A Necrotizing fasciitis interview .

Amy's interview


How did all start?

It began with a bout of vomiting, as if I had the stomach flu. I was in bed for several days, and it progressed to a full fledged "flu" - body aches, a migraine headache, and congestion. I was in so much pain that I would scream every time I moved my head. This lasted for several more days. Eventually, an abscess formed on my left labia and my inner left thigh. These eventually burst and started draining. I was in so much pain and was practically delirious. It took me 2 more days to get the energy to get downstairs in order to go to the emergency room. My husband was desperate, as I'd never been this sick in my life.

Do you already have a diagnosis? How long did it take you to get it?

Once I got to the emergency room and finally got seen by the doctors, things progressed extremely quickly. They made a very quick diagnosis and got a CT scan and got me into surgery within a few hours. I had 2 have 2 further debridement surgeries during the 19 days I spent in the hospital. I am currently at home recovering and still doing outpatient wound care.

For what medical specialties have you been treated? What has been the most useful specialty for your?

My general surgeon at the hospital was amazing. Dr. Lopez knew exactly what it was and I feel fortunate to be alive and know that it is thanks to him that I am not in worse condition. I have a very large wound to heal, but I can't imagine how this could have gone if he hadn't diagnosed this properly. He had only seen 1 previous case of NF, and it wasn't nearly as bad as mine.

What has been the most useful thing for you so far?

The wound vac was very painful, but I feel it has helped expedite the closure of my wound. We are no longer using it due to the location of my wound. It is difficult because of being in my left groin area and extending down my left leg. It doesn't seal well.

What have been your biggest difficulties?

I have always been a very active person. Staying in the hospital for 19 days was excruciating. I am also having trouble adjusting to my lack of energy and stamina. The hyperbaric chamber has zapped me of all of my energy, and all I want to do is sleep. I am still in a lot of pain and that is very difficult.

How has your social and family environment reacted? Have your social or family relationships changed?

My daughter put law school on hold for 3 weeks to come help my husband while I was in the hospital and when I transitioned home. Both of my boys did the same with college. My husband has had immense pressure juggling everything. The lack of home health care nurses has made him become my wound care nurse except for the 1 day per week they do it in the office. Our lives have changed drastically. I don't have much energy for answering calls and texts from my family and friends that are concerned about me. I miss my regular life.

What things have you stopped doing?

I can't do anything around the house. I have a hospital bed set up in my living room since our bedrooms are all upstairs. I cannot jog, play golf or tennis, take the dog on walks, or do anything active. Since starting the hyperbaric treatments, I don't even feel like sitting outside or doing anything but sleeping. It is depressing me.

What do you think about the future?

I know how very fortunate I am to be alive. I know that I will recover, even if I won't fully be the same. I have anxiety over the damage to my labia and the impact that will have both from a visual and a physical standpoint, but we won't know how to proceed until the wound fully closes. The scars will be immense, but I know there are worse things. I just want to be optimistic about returning to the things that I used to do previously.

So far, which years have been the best years in your life? What have you done during them?

The last few years, particularly pre-COVID, were amazing. My kids are young adults. My husband and I were traveling a lot. We were spending time at our second home in Colorado. I look forward to returning to that hopefully sometime in the near future.

What would you like to do if you didn’t have your condition?

I would like to be playing golf and tennis, jogging, and returning to volunteering and visiting my kids.

If you had to describe your life in a sentence, what would it be?

Simply lucky to be alive!

Finally, what advice would you give to a person in a similar situation?

Get to a hospital with a trauma center as soon as you can. Advocate for yourself throughout this entire process. Only you know what is right for you. Listen to your body. Doctors know a lot, but sometimes you have to follow your intuition.


Mar 25, 2022

By: Amy

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