1. < Intensive Care (ICU)

Sepsis: What's your experience recovering from sepsis?

Posted by sepsissister @sepsissister, Dec 12, 2011

Is anyone out there living with sepsis? My sister was admitted to the hospital on Nov. 1st with severe abdominal pain. Test found that she had a mass blocking her intestines. I will try to keep this short...she had surgery to remove part of her colon and large & small intestine and the tumor that originated in her appendix, (appendiceal cancer is rare) things were fine for a few days, until the sutures in the intestines let loose, the resulting bile leaking into the stomach cavity caused her to be septic. A colostomy was performed, and she survived the septic shock. She is now home, and trying to recover from the sepsis. She is very frustrated by the lack of strength and energy that she is experiencing. We know so little about this. We do know that it is extremely serious. Is there anyone out there who can share there experience with sepsis?

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Apr 23, 2018

Hello @kuehlbj and welcome to Mayo Connect!

I appreciate your sharing your husband's experience with Sepsis. How was his Sepsis treated? Was he ill for a very long time? Any after effects from the infection?

Please share as you are comfortable doing so, we all learn from each other and each Member's contribution is helpful.

I look forward to hearing from you again.

Teresa

REPLY
suzmay | @suzmay | Apr 24, 2018
In reply to @hopeful33250 "@suzmay How wonderful. I live in SE Michigan and go to U of M for certain..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

@suzmay

How wonderful. I live in SE Michigan and go to U of M for certain matters as well. Thank you also for recommending the Sepsis Alliance website. That is good information for our members.

I hope your appointment at the Pulse Clinic goes well and gives you some more information regarding your recovery and return to work.

I look forward to hearing from you again.

Teresa

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I want to let people know, especially @tbaxter33, that the PULSE clinic at University of Michigan was amazing! I finally feel listened to and validated, with excellent direction and hope. I saw my (new) PCP today who actually listened and believed my complaints of fatigue and other post sepsis syndrome symptoms which seem classic. I may try antidepressants for a while. I can finally relax about work cuz the MD at U of M said no way.
That’s what I felt but even my infectious disease MD said it’s time to work. I have been so overwhelmed about that. The symptoms are so vague that I see why people don’t get it.
U of M helped me sooooo much. I’m so grateful

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Apr 25, 2018
In reply to @hopeful33250 "@suzmay How wonderful. I live in SE Michigan and go to U of M for certain..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

@suzmay

How wonderful. I live in SE Michigan and go to U of M for certain matters as well. Thank you also for recommending the Sepsis Alliance website. That is good information for our members.

I hope your appointment at the Pulse Clinic goes well and gives you some more information regarding your recovery and return to work.

I look forward to hearing from you again.

Teresa

Jump to this post

Hello @suzmay

I so appreciate you letting us know how your appointment went at the Pulse Clinic. That is just wonderful news! I am glad that you can take the worry about going back to work off your plate for now. It is so good to be understood, isn't it?

Keep in touch. I look forward to hearing from you again and hearing about your progress.

Teresa

REPLY
suzmay | @suzmay | Apr 25, 2018
In reply to @hopeful33250 "@suzmay How wonderful. I live in SE Michigan and go to U of M for certain..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

@suzmay

How wonderful. I live in SE Michigan and go to U of M for certain matters as well. Thank you also for recommending the Sepsis Alliance website. That is good information for our members.

I hope your appointment at the Pulse Clinic goes well and gives you some more information regarding your recovery and return to work.

I look forward to hearing from you again.

Teresa

Jump to this post

Thank you Teresa. They emphasized the need for rest, and self-care. And when I stop pushing myself so much (I have always been very active), I realize how exhausted I am still. Truly this is a long recovery

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Apr 26, 2018
In reply to @hopeful33250 "@suzmay How wonderful. I live in SE Michigan and go to U of M for certain..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

@suzmay

How wonderful. I live in SE Michigan and go to U of M for certain matters as well. Thank you also for recommending the Sepsis Alliance website. That is good information for our members.

I hope your appointment at the Pulse Clinic goes well and gives you some more information regarding your recovery and return to work.

I look forward to hearing from you again.

Teresa

Jump to this post

@suzmay Yes, I'm sure that the road to recovery will take a while. Give yourself all the time you need.

Did your doctor recommend any particular physical or occupational therapies that might help?

Teresa

REPLY
Lisa Lucier | @lisalucier | Apr 26, 2018
In reply to @hopeful33250 "@suzmay How wonderful. I live in SE Michigan and go to U of M for certain..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

@suzmay

How wonderful. I live in SE Michigan and go to U of M for certain matters as well. Thank you also for recommending the Sepsis Alliance website. That is good information for our members.

I hope your appointment at the Pulse Clinic goes well and gives you some more information regarding your recovery and return to work.

I look forward to hearing from you again.

Teresa

Jump to this post

That really is great news, @suzmay, that most of all, you were heard and validated. So glad to hear that, and that the doctor supports your getting better yet before going back to work.

What antidepressant is the doctor looking at for you?

REPLY
suzmay | @suzmay | Apr 29, 2018
In reply to @hopeful33250 "@suzmay How wonderful. I live in SE Michigan and go to U of M for certain..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

@suzmay

How wonderful. I live in SE Michigan and go to U of M for certain matters as well. Thank you also for recommending the Sepsis Alliance website. That is good information for our members.

I hope your appointment at the Pulse Clinic goes well and gives you some more information regarding your recovery and return to work.

I look forward to hearing from you again.

Teresa

Jump to this post

Thank you so much. It is venfalaxine I think is the spelling. Are you familiar with it? I haven’t started them yet. Am hesitant but probably should

REPLY
suzmay | @suzmay | Apr 29, 2018
In reply to @gatorpaul "Wow, another thing for me to do research on. I suffered from septic shock/sepsis in early..." + (show)
@gatorpaul

Wow, another thing for me to do research on. I suffered from septic shock/sepsis in early April 2016. I was on the floor of my apartment going in and out of hallucinations. After a welfare check conducted by the fire department at the request of my Mother and Brother I was strechered out and brought to the hospital. I was so bad that I was told if I had not been found when I was that I would be dead. Multiple organs shutting down, the works. all stemming from a wound on the bottom of my foot that I did not care for properly. One third of my left leg was amputated and the result of all the damage from the sepsis had me in ICU and the main hospital for 3 months, then a SNIF and a health/physical rehab facility until November. So all in all 8 months in the hospital. Long story short, I was attributing my being easily exhausted to having to maneuver my way through a house that is in no way ADA compliant. It is just the only place I can live for now. I can become exhausted easily. As for cognitive effects, I do not believe I have been slowed but I do find myself contemplating life and what has become of mine. I spend time thinking quietly, usually trying to figure out ways to make it easier for me to get around and do everyday tasks. After doing a little of the research leading up to this point, I realize that for how badly I was infected and overcome with sepsis, I should be dead. I am lucky to be alive and intend on making the most of the second chance. Finding groups like this where actual experience can be deseminated and compared is very helpful.

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Wow; I’m sorry you lost your leg, but I’m happy for your life and thank you for sharing. I needed to be reminded that I too intend on making the most of this 2nd chance at life. I have just been feeling so tired, so frustrated because I can’t do much, grieving old person that I was...

REPLY
grandmaR | @grandmar | Apr 29, 2018
In reply to @hopeful33250 "@suzmay How wonderful. I live in SE Michigan and go to U of M for certain..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

@suzmay

How wonderful. I live in SE Michigan and go to U of M for certain matters as well. Thank you also for recommending the Sepsis Alliance website. That is good information for our members.

I hope your appointment at the Pulse Clinic goes well and gives you some more information regarding your recovery and return to work.

I look forward to hearing from you again.

Teresa

Jump to this post

Hi!
The spelling is close "VENLAFAXINE". I know it as EFFEXOR. I've been taking it for year for anxiety, although it is also used for depression. I find it a great help!!! Like so many other meds of its kind, it takes a while for it to work (up to 2 months) and I had a dull headache for a while (which went away).

Several years back, my PCP tried to take me off Effexor because I was doing so well. I was taking 2 pills at a time (can't remember the dosage). I was getting off it slowly. After a very brief time, with one pill cut out, I started having severe anxiety attacks. I attempted to go back on the full dosage I was taking, but it didn't work.

My therapist sent me to a psychiatrist to regulate my meds. It was at that time that I was told that once you start to lower your dose, you can't just build it up again. She took me off the drug and attempt a couple of others. After about 3 or 4 months, I asked her to put me back on them. By then, she said we could try. I've been on it ever since but it never worked quite the same way.

It is many years later and due to 'life', I've had to up the dosage. I am now at the top and I worry what will happen if it stops working. I find it works great for anxiety, but not for depression. I lost 90 pounds over the last 1 1/2 years due to weight loss surgery. Because of the surgery, my body does not absorb the way most people do. I went from extended release to regular release. That does make a difference. I have to make sure I don't have burst of feelings from the meds and that I stay on an even level.

This is probably more than you wanted to know, but I hope it helps.

Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

REPLY
suzmay | @suzmay | Apr 29, 2018
In reply to @hopeful33250 "@suzmay How wonderful. I live in SE Michigan and go to U of M for certain..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

@suzmay

How wonderful. I live in SE Michigan and go to U of M for certain matters as well. Thank you also for recommending the Sepsis Alliance website. That is good information for our members.

I hope your appointment at the Pulse Clinic goes well and gives you some more information regarding your recovery and return to work.

I look forward to hearing from you again.

Teresa

Jump to this post

Thank you for your personal story and experience with this med. I am still unsure about starting it, as my symptoms improve if I can just have more relaxing time.
I am hoping I can heal with just a lot of rest, gentle exercise, nutrition. I will
Give it another week before I start the med

REPLY
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