Leigh Lingbloom

I really didn’t know the facts about sepsis only that it a seriously illness. As a medical coder I had reviewed documentation and coded sepsis many times.

February 24, 2018 (Saturday) I had a back pain which I wasn’t concerned about since I had an old injury and arthritis in the back and flare ups had happened from time to time. The pain continued to get worse. Monday morning I woke up and the pain was so severe I couldn’t get out of bed by myself. It took my husband 20 minutes to get me out of bed with the least amount of pain. Still thinking it had to be the old injury, I made an appointment with my PCP. Stating what I believed to be a flare up of my injury, I was given muscle relaxers and referral to PT and sent home. By that evening the pain wasn’t getting better we called ambulance to take me to the ER.

I didn’t have a fever, received a pain injection and stronger muscle relaxer. During the next few days the pain medication and muscle relaxers helped with the pain. During this time I wasn’t eating because I felt I would either throw up or pass out from the pain. I went to a PT appointment and it made the pain worse. I had a massage therapy and that didn’t help. By Thursday I had the hard shaking chills and confusion was starting to set in. Friday I went into my PCP to get a pain injection. They didn’t pick up on my confusion, or shaking chills didn’t order blood work or take my temperature. I was given the shot sent home.

Saturday, 3/3/18 my husband called my sister concerned about me and not eating. She and my brother-in-law arrived. I only remembered bits and pieces of this. I ate some of the hamburger they brought. The next thing I remember is seeing the same paramedic that came on Monday and the nothing for 5 days.

Hospital stay 1st time
I arrived at the hospital 3/3/18 with a temperature of 104, a very low blood pressure. Test was positive for infection and culture came back MSSA. (Sepsis and Bacterial Infections) An MRI of my back showed epidural abscess L2-L3. I also had staphylocoemia, bone infection inflammation of the discs. Because of a hereditary condition which requires weekly IV infusions and injections, I had a portacath implanted since 2012. The port was removed and tested and not found to be the source of infection. I was being told by my infectious disease doctor they do not know how I got the infection.

I spent 10 days in ICU the balance on a regular floor where I received PT, OT, speech therapy, and discharged after 2 weeks to home and home health care with a PICC and IV antibiotics.

I was doing okay for the first few days having PT at home then one day I heard a pop sound from by back that was the beginning of another epidural abscess. I was at the hospital for my weekly injection and the nurses said I should go to the ER so we did. Tests were ran and I was admitted.

Hospital admission 2
On 3/29/18, 12 days after my 1st discharge I was re-admitted. MRI of the back showed a large abscess on the L5. This was of concern for the infectious disease doctors as I was on antibiotics when the abscess happened. I was transferred to another hospital for back surgery as I needed nasal surgery first for my hereditary condition. On 4/2/18 I had laminectomy, discectomy, and other ectomies then extensive debridements so that antibiotics can get in and fight the infection I was told. I was in the hospital for two weeks. Weak, unable to walk, do much for myself then discharged to a skilled nursing facility. Where received my IV antibiotics, PT, OT. Then on 4/26/18 discharged home.
During the time at home I gained strength going to PT I finally returned to work on 5/29/18.

After the blessing of my infectious disease doctor, I had another port inserted on 8/9/18 due to the fact I have IV infusions weekly. 9/1/18 I had unexplained back pain I went to the ER and blood work and MRI of my back were normal. Then Friday 9/7/18 I began with a headache, which for me can mean anemia, lack of sleep. It continued throughout the weekend and Monday I stayed home and then went to work on Tuesday. By Tuesday I had started to cough, not bad. During this time I had stopped taking my temperature since I was under so much blankets I thought it wouldn’t get an accurate reading. Wednesday I went to urgent care thinking it was anemia. The PA said your heart rate is up and I had a temperature she sent me to the ER to get hydrated. There they ran tests cultures and again I had MSSA and pneumonia and endocarditis, and staphylocoemia. (Sepsis and Pneumonia)

My infectious disease doctor was called in and antibiotics were started the next day I got the hard shaking chills. My port was removed and test came back negative that it was the source. I had a PICC line placed after 2 weeks I was discharged home with IV antibiotics which lasted 3 months and 4 more months on oral antibiotics. (Sepsis and Invasive Devices)

Just in the past 2 weeks I had a severe back pain. I again went to the ER. They did all the work up blood tests and MRI and I am infection free. So relived to hear those words.

In my case my doctor says it’s a wait and see because I have to have IV infusions and injections so that I can treat my hereditary condition. He said the longer I can stay away from a port or a PICC line, the best it is for me. I have switched over to an infusion drug that is every 4-5 weeks instead of weekly.

Knowing this information and understanding they don’t know how I got MSSA and staphylocoemia. It has been emotionally and physically hard on me. Since the inflammation has affected my hereditary condition which is making me tired. Emotionally I have difficulty with the loss of the days during the first hospital stay as I am always in control of my medical decisions, and a bit of survivor’s guilt. I am also very blessed I survived. I have a wonderful family and friends who stayed by me during this time. I never knew how many individuals were affected by sepsis a year, or the mortality rate. May God bless and comfort those who have lost loved ones and give strength to the survivors.