“Sepsis can happen to anyone. I was so lucky that I survived because the infection was caught just in time,” recalled Sam Ahmed of the infection she acquired after traveling. “I didn’t feel well on my return flight and was in so much pain I couldn’t sit down for the entire five-hour flight. I thought I had pulled a muscle and was having a pelvic floor muscle spasm.”
After she got home, she immediately went to an urgent care center where the staff agreed that the signs pointed to a pelvic floor muscle issue, and she was prescribed steroids and a muscle relaxer. “I didn’t have a fever or any other obvious signs of infection, but two or three days later I knew something was seriously wrong,” said Sam. “At the prompting of my best friend, I went to the MedStar Washington Hospital Center emergency department, and barely have any recollection of what happened over the next 48 hours.” The medical team determined that Sam’s deep soft tissue in the gluteal area was infected and necrotic. They told Sam’s friend who had taken her to the hospital that she came just in time, and her body’s response to the infection would have caused sepsis, a life-threatening complication, in a matter of hours. She was intubated, had two surgeries over 24 hours to remove the necrotic tissue, and woke up in the intensive care unit with a colostomy bag.
Unfortunately, Sam’s difficult medical journey didn’t end there. She experienced a fairly common recurrence of anal fistulas that were causing deep tissue infections and underwent seven surgeries and months of wound care. “By the third time I came to the emergency department, I knew the signs of recurrence. My colorectal surgeon, Dr. Sara Berkey, went above and beyond to ensure she would get contacted right away to prevent life-threatening delays.”
Before Sam’s first bout with the infection, she enjoyed a healthy life and had never spent even one night in a hospital. She also has several family members who are doctors, so she felt she had a good general awareness of various medical risks. Sam believes that her biggest advantage to surviving was that she acted just in time before the necrotic tissue infection developed into sepsis, “My main symptoms were that I was in intense pain out of the blue and was extremely fatigued. If I had waited one more day or even a few more hours before going to the emergency department that first time, my outcome would have been a very different one and I most likely wouldn’t be here to share my journey.”
Six months in, Sam’s healing reached a point where she could have the colostomy bag reversed and she’s been infection free now for over a year. “My infection was in what one might call an embarrassing place, and my situation was difficult to explain, but when I was at my lowest, everyone here, from the doctors, residents, nurses, technicians, and transport team, treated me with such remarkable kindness, never made me feel less than, and preserved my dignity, even while providing stomach-turning treatment,” shared Sam. “My situation was unique to me, and the initial signs of potential sepsis could look different for someone else. The life-changing experience I went through drove me to want to help others in the MedStar Washington Hospital Center community in some way.” Earlier this year, Sam turned her desire to help into action by signing up to volunteer and was appointed to the MedStar Patient and Family Advisory Council for Quality and Safety.
“Sam’s story underscores how every patient can present and respond to infection differently,” said Dr. Jennifer Yu, a physician at MedStar Washington Hospital Center who specializes in Critical Care Medicine, and is the MedStar Health physician lead for sepsis. “Classic symptoms do occur, but sometimes, the symptoms for infection and sepsis can vary and be atypical. For example, the opposite of a fever, low body temperature, can be an important indicator of infection, as well.”
Dr. Yu recommends self-advocacy for every patient because they know their bodies and what might seem out of the norm for them. “It’s critical that individuals take notice when something doesn’t seem right and to not ignore it. We commonly see female and older patients delay treatment because they don’t want to bother anyone or think they can tough it out at home, but it’s so important to act quickly,” she said. “With sepsis, hours matter and just a short amount of time can make a difference in the situation becoming life threatening.”
Dr. Yu shared that MedStar Washington Hospital Center recently changed a protocol for administration of a first dose of antibiotic for patients with a suspected infection. “As soon as a sepsis alert is indicated in a patient’s electronic medical record, we can administer that first dose without delay while we do additional tests and investigation. If it turns out the patient truly has an infection, starting treatments, such as antibiotics, right away can improve patient outcomes and save lives.”
Each year, about 1.7 million adults in America develop sepsis. Anyone can get an infection, and almost any infection can lead to sepsis. Without timely treatment, sepsis can rapidly lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death. Sepsis takes a life every two minutes in the United States. Knowing the signs and symptoms of sepsis can save your life or the life of someone you know.
Sepsis: Know What You Should Do
- Talk to a healthcare professional about your sepsis risk and steps you can take to prevent infections that can lead to sepsis:
- Take good care of chronic conditions, such as diabetes, lung disease, cancer, heart, and kidney disease.
- Get recommended vaccines, since vaccinations can prevent or reduce the severity of some infections that can lead to sepsis.
- Practice good hygiene:
- Keep hands clean.
- Keep cuts and wounds clean and covered until healed.
- Know the typical signs and symptoms. A person with sepsis might have one or more of the following, but could also have atypical symptoms:
- Shivering, fever or feeling very cold
- Extreme pain or discomfort
- Pale, discolored, clammy or sweaty skin
- Sleepiness, confusion or disorientation
- “I feel like I might die” – having a high heart rate or weak pulse
- Shortness of breath
- Act fast:
- If you or your loved one has an infection that’s not getting better or is getting worse, get medical care right away.
- Ask a healthcare professional, “Could this infection be leading to sepsis?” and if you should go to the emergency room.
- Understand your risk. Anyone can develop sepsis, but some people are at higher risk for sepsis:
- Adults 65 or older
- Children younger than one
- People who are pregnant or post-partum
- People who survived sepsis
- People with chronic conditions, such as diabetes, lung disease, cancer, heart, and kidney disease
- People with recent severe illness, surgery, or hospitalization
- People with weakened immune systems
Visit Sepsis | Causes, Prevention and Treatment | MedStar Health to learn more.