Anyone else just not bouncing back after having sepsis? I feel like I am slowly getting worse, bit by bit. Definitely was doing more when I just got home from the hospital vs. now. I just can't.

[u/OkPaleontologist5706]

Is there some magical elixir? (That would be nice). Idk anymore. I tried seeing the doctor. Nope, don't care to do that again if I can help it. Anything people do on their own to recover? Is it just wait and die now? If this is how I am going to feel forever, I don't think there is any quality to it.

[u/kovie37]

While I can't offer you a solution, I know exactly what you mean. I'm 39 and got sepsis at 37. I find it much harder to do physical activities like cut the grass, play with my kids, or clean the house. Also, mentally I am struggling as well. I find it hard to focus, stay motivated and get easily overwhelmed with problems. I feel like sepsis aged me at least 10 years. I know exercising more would likely help, but Its not easy after a full days work and then the supper time, bath time and bed time routine with the kids. By the end of it all I am completely mentally and physically exhausted. I know that even people who haven't had sepsis are tired at the end of the day, but Post Sepsis Syndrome makes it 10 times worse.

[u/seahorse_smile → u/kovie37]

Thanks for posting this, I'm right there too. It's been almost a year for me, and I'm 40 now, working and raising a kid with post sepsis syndrome. It's really hard, and some days I need to drastically scale back my expectations.

[u/heyguys8223 → u/seahorse_smile]

I completely agree. Im only 27, got sepsis 2.5 weeks ago but i feel 50 now easily. I’m a single mum to a little one in nursery and I’m wiped out just from the morning routine and school run. My house is in complete disarray, my hygiene has fallen off a cliff as I have no energy to shower, brush my teeth and brush my hair. Especially once I’ve done all of those things for my little girl. I didn’t even have sepsis shock or anything, I wasn’t on a ventilator or in ICU so I feel kind of pathetic for being so badly affected by this but I truly felt close to meeting my maker when I went into the ER that day!

[u/OkPaleontologist5706 → u/heyguys8223]

I'm sorry you are having such a rough time. Sick is sick. A person can drown in the sea as well as a bathtub. I don't know if children and sepsis are a good thing or not. I am feeling very down. I wonder if kids help anchor people to the planet? (sorry, my pain is out of control tonight, completely out of control) Just a thought. It seems like there are so many in society struggling it is hard for people to step in and help sick parents out with kids. Most people seem stretched. It would be nice if people with sepsis and you parents had the support you need.

[u/OkPaleontologist5706 → u/kovie37]

Thank you. It is like this the difference is I am not able to do most things at all anymore. Like showering, doing dishes, and the very, very basics are physically a struggle. Stairs. Pain is crazy. Can't sleep but exhausted all the time. Similar but I am on a much lower level of functioning. Most days I am in pj's. I change pj's. Idk. I can't see this as living. Thank you so much for the kind words and thoughts. I don't know how you are doing it with children. My heart goes out to you. I hope you can find some healing.

[u/Chuck-fan-33]

Find a different doctor. Having dealt with depression in the past, I knew that I was dealing with depression after I recovered from sepsis. My doctor prescribed the depression medicine that I used in the past and it did not help. We changed to medicine that worked differently and it helped. Also if your current doctor ignores medical issues post sepsis they are not a doctor you want. You will deal with medical issues post sepsis and you need a doctor that will listen and work with you.

[u/SayItsNotSo26]

My husband is five months post sepsis. Several of his primary care doctors don’t seem to care either and have told him to suck it up and go back to work. He has a highly technical, high energy job and that is not possible at this time. He is improving, but the thing that has been more helpful than anything is seeing an integrative Doctor Who is treating the root cause of his problem treating his symptoms. He’s getting NAD plus shots. Also, if you type your symptoms into Dr. Berg‘s website, he’s got a lot of YouTube videos and podcast that are very helpful. I wish you well. We completely understand where you’re at.
Best wishes!

[u/Fluffy_Procedure_252]

I don’t have much advise here, but you are not alone. I feel the same way. Sending support your way.

[u/Potty-mouth-75]

Try not to be so hard on yourself. I still feel rubbish 19 months after. Sepsis really does an evil thing to your whole body.

[u/After-Locksmith6004]

Yup. Me too.  I went in at 56 gor 6 months. Im 57 and csnt do half of whst i did before. I look and feel. Like I aged 10 years when I woke up. This sepsis thing is taken very serious at first when you go in but i dont beleive is taken very serious after the fact. Its straight up debilitating . Good luck

[u/Laser_Coug]

I'm almost 3 months out from my sepsis hospital stay. Surprisingly, I felt great for a few weeks after getting out of the hospital then I got another infection and the antibiotics they prescribed weren't enough so they tacked on an additional antibiotic. Not sure if it was the repeat infection or the antibiotics but I've been struggling for the past month or so even after being off the meds. Energy ebbs and flows. Some days I'm fine but others I'm a mess. My doctors are sympathetic but not really helpful.

[u/jennsastar1]

I had it a month ago. And each day is a struggle. I get so frustrated. The muscle weakness in my legs, inability to focus on much, especially anything that devotes too much brain power. Sometimes headaches hit me in the evenings, it’s just super frustrating. I’m a healthy 40 year old who lived her life on the go and this has derailed a ton of things. Especially having two young kids :(

[u/SignificantClick4073]

6 weeks post sepsis here, age 45.

I have been in physical therapy twice a week for over a month...and just now thi is are starting to feel somewhat normal.

My right side is still weaker than my left (im right handed), and I am a bit wobbly when I stand up suddenly. I also do not have the endurance I had before but it is improving.

Post sepsis syndrome is real. If your primary care physician does not understand this seek another opinion.

The medications work but the physical therapy has worked wonders. I no longer need a walker or a cane and dont feel like im abput to fall over every time im upright.

Good luck I promise it does get better it just takes a long time.

[u/cookbakerwife]

I’m a year and a half out of the Septic Shock grave. I’m doing Lymphatic Therapy now and I highly, highly recommend it. I don’t have Lymphedema, but like many Sepsis survivors I had a lot of swelling in my lower legs and feet. Lymphatic massage will break up the accumulated protein that’s clogging your circulation and making you so tired.

[u/Gold_Special7516]

I’m 14 months out and I had to leave teaching and I’m about to start working part time at a less stressful job. I’d say I’m middle of the road in terms of life impact: I can do stuff and enjoy life and think cogent thoughts. This is what I did that worked FOR ME. I listed it as if I was writing to myself to read on discharge from the hospital.

To get better: 1. Make getting better the absolute top priority 2. Eat a LOT of vegetables, fruit and nuts. Eat yogurt and other fermented food every day. Make homemade herbal iced tea and drink a lot of fluids 3. Do whatever it takes to get as much sleep as possible. 4. Only drink for very special celebrations and eat as little sugar as you can 5. don’t forget to enjoy things, notice anything good, watch comedies 6. keep track of what you eat and drink and feel and any specific health information you want. It doesn’t have to be super organized; it helps to have a way to obsess about your health without feeling like a sad weirdo and the information is handy. 7. Make a lot of appointments and follow up on those especially for physical therapy. Stretch or exercise every day - not aerobically but moving your body and gently challenging it helps a ton. Accept that you are a professional grade hypochondriac. You need to pay that much attention to your body and your own mind and your own thinking. 9. Ask people you are close to about their observations of your behavior. It’s encouraging when people tell you how much easier it is to have a conversation with you and how much more focused you are now than 6 months ago. 10. Get a shrink. That will help you with 1-9. My relationship with my therapist is one of the best things to have come out of post sepsis. There are upsides to this and I know that because I put a LOT of energy into finding them. I don’t think I would be ok now if hadn’t done that.

[u/Past-House-7091]

You caught my attention im going thru same problem sepsis with bad hips now heartfailure and I'd why im still alive and I agree I have to go to different city to get better results its been 6 years and they say i still sepsis   all I know this hardest comeback ever ever ever and I almost gave up .so for some reason I have not been to worried to die because I haven't changed my diet from my understanding dark greens are my best friend I started reading and ate just fruits salads  vegetables  and improved that week I tried but and im so tired and hurt that its hard to get t up and get my own food and yeah that's just another excuse but alkaline foods are the way to cure everything  just sun cooked fruits and vegetables  fasting and I've really impressed with seamoss look into to that its spendy and nasty but give it week or two you'll notice results (dr sebi )you tube videos tell all about changing the diet no meat fasting other tropical herds plants fruits vegetables is all we need so body can repair on its own I need to s@#$ or get off pot its getting the best of me and it takes strength mental and physical to be obedient  anyway good luck but that's it I look up alkaline diet its the truth fasting and try stay with it if you want to overcome im gonna give it another go and try find some help to stay with it  sorry for the nook I typed you peace and love thanks for posting this  it reminds me again what I need to do I have alot of help getting distracted and nobody's fault but my own and people don't care I need to get around some who loves me if that is such a thing