- Necrotizing fasciitis
- Interviews
Melissa's interview
How did all start?
Honestly, I thought I had either a blood clot or cellulitis in my upper, right thigh. My symptoms were pain to the touch, hot to the touch, redness and swelling. And since I have a history of DVT’s and cellulitis I went to see my GP. She agreed with me…thought it was cellulitis and gave me an antibiotic injection along with a week’s prescription. Told me that if anything got worse to go to the emergency dept.
Do you already have a diagnosis? How long did it take you to get it?
I saw my doctor on Jan. 10, 2023. Took the antibiotics she prescribed and my symptoms didn’t worsen. They didn’t necessarily get better but since I wasn’t running a fever I figured I’d give the antibiotics time to work and kind of put it out of my mind. I’m used to being sick so I didn’t think anything of the symptoms that I usually deal with. Such as fatigue, shortness of breath, lowered blood pressure, etc… I suffer from severe, chronic dehydration and malabsorption due to other medical problems, so it took me by surprise when all of a sudden I could barely hold my head up and I couldn’t walk without a lot of help. I also stopped urinating and my bowels just kind of stopped. All within 36hrs. My son showed up at my house when he hadn’t heard from me and thank goodness, he called 911.
I was finally told that it was necrotizing fasciitis after having been in the ER for quite a time, all while going in and out of consciousness. Then I was flown to a bigger facility that had an intensive care trauma center. So, I can’t remember how long it took the first doctor to give me a diagnosis.
For what medical specialties have you been treated? What has been the most useful specialty for your?
I was in and out of conscious for three days all while infectious diseases, plastic surgeons and wound care specialists tended to my thigh, the sepsis and my low blood pressure. I also saw a respiratory specialists as I had to be put on a ventilator for several days and a cardiologist because I was also showing signs of arrhythmia.
What has been the most useful thing for you so far?
I’d have to say the combination of the excellent surgeons and infectious diseases doctors. They didn’t have to amputate, but I did have to go back to the OR three times in order to cut out all of the gangrenous flesh/muscle.
What have been your biggest difficulties?
The atrophy of my muscles. I was bed bound for 10 days and had been unable to get around for about three days before I was even admitted to the hospital. I couldn’t use my arms much, couldn’t use my legs at all and couldn’t lift my head off of a pillow. It was also difficult for me to start breathing again on my own. Having the ventilator removed actually scared the crap out of me.
How has your social and family environment reacted? Have your social or family relationships changed?
Not well. They have gotten used to me being ill and hospitalized a lot over the years. So, most of them didn’t understand exactly how serious this was and how close I was to death. My son was the only person that really understood what was going on.
I’ve got a lot of trauma issues from this entire situation and no one quite gets it…so not much of an emotional support system. On top of that, my husband died about 9mos before all of this happened so my son became a bit over protective of me after this ordeal.
What things have you stopped doing?
I still cannot climb stairs very well. I can’t sit and get up from any low chair or toilet. I can’t drive yet as the nerves in my right leg are still twitchy and unpredictable at times. I get tired out quickly and have cannot walk around a grocery store…I have to use an electric buggy. I also cannot be immersed in water yet. So, no swimming, bathing or going to my hydro-PT.
What do you think about the future?
I don’t know what to think. But I do know that I’ll immediately go to my local ER if I show any symptoms of excessive pain, redness and swelling…even if I don’t developed a fever.
So far, which years have been the best years in your life? What have you done during them?
2000-2005 I lived in an area with excellent medical facilities and the humidity wasn’t too bad. Humidity had a drastic effect on my autoimmune diseases. I also got a good amount of exercise daily when I lived there, because it was a small town on the edge of a main city so I could walk almost anywhere or take public transportation. After I moved away from there my health went south!
What would you like to do if you didn’t have your condition?
Travel more.
If you had to describe your life in a sentence, what would it be?
I like myself, I wouldn’t be the person I am if I hadn’t survived the trials that I’ve been through.
Finally, what advice would you give to a person in a similar situation?
Always try to see the positive in any situation, no matter how small. Even if it’s the last thing you want to do, smile. Just making yourself smile will lighten the mood and make you feel a little bit better about things. And plz, find someone that you can talk to who isn’t biased.
