Edward Couzens-Lake

Christmas 2022. Covid-19. A bit of a breeze really, similar to having a cold. Considered myself the proverbial tough guy, tested negative by the end of the year. Middle of January 2023, something, clearly, was NOT right. Intense lower back pain, a metallic taste in my mouth and gut that wouldn’t go away and fatigue on a previously unknown basis.

Got worse, daily. Dry retching every night, a cough that really felt as if it was to die for.

Beginning of Feb 2023. Collapsed at the foot of my mother’s stairs. She said she was calling an ambulance, I said, “I’ll be OK, don’t worry.” She called the ambulance. Blue lit to the nearest hospital, 23 miles away. The paramedic with me tried to hide the look of concern on his face but didn’t do it so well. As is the case with our NHS at the moment, expected to arrive and be placed in a queue. Not so. Straight to ER, lines and pumps in me just about everywhere, no orifice left unplugged.

Double pneumonia with sepsis diagnosed. (Sepsis and Pneumonia) Hit hard with penicillin. Slept not a proverbial wink. O2 provided but struggling even with that. Whilst even trying to turn over in the bed was nigh on impossible. Eventually sedated and put onto a ventilator. About four days or so. Dead to the world. My hospital notes indicated that dead in a literal sense was close.

Seven weeks in hospital. One relapse, one return to intensive care. Fighting for O2 daily. Pressure up my nose of the flow so cold and strong, my nose bled. Lost weight and interest. Looked for the switch on the machine I was hooked up to so I could turn it off.

Aches, pain, swelling, cough cough cough COUGH. Discharged. Eventually. Weak as a kitten. Weaker.

June 2024. Is post-sepsis syndrome a ‘thing’?

Dear God, yes it is.
Love and positive thoughts to you all. survivors and family members of same.