may never see it coming!!!