New research has found one in five deaths worldwide is due to sepsis. It is more common in poorer countries and the under fives.
One of my best friends died from it eight years ago next month. He collapsed one Saturday morning and was taken to hospital where he was made comfortable. Sepsis was not diagnosed until the Monday morning but he passed away a few hours later. Two months later another younger friend presented himself at A&E feeling really ill. He had been to the GP but sent away with a prescription for antibiotics. He did not come out for four weeks and was off work for three months. The friend of a friend from my polytechnic days also developed sepsis. They survived but as a triple amputee!
The link is for a BBC report on this. It also includes a description of the symptoms. I would ask you all to familiarise yourselves with them as speedy treatment is of the essence!
SkyNews had a medic on who urged people with symptoms to go to either their GP or A&E and be insistent they be tested for sepsis.
Horrible way to die, and it kills so very quickly! I'm sorry to read of your friend being diagnosed too late and the others who had such horrible times with it.
Hi MichealJH, I'm a pharmacy technician. All pharmacists amd technicians in community pharmacy do training to help to spot symptoms. Its called NEWS. If you put NEWS2 into google it will bring up the chart that is used to score. Apologies if you have already attached, I'm on my way to work. Sheena x
Sorry, I'm not savvy enough to attach a file. Not at work now as mums poorly in the home where she lives. Had quite a shock, they thought she had gone she was non responsive. Sent for the doc. I hope she will be fine, she's 87 and had a long full life she's got alzheimers and doesn't know who I am. Just don't want to lose her. Sorry for going off track. Sheena x
A former colleague of mine collapsed at work one day, saw gp who gave her antibiotics and sent her home. A couple of hours later she had a headache and stiff neck and went to the local hospital out of hours who checked her and sent her home to take paracetamol for her slight temperature. Fortunately she went back again when the headache worsened and was then ‘blue- lighted’ 35 miles to our nearest big hospital and into ICU. After a week of touch and go she pulled through but has lost most of her hearing and her immune system is wrecked. She was in hospital for about 2 months, and off work for 9. She now has immunotherapy every few weeks and is only able to work part time.
She only persisted with going back to the doctor as she suspected meningitis.
Maise2014, sorry to hear about your terrible news. Hope your friend gets better. The sooner they recognize the sepsis the better the outcome. The NEWS score can be used by anybody and it would be great for everyone to have the knowledge to recognize when a person is deteriorating. Love to you and big hugs. X Sheena
Over 85% of sepsis cases are found in countries with low to middle sociodemographic states. They also found that 40% of all sepsis cases occurred in children below 5.
It appears sepsis played a part in the death of Derek Fowlds who died earlier today. Unfortunately a bout of pneumonia developed into sepsis which caused heart failure.
Michael, your post will save lives!!! lf you have read my back story l was so lucky to survive severe sepsis and sepsis shock. Working at a day nursery l was used to tummy bugs but this one was different, sepsis mimics so many ailments. This post is a bit of a novel but will hopefully save others. Timeline- Nov 5th 2016 running around Legoland with Son and Grandsons felt great. Fast forward to Dec 2nd, went to bed with horrendous runs. My Husband phoned Doctor but they would not come to my home and said l had ecoli. Suggested l phone a ambulance which at the time l refused thinking it stupid. Symptoms. urine output low, speech like someone pissed, talking rubbish. and headache, no appetite and bed bound. Doctor came after a week and l was blue lighted to Weston hospital Bristol, felt awful put on drip. Doctors could not find what was wrong. l developed a lump behind right shoulder, CT scan revealed Sepsis had set up home behind my saline breast implant l had fitted after a mastectomy17 years earlier. They removed the implant and by this time l was on life support after draining a litre of sepsis from my chest. Then on insistence from my Husband and Sons l was transferred still in a coma to Bristol Royal lnfirmary 01/01/17. Sepsis had destroyed my healthy heart valves, my HERO Consultant heart surgeon came from home to save my life with an emergency AVR, l then developed endocarditis which caused the AVR to fail so l had a 11 hour op 5 weeks later with a new AVR, blood clot removal, and rebuilt heart tissue with medical mesh. The moral of this story is had SEPSIS been diagnosed earlier none of my trauma would have happened, but after three months in hospital l fought like a tiger to live and beat this vicious disease, AND l WON.!!! SUE x
Thanks honey, l am good and dancing again, it has been a long s**t road and the depression for the first two years was relentless. l found that the support, virtual love and kindness from people on this site saved my sanity. There are times you can only talk to people who have walked a mile in your shoes, loved ones try but they don't understand, and you can become a heart bore. l become anxious with unexplained appointments but am dealing with it. Many times l thought about leaving this site as my trauma is over but l care too much about you guys. The one important thing l keep banging on about is TCP. Doctors every where told me it is so important if you have a cut or graze, even a paper cut, WASH IT WITH ANTI BAC SOAP AND DOUSE IT IN TCP. (wish l had shares). lt is under used because of the smell but it is the best domestic warrior that sepsis hates in the early stages. Take care, Sue x
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Return to hospital in the morning - posting for support
Difficulty dealing with Heart problems and related issues
stent one week later dead of heart attack 
HF diagnosis due to 2 leaky heart valves 
