Mark L.

In summer of 2023, I underwent elective bowel-resection surgery, which ended up being exceptionally complicated due to ongoing bowel inflammation. Without being able to complete the resection, the surgeon closed up my abdomen. Within 48 hours, I was experiencing significant pain and questions were raised as to whether a tear in the bowel had occurred during the procedure. I was transferred to a larger hospital where imaging equipment was more accessible. From that point on, I have little or no memory of what was occurring around me until approximately 10 days later. (Sepsis and Surgery, Sepsis and Perforated Bowel)

By the time the transfer was completed, I had dangerously low blood pressure and a rapid pulse (>140 beats per minute). Although the tear in the bowel was too small to find with even a CAT scan, the onset of septic shock was obvious. I was given IV antibiotics, transferred to the ICU, and put on vasopressors due to the decline in my blood pressure. I was intubated to address severe breathing issues. I was unable to take in any fluids for a period of almost two weeks; an extraordinarily uncomfortable restriction. (Sepsis and Septic Shock)

Before the antibiotics succeeded in overcoming the infection, my kidneys began shutting down. Five days later, the infection was sufficiently under control that my prospects began to improve. Like many who have written on this site, the doctors (six of them were involved in my care), were initially uncertain about my survival. After more than two weeks in the ICU, I was finally transferred to a regular room, with a regimen of IV antibiotics continuing.

I hope I can provide some insights from my experience that will be helpful to other septic shock sufferers. Similar to others who have written here, hallucinations and fantastical “dreams” were a part of my experience. Thankfully, most were not frightening in nature, but extraordinarily real and difficult to dismiss even after I became fully conscience again. During one of these episodes, I extubated myself unintentionally, thankfully with few consequences. For an extended period of time, I could not fully convince myself that the dreams were not lived events. Even months after my release from the hospital, I would ruminate on the hallucinations as if they had actually occurred. Eight months after my illness, the visions finally faded.

Thankfully, the hospital where I was treated had an affiliated (and attached) rehab center. I was too weak to go home (the infection wasn’t brought completely under control until 3 weeks after onset), so I was transferred to the rehab center and spent just over two weeks in physical, occupational and cognitive rehabilitation. Getting back my strength was a challenge, and this interim step was so much better than sending me home to struggle with the aftermath of my illness.

I was left with little or no permanent impacts from my illness. I deeply sympathize with those that endure lasting effects from their experience with septic shock, and I consider myself extraordinarily fortunate to not have suffered permanent physical or mental harm, mostly due to the “luck” of falling ill while still in the hospital and avoiding any delay in receiving treatment.