My NF Story

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My battle with NF (necrotizing fasciitis) began on August 9, 2022. That night, I discovered a small pea-sized bump on my upper right inner thigh near the crease. I thought it might be a boil, which was no big deal. I'd had them before, and knew that at some point, it would rupture and heal up on its own. Or so I thought.
While at work on the 10th, I started feeling ill, like I was coming down with a cold. I'm a hot-natured person, and this day I had the chills all day long, in the midst of the scorching hot Texas summer. I knew I was running a fever, but we had no working thermometer in the office. When I used the restroom, I noticed the bump had swollen, spreading across the top of my thigh. The skin was red and hot to the touch. When I finally made it home, I was feeling worse, the bump still large and angry-red, and I was running a fever of 102. I knew something was wrong, so I asked my roommate to take me to the ER at Arlington Memorial. An hour later, the doctor examined me and said I had cellulitis, then sent me home with two prescriptions for antibiotics and hydrocodone. The doctor chose not to lance it, stating he didn't believe it would drain. He instructed me to return to the ER in three days if my condition didn't improve. My fever continued to spike, running between 101 and 104. The pain was worse, and it was difficult to walk. By Sunday morning, I couldn't take it anymore, so I called 911 for an ambulance, as I was in no condition to drive. The EMT's examined the spot on my leg, and off we went to the hospital. The EMT tested my blood sugar (I have type II diabetes) and it was through the roof at 387! The EMT informed me I had sepsis. Shit just got real. He assured me I would be put in a bed and room immediately, so I wouldn’t have to wait too long. He also gave me a shot of morphine, which helped tremendously with the pain. Once I was settled in, I was taken to get a CT scan on my abdomen/groin area, which that doctor informed me I "had a lot going on there." I saw another doctor who informed me I would need surgery right then. I was immediately taken to the OR for the procedure (debridement, the removal of necrotic tissue), then taken back to my room in the ICU, where I would remain for 5 days. About 48 hours after the first surgery, the doctor advised I would need a second surgery/debridement, as there was an ulcer forming near the sight of the incision. A few days later, I was finally moved to a private room on the oncology floor (it was the only room available). The next day, the "wound vac team" blessed me with their presence and set me up with the magical wound vac, and they would come by 3 days a week to change out the dressing. Thankfully, about an hour before each of these procedures, the nurse would give me a shot of morphine. The changing of the dressing/wound vac was extremely painful, even with the meds. Something amazing happened: each day I was becoming stronger. I celebrated the "little victories" (pulling myself up to get out of bed, using the chair toilet, sitting up in the big chair for a few hours, walking down the hallway with a walker and the devices attached to me). I was still a long way from being well enough to go home. The physical therapy team was most helpful and I will always be grateful for everything they (and the nurses) did for me. They are awesome.
By the end of August, I was transferred to the nearby Kindred hospital, which specializes in wound care. I really thrived there, still getting wound vac treatments 3 times a week, only this time they hooked me up with a wound vac in a tote/pouch that I could carry with me when I went for my daily walks up and down the hallway (without a walker!). Several days later, they unhooked me from the wound vac. I was gaining back more freedom (to wash my hair, shower, walk with no assistance). Finally, on September 12, 2022, I was discharged and free to go back to my home!
I visited the R3 Wound Care Center once a week for evaluation and changing the dressing. I was able to dress the wounds myself every day. I informed the staff that I wouldn't be needing home health care, as long as they provided me with the supplies I needed. The nurse at the wound care center wanted to set me up to receive 20 hyperbaric treatments (called "dives"). With my insurance, the cost was a $500 co-pay for each dive. I just couldn’t afford it. I even applied for financial hardship, which I was turned down.
Though the 31" incision has mostly healed, there's still about a 6" section of the wound that is still open, but it has stopped draining, and it gets smaller and smaller each week. There’s still the possibility I may be required to have a skin graft somewhere down the road. After spending one month in 2 hospitals, and one month at home recuperating, I am back at work (yay!).
I am very thankful to God, and grateful to all the medical staff who treated me during this most difficult time in my life. Mostly, I am so overjoyed to be ALIVE! Thank you to all my sweet family and friends for all your prayers and help during my fight with necrotizing fasciitis.
To all those who have fought or are still fighting this awful disease, I'm right there with you and continue to pray for your full recovery.