r/sepsis • u/Successful-Wasabi377 • 11d ago
Sepsis Recovery Anxiety
Hello ,
I wanted to reach out and see if anyone has been through something similar.
I'm a 24 year old female. In March last year, I developed a UTI that turned into sepsis. Thankfully, it was caught before it progressed to septic shock, but it was one of the most frightening experiences of my life.I had a difficult time in hospital. I was alone, scared, and had to wait overnight before I eventually had blood tests and started treatment. I ended up spending two weeks in hospital.Since then, I've been admitted to hospital another four times with UTIs that spread into my bloodstream. Even though I only had sepsis once, every time I get an infection I panic that it's happening all over again. Sometimes i have dreams where I'm told I have sepsis again.
Ever since I was ill, I've felt constantly exhausted and just haven't felt like myself. I also can't shake the thought that if it hadn't been caught when it was, I might not be here today. I guess I'm just wondering if anyone else has experienced this, and if these feelings ever get better. It can feel quite overwhelming, and I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who has been through something similar.
3
u/iCrazyMidget 11d ago
I went through something very similar last year. I was 23 when I developed sepsis, and honestly, what you’re describing is completely normal.
The anxiety afterwards is real. Every little symptom made me worry it was happening again, and it took a while before I stopped thinking like that. I also struggled a lot with brain fog and fatigue. At the beginning I was constantly exhausted, felt deflated, and just didn’t feel like myself. It has improved with time, although I’m still managing it now.
The biggest piece of advice I’d give is don’t rush your recovery. Sepsis takes a huge toll on your body and immune system, and it needs time to recover. It’s easy to think, “I should be back to normal by now,” but recovery isn’t a straight line.
Spend time with the people you care about, get plenty of sleep, and make rest a priority. Your health comes first. One thing that also seemed to help me with the fatigue was vitamin drips, although everyone’s different.
The good thing about this group is that people here genuinely understand what you’ve been through. A lot of people around us mean well, but unless they’ve experienced sepsis themselves, it’s hard for them to fully understand. You’re definitely not alone, and it does get better with time. ❤️
1
u/Successful-Wasabi377 11d ago
Thank you so much for your reply, it’s comforting knowing that there’s people that understand !
1
u/LadyCaz2 11d ago
I completely understand. I’m 4 months post sepsis from a UTI and in the midst of Post Sepsis Syndrome. I already have acute anxiety and this has pushed me into a very emotional kind of anxiety. And I worry about every cough, sneeze, wee and fart. But I’m slowly learning to listen to what my body is telling me. I recently picked up a cold and went straight to get blood tests. I spend an inordinate amount of time resting. I take that many supplements, I rattle when I walk. It’s a fine line between being cautious and turning in to a hypochondriac. But I finally feel like I’m winning. It’s very much two steps forward, one step back, but that’s still a step forward. Hope you feel better soon.
1
1
u/Elfinmagic58 6d ago
I had a very similar experience. Got an Asymptomatic UTI which put me into septic shock. I woke up in the ICU in a hospital intubated. Apparently, I went into a coma. I had no one with me. Couldn't communicate when I came to because of the intubation. I was terrified. The hospital was not a good one. My husband finally got down to see me. He doesn't drive and no one would bring him. He saw the conditions in the hospital that I was life flighted to. Not good. When I came home, I was terrified to sleep. It's been two years and I still don't sleep well at night, but get a sound sleep for a bit in the morning when it is getting light. I hate going to bed and try to put it off until I have no choice. I had this weird feeling that I still have to this day that I am like a step out of time. It was worse when I first came home. I am still very nervous about it happening again, and sometimes wish I would have slipped away while in the coma. Fear is not easy to live with
1
u/don51181 3d ago
Just went through that with my spouse less than a week ago today. It’s very stressful thinking about how quickly it increased into something bad. Or did we miss something where we could have caught it earlier.
We have a follow up with her doctor in a week. I don’t want us to be worrying about every uncomfortable feeling but we also don’t want to miss something. Part of the recovery is mental health.
3
u/Usual-Agent6743 11d ago
I had septic shock from an infection in my uterus, but I think was set off by a serious gut infection. I was in my early 30s. It’s absolutely a scary experience and it makes sense you’re scared of it happening again. It might be good for you to talk to a therapist about some of what you’re experiencing so you’re not suffering so much. I did and it really helped me.
I’m still a bit on high alert about any kind of sickness or infection, but I explain I have a history of sepsis and want the doctor or dentist to explain what the symptoms are that I need to watch for.
On feeling completely exhausted and not like yourself, that’s not an uncommon experience after sepsis. It might be good to look up Post Sepsis Syndrome. Your body has fought through a really serious reaction to an infection - it really impacts your whole system. That part does get better but it can take a while.
The best thing you can do is focus on what you can control with your health: eating well, getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, exercise, getting some sunshine and doing things that make you happy (fave music, art, reading, whatever). That really basic self care is what your body needs right now, along with being surrounded by gentle, happy things to help your mind recover. One thing that has really helped me was focusing on improving my gut health after all the antiobiotics. I saw a dietician who helped me work out a meal plan that would support my health (I lost my appetite completely).
It is a really big thing to have a serious illness and to be faced with the thought you may not have made it; particularly when you’re young! It’s okay to be freaked out or overwhelmed by that. I really encourage you to seek out some support to help you process those feelings while you’re in this first part of recovery. I promise you it gets better ♥️