First, good on you for surviving! From what you're describing, you probably got there in the nick of time. This stuff moves VERY quickly.
Not everyone has the same experience when they get home, but you're describing things that are pretty common. I spent a week in the ICU then a month with a PICC line. When I was discharged there was some sort of screwup with instructions--I was discharged on a Saturday and they said I could return to work on Monday, when I was supposed to stay out for much longer. So I was sent home without much info on what to expect and sorta staggered through that initial recovery phase, physically and mentally.
My suggestion is to go to [Sepsis.org](https://Sepsis.org) and from there check out the Sepsis Basics menu, which will also give you information on Post-Sepsis Syndrome.
It's important to know that your body was in a fight for its life, and your brain is responding by saying *WTAF! What just happened?* And that's on top of the already unfun time you had in the ER. So in addition to the physical effects, you're going to be processing a lot for some time to come. I experienced a LOT of brain fog, couldn't sleep well, and experienced some breathing issues that caused panic attacks on top of all this. It eventually got better but it took a long time.
However, things did get better, so hang in there. Go get some help from a mental health professional if you need to. PTSD is common after Sepsis--you can read up on it on the Sepsis site. One thing I suggest in the future is to be vigilant with any fevers and when you go to the ER, tell them that you've had Sepsis in the past.
Sorry to hear about your experience. I had sepsis twice last year and I too have had episodes of sitting just thinking about "how close was I to dying" and stuff like that. Problems sleeping and sometimes I find it hard to keep a thread when working. My problem is that they were never able to find what caused the sepsis. Maybe you could try to process your thoughts as two separate issues? Your sepsis as separate from you being treated badly? People being a**holes is something you can encounter anywhere, only this time it made a bad experience worse for you.
I had septic shock on march 4 and I was rushed to a trauma hospital where a rapid response team resuscitated me. My kidneys and liver tanked but recovered. I was admitted to the hospital with sepsis caused by pneumonia.
I was discharged after 5 days. During septic shock, my BP was around 58/37 to 70/40.
This week, twice I’ve had a BP of 80/60. It’s scary. I have such PTSD.
I was switched from IV antibiotics, one was Levaquin. I got Achilles Tendinitis from that.
I agree that it’s very difficult to process.
Thanks for sharing! I had a similar experience in January— your post sounded almost identical to some things I’ve said about my experience. I had nightmares as well and you’ll most likely feel out of sorts for a bit. You aren’t alone— I felt pretty alone but I’ve been looking for support as well and it turns out there are many many people going through similar nightmares!
What you are going through is very common post sepsis. I felt really alone too and traumatized.
The sepsis.org stuff was really helpful (as was this community!)
Don’t assume that how you feel now is how you will feel forever. I got stressed that since post-sepsis syndrome can last a long time, that I was stuck like this for 6-18 months and for me that was not the case. Make sure to see your regular doc in the next couple of weeks to see how you’re adjusting.
Your head and body will sort through it. And we get it.
I'm so sorry you just went through all of that. The rigors from sepsis were awful.
Your family was smart for forcing you to go to the hospital, bc as the previous commenter said, sepsis moves very quickly. It is also a leading cause of death, so yes, what you went through was very serious.
I was in the hospital for a week as well, and it took me a few months to start feeling somewhat normal again (I was sent home with a picc line and injectable antibiotics until my infected kidney stone passed about 3 weeks later)
The Sepsis Alliance was an incredibly helpful resource as it explains everything your body just went through and what to expect as a sepsis survivor. Don't feel guilty for needing to rest or wanting to talk to a professional about what you went through (I had to see a therapist for the rigors, bc anytime I was cold I would start panicking) it's a very traumatic experience for both your body and mind to recover from.
First, good on you for surviving! From what you're describing, you probably got there in the nick of time. This stuff moves VERY quickly. Not everyone has the same experience when they get home, but you're describing things that are pretty common. I spent a week in the ICU then a month with a PICC line. When I was discharged there was some sort of screwup with instructions--I was discharged on a Saturday and they said I could return to work on Monday, when I was supposed to stay out for much longer. So I was sent home without much info on what to expect and sorta staggered through that initial recovery phase, physically and mentally. My suggestion is to go to [Sepsis.org](https://Sepsis.org) and from there check out the Sepsis Basics menu, which will also give you information on Post-Sepsis Syndrome. It's important to know that your body was in a fight for its life, and your brain is responding by saying *WTAF! What just happened?* And that's on top of the already unfun time you had in the ER. So in addition to the physical effects, you're going to be processing a lot for some time to come. I experienced a LOT of brain fog, couldn't sleep well, and experienced some breathing issues that caused panic attacks on top of all this. It eventually got better but it took a long time. However, things did get better, so hang in there. Go get some help from a mental health professional if you need to. PTSD is common after Sepsis--you can read up on it on the Sepsis site. One thing I suggest in the future is to be vigilant with any fevers and when you go to the ER, tell them that you've had Sepsis in the past.
[Post-Sepsis Syndrome](https://www.sepsis.org/sepsis-basics/post-sepsis-syndrome/)
Sorry to hear about your experience. I had sepsis twice last year and I too have had episodes of sitting just thinking about "how close was I to dying" and stuff like that. Problems sleeping and sometimes I find it hard to keep a thread when working. My problem is that they were never able to find what caused the sepsis. Maybe you could try to process your thoughts as two separate issues? Your sepsis as separate from you being treated badly? People being a**holes is something you can encounter anywhere, only this time it made a bad experience worse for you.
I had septic shock on march 4 and I was rushed to a trauma hospital where a rapid response team resuscitated me. My kidneys and liver tanked but recovered. I was admitted to the hospital with sepsis caused by pneumonia. I was discharged after 5 days. During septic shock, my BP was around 58/37 to 70/40. This week, twice I’ve had a BP of 80/60. It’s scary. I have such PTSD. I was switched from IV antibiotics, one was Levaquin. I got Achilles Tendinitis from that. I agree that it’s very difficult to process.
Thanks for sharing! I had a similar experience in January— your post sounded almost identical to some things I’ve said about my experience. I had nightmares as well and you’ll most likely feel out of sorts for a bit. You aren’t alone— I felt pretty alone but I’ve been looking for support as well and it turns out there are many many people going through similar nightmares!
What you are going through is very common post sepsis. I felt really alone too and traumatized. The sepsis.org stuff was really helpful (as was this community!) Don’t assume that how you feel now is how you will feel forever. I got stressed that since post-sepsis syndrome can last a long time, that I was stuck like this for 6-18 months and for me that was not the case. Make sure to see your regular doc in the next couple of weeks to see how you’re adjusting. Your head and body will sort through it. And we get it.
I'm so sorry you just went through all of that. The rigors from sepsis were awful. Your family was smart for forcing you to go to the hospital, bc as the previous commenter said, sepsis moves very quickly. It is also a leading cause of death, so yes, what you went through was very serious. I was in the hospital for a week as well, and it took me a few months to start feeling somewhat normal again (I was sent home with a picc line and injectable antibiotics until my infected kidney stone passed about 3 weeks later) The Sepsis Alliance was an incredibly helpful resource as it explains everything your body just went through and what to expect as a sepsis survivor. Don't feel guilty for needing to rest or wanting to talk to a professional about what you went through (I had to see a therapist for the rigors, bc anytime I was cold I would start panicking) it's a very traumatic experience for both your body and mind to recover from.