1. < Women's Health

Post Sepsis…what next?

Posted by shell08 @shell08, Dec 30, 2024

I am a therapist recovering from over 5 months of sepsis and 3 significant episodes of septic shock. I was told that they came close to losing me 3 times. The culprite was stress and a gallbladder infection. They accidentally found a Pulmonary Embolism as well which complicated a lot. Now it’s almost January and I am seeking some sort of routine in life or purpose. I don’t know if this is typical anxiety and depression or additional from sepsis. I am tired all the time and unmotivated. Working per diem is a challenge as I don’t know how long of a day I can truly tolerate without cognitive fatigue. Just figured I’d reach out as I also had mental health changes due to sepsis which resulted in night terrors. I thought I had died at least once for certain. Somehow I made it back…yet the struggle to find myself is real.

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parrot53 | @parrot53 | Dec 30, 2024

So sorry for your distress. Sounds like PTSD may be the culprit. Perhaps you can get some counseling to help you overcome the anxiety. Getting through a difficult health crisis is a great milestone. Congratulations on surviving a serious ordeal. Best of days to you.

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1 reply
shell08 | @shell08 | Dec 30, 2024
In reply to @parrot53 "So sorry for your distress. Sounds like PTSD may be the culprit. Perhaps you can get..." + (show)
@parrot53

So sorry for your distress. Sounds like PTSD may be the culprit. Perhaps you can get some counseling to help you overcome the anxiety. Getting through a difficult health crisis is a great milestone. Congratulations on surviving a serious ordeal. Best of days to you.

Jump to this post

Thank you. Best to you!

REPLY
dlydailyhope | @dlydailyhope | Dec 31, 2024

@shell08
I am so glad you made it through that ordeal and now you need to get the best care for your physical and mental health. A therapist for support, medication for anxiety/depression and a nutritionist can help. The nutritionist can help you with diet/supplements to rid yourself of toxins. These toxins can wreck havoc on your mental/physical health.

Did you have your gallbladder removed? Do they know what caused the sepsis? Were you having difficulty breathing with the pulmonary embolism?

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1 reply
lucy155 | @lucy155 | Dec 31, 2024

I had a trifecta of disease in 2022. Sepsis was a result. The exhaustion during recovery was debilitating. I felt so old. I was 70 at the time. I didn't have any motivation because my body was tired and only wanted to rest. I had never been so inactive for so long... six months.
Then, I started walking around my kazeebo in front of my house... three circles, 5 circles, 10 circles... exhausted each time. I would fill my mind with thoughts of the day I would be strong again. I didn't push myself in a crazy way, just steps at a time.
Then I paid for a trainer at my gym. $100 for four sessions over two months. A gentle, but effective program was created just for me in my recovery. It was the best investment. She was gentle, but encouraging and firm with her instructions. I think it was three months later, that I knew I felt stronger. My spirit was back along with my increased energy and I was going to be ok. I started to golf and now play three times a week!
Start real slow. Be patient. It's a process but the physical recovery will also make the mental recovery possible. Best wishes in your quest to get yourself healthy again. You can do it!

REPLY
1 reply
shell08 | @shell08 | Dec 31, 2024
In reply to @lucy155 "I had a trifecta of disease in 2022. Sepsis was a result. The exhaustion during recovery..." + (show)
@lucy155

I had a trifecta of disease in 2022. Sepsis was a result. The exhaustion during recovery was debilitating. I felt so old. I was 70 at the time. I didn't have any motivation because my body was tired and only wanted to rest. I had never been so inactive for so long... six months.
Then, I started walking around my kazeebo in front of my house... three circles, 5 circles, 10 circles... exhausted each time. I would fill my mind with thoughts of the day I would be strong again. I didn't push myself in a crazy way, just steps at a time.
Then I paid for a trainer at my gym. $100 for four sessions over two months. A gentle, but effective program was created just for me in my recovery. It was the best investment. She was gentle, but encouraging and firm with her instructions. I think it was three months later, that I knew I felt stronger. My spirit was back along with my increased energy and I was going to be ok. I started to golf and now play three times a week!
Start real slow. Be patient. It's a process but the physical recovery will also make the mental recovery possible. Best wishes in your quest to get yourself healthy again. You can do it!

Jump to this post

Thank you so much! I needed to read this tonight. I just have to start somewhere and progress from that point. Thank you for sharing your story. Much appreciated. Happy 2025!

REPLY
shell08 | @shell08 | Dec 31, 2024
In reply to @dlydailyhope "@shell08 I am so glad you made it through that ordeal and now you need to..." + (show)
@dlydailyhope

@shell08
I am so glad you made it through that ordeal and now you need to get the best care for your physical and mental health. A therapist for support, medication for anxiety/depression and a nutritionist can help. The nutritionist can help you with diet/supplements to rid yourself of toxins. These toxins can wreck havoc on your mental/physical health.

Did you have your gallbladder removed? Do they know what caused the sepsis? Were you having difficulty breathing with the pulmonary embolism?

Jump to this post

Yes gallbladder removed eventually. I think that caused the sepsis as they had to place a drain in to give me time to heal before the surgery. No cardiac events with the PE! They just happened to see it on the bottom of one of my films.

REPLY
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