Question: Hi I am a 37 year old, normally very healthy female. I have 6 healthy children and have a very normal healthy life. I started feeling fatigued and nauseated about 3 months ago, I kept going to my pcp but they told me there was nothing wrong with me and gave me a script for Wellbutrin and said I was just depressed. That was Friday three weeks ago, I got my script, and went ho e to start dinner and collapse. Woke up in the ICU, I had an atypical presentation of Microplasmic pneumonia also my bronch washing grew out EBSL E. coli as well as did 4 separate sets of blood cultures- I was in septic shock. I really surprised everyone and pulled thru. I was discharged this past Sunday with a Picc line and was told I had a 7 am apt with my pcp they would continue working with home health getting my antibiotics, nausea, and some short term pain meds until I'm back to my old self. Monday went to my pcp, they told me I really wasn't that sick. I explained that I still am vomiting and can only keep down small sips of fluids - I lost over 20lbs since I started feeling bad in XXXXXXX so I'm 5'7" and weigh 112- I look scary. I also explained my pain when I breathe is horrible I've had 4 cesarean sections and went home on Tylenol, I'm in tears daily. I also explained that I have a huge memory loss and I didn't feel ready to return to work. They released me to go back to work that day- full duty, would not give me any medication except the iv antibiotics and told me if I kept insisting I was so sick they were going to discharge me for being too high risk. I am in misery, I have had to have my husband drive me to work because I couldn't remember how to get here until he showed me. I've never taken regular medications, I don't understand why I am not being heard. I'm afraid I'm going to die. I've lost all feeling in my toes and fingers- was told this was my imagination. Running a fever today. Haven't kept down food in 3 days. I'm at a loss, any advice would be appreciated. I have this horrible feeling something bad is going to happen, like I'm going to die.

Thank you Dr. Biswas,

To clarify on a couple of key points, the presumed reason for my infection susceptibility, is due to the fact that I had frequent mild respiratory symptoms since XXXXXXX my pcp had me on 8 different antibiotic therapies all accompanied with multiple steroid dose packs. My pain has been located in my right side, directly at the border of my ribs. However, my pain and nausea became acute this morning so following your advice my husband and I proceeded to the hospital where I have been receiving care for the sepsis and pneumonia. A couple of hours in the ER, it was discovered that I have an acute hepatic toxicity due to being treated with iv Levaquiv, Zosyn, and now Mirem. I also have Pancreatitis. The good news, my chest x Ray shows marked improvement and my symptoms are being treated appropriately. I am already feeling some better. In addition, I have always had a mild macrocytic anemia and I had a very low Hct and hgb I am on the first of 2 units of a blood transfusion. I am already much clearer of thought. We are both so very thankful we chose to return to the hospital. Thank you again for the advise. I have always avoided over utilizing the ER, and did not believe I was sick enough to be seen in that setting, but I was wrong.

Thank again
XXXX