Community Chat

[FlyersGirl]

In early 1991, my mother became very ill. My father took her to her Primary care physician, who immediately sent her to the local hospital. The local hosital misdiagnosed her as having major heart failure and (fortunately) had her air ambulanced to a Regional Heart and Trauma Center where she was correctly diagnosed as being in Septic shock. She could hardly breathe. Her Kidneys were severely impared. Her heart rate was through the roof and her body temp was very high.

Very long story, but the abbreviated version is that she spent over 2 months in ICU, had one kidney removed and was on a vent. She spent almost 3 more months in a Respiratory rehab facility to get her off of the ventilator and so that she could learn to walk again. She was (we all were) very lucky. The doctors had given her a TEN PERCENT chance of surviving. We were able to get her accepted as part of a few experimental treatments, and they (possibly in combination) worked. She had her blood transfused, literally, all of it. (Multiple transfustions to rid her of the toxins). She was given a "new" /not yet approved antibiotic (Cipro) that apparently worked. The total of her Medical bills (at the time) exceeded 6 million dollars. And at the time, thankfully, it was ALL covered by her insurance. (Medicare HMO and my Dad's retiree plans that covered spouses. )

As I mentioned, we were VERY LUCKY. My Mom lived another 19 years. (She passed in 2010 right before her 81st birthday.) The strange thing is that a month before her death she was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, and I have to wonder if some/all of the treatments that she received caused this.

Sepsis is a scary thing. My Mom went from appearing to be healthy one day, to nearly dying the next.

Cindy

[kdgn]

When I received my mother's death certificate I was shocked to see her cause of death listed as sepsis. She had been in a nursing home, had a below the knee amputation that became infected. Her hospitalist from her HMO never got in contact with me, never discussed how serious her infection was. She had been seen by an ortho specialist on a Wednesday who prescribed an oral antibiotic, said to make sure she saw her ortho surgeon the following Monday (when he returned from vacation). I asked him if he was going to do anything??? He told me she wasn't emergent. So he saw her on Wed, I know her hospitalitist saw her Thurs and Fri and she was dead Sat. morning. 

I saw the lab results after she died. Her doctor knew and did nothing. She was on IV fluids and oxygen and nothing more.  In hindsight she should have been in the hospital long before she saw the specialist. 

[2blonde]

I knew a 50-year-old woman from my office who had her finger accidentally slammed in a grocery store door by a careless shopper.  It never even bled, but of course was  very bruised and sore.  She suddenly got sick and wound up in the hospital in septic shock.  She was in there for at least a couple weeks, and they wanted to amputate her finger, but she wouldn't let them do it.  She eventually recovered and still has her finger, but it took a very long while to heal (she's also a smoker).

[Mj12]

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@kdgn wrote:

When I received my mother's death certificate I was shocked to see her cause of death listed as sepsis. She had been in a nursing home, had a below the knee amputation that became infected. Her hospitalist from her HMO never got in contact with me, never discussed how serious her infection was. She had been seen by an ortho specialist on a Wednesday who prescribed an oral antibiotic, said to make sure she saw her ortho surgeon the following Monday (when he returned from vacation). I asked him if he was going to do anything??? He told me she wasn't emergent. So he saw her on Wed, I know her hospitalitist saw her Thurs and Fri and she was dead Sat. morning. 

I saw the lab results after she died. Her doctor knew and did nothing. She was on IV fluids and oxygen and nothing more.  In hindsight she should have been in the hospital long before she saw the specialist. 

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@kdgn it's unforgivable, which is little consolation I know.

[justmyopinion]

I just want to extend my deepest sympathy to all of you who have lost a loved one to this dreadful and often time deadly condition. In addition to my Dad, I also lost my maternal grandmother to it. They were both too young and too vital to die

[MacDUFF]

My heart goes out to all our community members (and everyone every where) who have lost loved ones to sepsis...I'm so very sorry.  Thanks to the OP for posting this info.

[qvcfreak]

I learned of sepsis when my mom died of it a few years ago. She got it fighting colon cancer. 

[SerenitySilk]

@Noel7

Thanks for posting information regarding Sepsis.

To all that lost a loved one,pls accept my condolences. 

To those that have experienced this,or a loved one,I'm 

glad you sought help early. 

Again Thanks Noel7, knowledge is power.

[Noel7]

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@kdgn wrote:

When I received my mother's death certificate I was shocked to see her cause of death listed as sepsis. She had been in a nursing home, had a below the knee amputation that became infected. Her hospitalist from her HMO never got in contact with me, never discussed how serious her infection was. She had been seen by an ortho specialist on a Wednesday who prescribed an oral antibiotic, said to make sure she saw her ortho surgeon the following Monday (when he returned from vacation). I asked him if he was going to do anything??? He told me she wasn't emergent. So he saw her on Wed, I know her hospitalitist saw her Thurs and Fri and she was dead Sat. morning. 

I saw the lab results after she died. Her doctor knew and did nothing. She was on IV fluids and oxygen and nothing more.  In hindsight she should have been in the hospital long before she saw the specialist. 

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@kdgn

  Unforgivable.  What a terrible loss for you.

[Noel7]

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@FlyersGirl wrote:

In early 1991, my mother became very ill. My father took her to her Primary care physician, who immediately sent her to the local hospital. The local hosital misdiagnosed her as having major heart failure and (fortunately) had her air ambulanced to a Regional Heart and Trauma Center where she was correctly diagnosed as being in Septic shock. She could hardly breathe. Her Kidneys were severely impared. Her heart rate was through the roof and her body temp was very high.

Very long story, but the abbreviated version is that she spent over 2 months in ICU, had one kidney removed and was on a vent. She spent almost 3 more months in a Respiratory rehab facility to get her off of the ventilator and so that she could learn to walk again. She was (we all were) very lucky. The doctors had given her a TEN PERCENT chance of surviving. We were able to get her accepted as part of a few experimental treatments, and they (possibly in combination) worked. She had her blood transfused, literally, all of it. (Multiple transfustions to rid her of the toxins). She was given a "new" /not yet approved antibiotic (Cipro) that apparently worked. The total of her Medical bills (at the time) exceeded 6 million dollars. And at the time, thankfully, it was ALL covered by her insurance. (Medicare HMO and my Dad's retiree plans that covered spouses. )

As I mentioned, we were VERY LUCKY. My Mom lived another 19 years. (She passed in 2010 right before her 81st birthday.) The strange thing is that a month before her death she was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, and I have to wonder if some/all of the treatments that she received caused this.

Sepsis is a scary thing. My Mom went from appearing to be healthy one day, to nearly dying the next.

Cindy

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@FlyersGirl

Thank you for telling us your Mom's story, I am so glad she made it.  Wow, that bill was something, thank God your parents had excellent insurance.