Sepsis: What's your experience recovering from sepsis?

Hi, I’m sorry to hear about all your sister went through. I am a sepsis survivor coming up on 3 years in March. I am having Post Sepsis Syndrome symptoms and do not feel like I will ever be the person I was before sepsis. There is really good support and information at Sepsisalliance.org. I am new to this forum and have also found good information. Feel free to ask me any questions and I will try to help.
Andi

Omg yes, I always feel nauseous and ready to vomit since septic shock, and eating is a huge problem. I can only eat a tiny bit at one time. I’m taking zofran so at least I don’t throw up, but have lost a significant amount of weight. I’m trying to combat the lack of appetite by eating a little, but more frequently. I’m fatigued from the septic shock, and the lack of nutrients is making it worse. I’ve been sipping on protein shakes during the day, so maybe that’s something you can try, at least to get some nutrients

On 7/3 I was rushed to the hospital with septic shock. I had 3 infections, c diff, pneumonia, and pseudomonas in my bloodstream. After 4 days in ICU, 7 days in telemetry, and 10 days in rehab, I was sent home. The fatigue is debilitating. I sleep 11-12 hrs a night, and nap during the day. I have had to quit work.
I still feel ill, and am seeing my primary next week. In addition to the fatigue, I have gut issues and I read that this is fairly common along with the fatigue.
All I hear from the medical community is that it takes a ‘while’ to heal, which tells me that although the doctors can bring us back from the brink of death, what happens to us afterwards is indeterminable.
I’ve also learned that post sepsis, we can pretty much expect to not go back to our normal.

Sepsis Alliance has much information that may help you out, or confirm what you are already experiencing. I like to know what to expect so I’m not so frightened or depressed, and you can connect with other sepsis survivors. We have a hard road to travel, but it’s good to connect with others in the same situation

I had my septic shock in 2016, two months in 3 hospitals, every organ shutting down only remember talking to my worried husband then nothing. 10 years and still not quite right, tired, sometimes nausea and brain fog. This is my new normal. I had a finger amputated that apparently my blood clot went to. I shouldn't be alive! My story is a lot longer than this but here we are alive!

@vze1n191, how scary for you. There is something called Post Sepsis Syndrome (PSS). One of the lingering symptoms can include nausea and poor appetite. Has your medical team been able to prescribe something that helps so the you can eat and drink? Are you able to keep things down and have good nutrition?

I recently had sepsis (Early April 2025), and like a few others did not know it. I didn’t go to the hospital until my husband called for an ambulance when I was no longer making sense.

I have the additional issue of having RRMS, an autoimmune disease which leaves me immunocompromised.

I was in the hospital about five days, but they didn’t tell me I had sepsis. They told me I had a severe kidney infection. I found out a few days later after looking through paperwork.

My question/issue is the frustration that every time I eat (or drink) something, it nauseates me to the point of needing to throw up. Has anyone else experienced this?

@andreab, a Mayo Clinic ICU nurse, writes about PICS and PICS-F in the Post Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) Blog https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/pics/

There are several blog posts, but you might want to start with these:
- Breaking it Down: What exactly is Post Intensive Care Syndrome? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/pics/newsfeed-post/breaking-it-down-what-exactly-is-post-intensive-care-syndrome/
- Breaking it Down: Post Intensive Care Syndrome and The Family https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/pics/newsfeed-post/breaking-it-down-post-intensive-care-syndrome-and-the-family/

I'll be interested to know if any of the descriptions and definitions resonate with you.

No I haven't but I can do some research on it!!! Thanks!!

Thanks for thinking of me. I am 9 months past my second open heart surgery and 2 years past my septic shock. I still do not know if it’s post septic shock that causes this great confusion or recovery from 2 open heart surgeries. I have heard it takes time after open heart for my brain to understand the things that were done to my heart. However, I find it difficult to keep up with conversations when I am out with girlfriends or planning and scheduling play dates for my son. Total confusion. I also am becoming apathetic about things that I was once highly interested in. I think the trauma of the past few years has caused some of this, too. Maybe PTSD?

I'm tagging @dbrima to make sure they see your encouraging post, @smokeychip1.

There's no doubt that sepsis and serious illness in ICU affects not only the patient, but family and those supporting them. @smokeychip1, have you heard of post intensive care syndrome (PICS) and post intensive care syndrome family (PICS-F)?