23/06/2024
Hello everyone,
I've had so many people reach out after spending a week in the ICU that I decided to post on here to give a public update. Thank you all so much for your thoughts, prayers, and support. I wanted to share some updates now that I'm conscious!
After almost a full week in the ICU, I was transferred out of intensive care on Thursday evening and released from the hospital on Friday after doctors determined there wasn't too much more they could do for me at the hospital. They had already given me the full 7 day course of a broad spectrum antibiotic and did not intend to give me anymore fluid due to my obvious edema, so really all that was left was pain management as hopefully the infection continues to clear.
Although the cause is still unknown, I was diagnosed with a severe infection in my small intestine (enteritis) which then spread to the membranes of my abdominal tissue (peritonitis), causing mass infection in my entire abdominal organs leading to sepsis. This caused my blood pressure to bottom out, and out of an attempt to avoid pressors, doctors gave me fluids which resulted in severe edema on my chest. I gained 12lbs in fluids alone. Between the swelling in my abdomen from the infection and the edema from the fluids in my chest, I had a partial lung collapse as there was nowhere for it to expand resulting in poor oxygenation despite continuous high volumes of O2.
Thankfully, I finally turned the corner and I am home now, although I have great difficulty with basic activities of daily life. I still am mostly bedridden and struggle to sit up, walk, or move. Due to doctors being uncertain of what caused this infection, I will be referred out for several procedures in the coming weeks.
This morning, 6/23, I woke up with severe pressure in my bladder so we are debating if a trip to urgent care or a return to ER is necessary.
Please continue to keep me in your thoughts and prayers, and again, thank you everyone for your support.
If anyone would like to donate to the GoFundMe my friend created, the link is here: https://gofund.me/02c0274d
