Spread of urinary infection almost killed me
LIZ Bennett, 55, a former NHS risk assessment officer, developed sepsis in 2016 as a result of a urinary tract infection
She said: “Just before I was due to fly away on holiday to Kuala Lumpur, I started needing the loo a lot. I wasn’t in pain, so I didn’t think it could turn into anything serious. “Over the next two weeks I began to feel increasingly fatigued and unwell. In retrospect, it seems obvious it was the UTI, but I just assumed that I’d picked up a virus.
“On the flight back to the UK I developed severe shivering. I couldn’t stop shaking and felt nauseous.
“I’d organised a reunion dinner for two days after my return, and felt I had to go. My friends took one look at me and insisted I go to A&E. I imagined I’d be sent home with antibiotics but once there I collapsed. I was breathless and disorientated, felt sick and had slurred speech. I think what saved me was the fact that I’d worked at the hospital so staff knew what I was normally like and realised I was seriously ill.
“They suspected my UTI had caused sepsis and put me on broad-spectrum IV antibiotics and fluids. Tests later revealed my infection had been caused by E.coli.
“I spent two weeks in hospital and was told that I’d come very close to dying. I’m now working again but it took me a long time to get over what happened.”