Post Sepsis Syndrome:

A month ago I was in the hospital to be cured of sepsis.  Apparently I had a bladder infection which went into my bloodstream.  I did not know I had a bladder infection due to the catheter that I had for a prostrate issue. Suddenly I started to shake violently without warning. My doctor told me to go straight to the emergency room. From there I was admitted where I remained for 4 days getting intravenous antibiotics pumped into my veins. The many doctors that treated me said I was fortunate to get to the hospital in time as most people die with sepsis. 

I was declared free and took several days more of oral antibiotics.  I was discharged and felt weak but normal until about 10-12 days post cure. Then I noticed I was tired, my joints ached more and I seemed to be slow in thinking and had episodes where I would lose focus. I could not figure out what was going on but thought it probably had something to do with the sepsis or septic blood. 

Post sepsis is a collection of long term physical and psychological symptoms that develop in 59% of survivors. Sepsis is life threatening and a medical emergency. The symptoms occur within 90 days and consist of fatigue, joint pain and panic attacks to name a few. The symptoms last from 6 months to 18 months. 

Other symptoms are sleep disorders, lethargy, muscle and joint pain so severe that it is debilitating, loss of appetite, loss of organ function that effects the heart, liver and kidneys. The psychological symptoms include hallucinations, panic attacks, anxiety, nightmares, poor cognition that affects, learning, memory, thinking and concentration, depression and mood swings. 

Fortunately they do not occur all at the same time but my joint pain is so severe that at times I can barely walk. My mind is fuzzy and I will go from alert to lethargy. It seems that one or more of these happen regularly. 

I was unaware of this condition and was not advised it could be a situation but the symptoms are such that they can not be overlooked as they are so obvious. The death rate of people who have had sepsis and recovered is high and the deaths of people two years after hospitalization ranges 33% to 70%.

The reason I posted this is because this syndrome is not very well known and my hope is by posting it others will be made aware of sepsis and the after affects it carries with it.