Jodie Furby-Whitfield

I got sepsis in 2022 after 3 episodes of tonsillitis. I had 3 lots of antibiotics which didn’t work and the infection just got worse.
One day I woke up and I just felt like death, that’s the only way I can describe it, I had a fever of 103.85 degrees F, couldn’t walk, felt extremely delirious and sick.

As a healthcare professional myself, I had a feeling that it may be sepsis, however you never expect it to happen to you. I sought advice from a doctor and was sent straight to A&E, when there, my blood pressure was 90/40 and dropping. After blood and urine tests sepsis was confirmed and I was put onto the sepsis pathway, which ultimately saved my life.

I was admitted into hospital for a few days and closely monitored. I don’t remember too much of this, probably due to all the morphine, but I do remember how much agony I was in. In my opinion, I was discharged much too soon. I was unable to eat properly and couldn’t even walk. But due to the pressures in the NHS and under funding I understand that a lot of people are being discharged too early. The biggest concern was that I wasn’t given any information on post sepsis syndrome and just left to the care of my GP with no follow up.

Pretty soon after I started experiencing what I now know to be post sepsis syndrome and I’ve had it ever since. My main symptoms of PSS are shortness of breath, extreme fatigue/lethargy, confusion, lack of concentration and recurrent infections (cold/flu/tonsillitis, you name it)! I don’t feel like myself, I have anxiety about getting illnesses which my body can’t easily get rid of.

I went back to work 2.5 weeks after I was discharged, which in hindsight was one of the biggest mistakes, I was too concerned about what people would think and had very bad anxiety about calling in sick. After I started getting quite seriously unwell and experiencing worsening PSS symptoms I contacted my GP, who luckily was aware of PSS (which many GPs aren’t) and I was given much needed help and support. I had another blood test and it was found that I have a folic acid deficiency, deficient in other vitamins and anaemic.

I am still coming to terms with the fact that I will never be the same, I’m trying to accept that I need to find a “new norm”. Sepsis affects everyone so differently and we all have to find our own way and new normal.

If I could give anyone any advice, I’d say, if you are concerned it could be sepsis, get it checked. It could save your life. For anyone like myself suffering with PSS, there is a lot of support out there with Sepsis Charities and online forums and support groups, you’re not alone.