Dee Thomas from Comrie, Perthshire is a mum to five and grandmother to two who runs her own business placing live-in staff in hotels and pubs.
Sepsis struck her out of the blue in April 2023. It is an experience that changed her life and her perspective and spurred her on to undertake a great challenge for Sepsis Research FEAT.
It all started on 3rd April 2023 when I suddenly developed flu symptoms and achy joints. I took myself to bed with paracetamol but, although I didn’t have a temperature, I sadly felt no better when I woke up the following morning. My husband Ian now says that on reflection I looked grey in colour and ‘terrible’.
I don’t know why, but for some reason I asked Ian to call an ambulance. The paramedics arrived and checked my blood pressure, temperature and blood oxygen levels which again, and strangely with hindsight, were all normal. They asked me if I would like to go into hospital and thankfully I said that I would. From that point on my condition rapidly went downhill.
When I arrived at Perth Royal Infirmary, bloods were taken and these showed a rapidly increasing infection level – my CRP level* ultimately reached 400 about 24 hours later [*CRP stands for C-reactive protein, the levels of which can be used to measure infection, anything over 50 being deemed to be high]. I had an MRI and other scans that showed Discitis [an infection of intervertebral discs] and Osteomyelitis. My daughter is a doctor and knew that, given that I had a bicuspid heart valve, it was very likely that my heart was in trouble. She pressed for a transoesophageal echocardiogram of my heart which revealed that my heart was vegetated [a potential sign of endocarditis, an infection of the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves]. I don’t remember being told that I had sepsis but I know that my daughter was informed in Perth Royal Infirmary by the cardiologist who told her what she already knew from heart traces – that my chances of surviving were low.
All of this information was communicated in turn to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary who asked that I be transferred immediately for open heart surgery to remove the sepsis and assess me for an aortic valve replacement. I don’t really remember much of this time as I had become very delirious. Thankfully my daughter remained professional throughout (bless her) and communicated everything between the medical team and our family. After transfer I had to be kept in the Cardiac ICU in Edinburgh until the infection levels were deemed sufficiently under control for surgery to take place.
My operation took place on 15th April 2023 in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. I cannot express how grateful I am to the surgeon, anaesthetist and nurses who undoubtedly saved my life. I had an aortic valve replacement which ironically (silver lining) means my heart works far better than it had ever since I had had the bicuspid heart valve from birth.
It wasn’t until I was admitted to HDU in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary that I had the whole situation and the fact that I had had sepsis explained to me.
I was then meant to be six weeks in hospital, initially being treated with heavy duty antibiotics intravenously, but I was actually discharged at about four weeks. I was allowed to take an oral antibiotic at home for a further few weeks so long as I agreed to attend hospital weekly in Perth for tests.
I now know that my condition and the diagnoses of the infections and sepsis were really shocking for my family and that they were very fearful as a result. Incredibly I have gone on to make a complete recovery.
I am so grateful to so many people: to the surgical team who saved my life without a doubt. To the ICU team who were unbelievably professional, particularly in the face of my rather aggressive delirium (I have apologised). My wonderful daughter Jasmine who kept everyone calm despite her own fear – born out of too much knowledge. My strong husband Ian who cared for me for weeks and weeks at home whilst simultaneously keeping our family afloat emotionally and financially. My darling children who came from across the world to say goodbye but thankfully didn’t have to. And finally my friends, who for months afterwards kept my spirits high and showed me how much I had to live for.
When I was diagnosed my outlook could not have been more
bleak: apparently open-heart surgery is known to carry with it the risk of depression and hopelessness. I felt all of that. But my family and friends were having none of it and pushed me forward step by step across three months, making me get up, making me walk, making me see how much they needed me to live.
And now? I feel so positive – happy and fit – but most of all grateful to be alive.
I had heard about Sepsis Research FEAT before through a friend who sadly lost her mum to sudden onset sepsis. It is fantastic to know there is an organisation dedicated to spreading awareness that might just save a life. It is important to me to share my story because so much is still unknown about this ruthless condition.
I didn’t ever think about it happening to me but it did – big time.
So that’s why in May 2024, one year on, I want to take on a huge challenge, and hopefully raise money for Sepsis Research FEAT and help to raise awareness of this dangerous condition. During the month of May I am going to climb the equivalent height of Mount Everest – 29,032 feet, summiting on my 66th birthday on 29th May.
You can find my fundraising page here
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Dee’s story clearly demonstrates how suddenly sepsis can strike and that it can sometimes be difficult to diagnose against commonly accepted symptoms and benchmarks. The GenOMICC research at the University of Edinburgh, of which Sepsis Research FEAT was a founding partner, is striving to understand sepsis and critical illness better and to improve treatments and outcomes for sepsis patients in future. You can read more about this and other research on the charity’s website here.