Aaron Harding
Aaron's March 150 Miles in March
Fundraising for UK Sepsis Trust
Story
Sepsis is a killer!
I nearly learnt this in early February 2021
For those who don’t know about my start to 2021 it wasn’t great.
In Early January I was rushed into hospital with a suspected blocked Gall Bladder and after several hours and several tests it was in fact Gall stones blocking the exit of my Gall Bladder.
At this time I thought this was one of the worst pains I had ever felt and nothing seemed to ease the pain.
The pain was being caused by the fact that not only was my Gall Bladder blocked it was now becoming infected and needed treating with intravenous antibiotics.
After a couple of days of continuous antibiotics and fluids due to being dehydrated my blood levels were not getting any better, the Doctors decided to insert a small tube into my Gall Bladder to drain it, this gave instant relief. They then left the pipe inserted into my Gall Bladder and attached a drain bag to the pipe.
After another couple of days I was starting to feel better and the Doctor had told me I had been put on the urgent list to have my Gall Bladder removed and I would have to keep the drain in until the operation.
After another day or so I was discharged and told that I would have to wait for an operation slot to have my Gall Bladder removed and as I was feeling reasonably ok I accepted this.
Fast forward four weeks and the pains had returned and the drain bag was no longer filling up, I spoke to my GP who in turn spoke to SAU who insisted I went straight in to be checked over.
Once the Doctor had seen me he sent me for a CT scan which confirmed the pipe had come out of my Gall Bladder and was just sat outside the small incision into my Gall Bladder.
His decision was to remove the pipe and drain as it was no longer working and to monitor me for twenty four hours.
Less than two hours later I was in more pain than I could ever have imagined, I was being given the maximum amount of morphine and other pain killers that the doctors were legally allowed to give me but nothing could stop the pain!
Basically my Gall Bladder was pumping bile (digestive acid) all over my other organs, this started at 5pm and carried on until 9.00am when the specialist did their rounds.
When the specialist came at 9.00am and I explained what was happening and the amount of pain it was causing, they decided to carry out an emergency operation to see what damage was being caused and to see if they could remove the gall bladder at the same time.
After Four hours in the operating theatre and eleven yes eleven litres of cleaning fluid to clean contaminated organs I was left in the recovery room to come round from the anaesthetic when I came round there was a massive relief, no pain, I must have had a smile from ear rot ear it was such a relief.
Whilst I was coming around I saw the surgeon who had carried out the surgery and he said I was very lucky, then I passed out again, when I came to he had gone home.
The following day the surgeon came to see me after his shift and I asked him what he meant by “I was lucky!” He answered that that if they hadn’t done the operation when they did that I would have got sepsis and probably died within around five hours!!
After several more days in hospital and numerous more tests and checks I am happy to say I am on my way to a full recovery thanks to these guys.
I was lucky, I didn’t even really know what sepsis was but it nearly killed me.
So here’s to living life and enjoying everyday because one day it might be your last, I’m in my 40’s not my 80’s and there are lots of things I still want to do and see with my family and friends.
I have lost 3.5 stone in weight, and my energy levels are completely depleted.
I am going to walk 150 miles in March to help my recovery and raise money for this charity.
Fundraising is at the heart of our fight against sepsis.
It raises awareness, and sparks the question: “What is sepsis? In this way, fundraising can help prevent thousands of deaths & unnecessary suffering through knowledge & awareness of the symptoms.
It also funds our vital support work, Public Awareness, Educating Health Professionals & helping people adjust to life after sepsis through accessing our Support Group network. We also lobby government to support our cause and makes vital changes in areas such as the NHS.
I nearly learnt this in early February 2021
For those who don’t know about my start to 2021 it wasn’t great.
In Early January I was rushed into hospital with a suspected blocked Gall Bladder and after several hours and several tests it was in fact Gall stones blocking the exit of my Gall Bladder.
At this time I thought this was one of the worst pains I had ever felt and nothing seemed to ease the pain.
The pain was being caused by the fact that not only was my Gall Bladder blocked it was now becoming infected and needed treating with intravenous antibiotics.
After a couple of days of continuous antibiotics and fluids due to being dehydrated my blood levels were not getting any better, the Doctors decided to insert a small tube into my Gall Bladder to drain it, this gave instant relief. They then left the pipe inserted into my Gall Bladder and attached a drain bag to the pipe.
After another couple of days I was starting to feel better and the Doctor had told me I had been put on the urgent list to have my Gall Bladder removed and I would have to keep the drain in until the operation.
After another day or so I was discharged and told that I would have to wait for an operation slot to have my Gall Bladder removed and as I was feeling reasonably ok I accepted this.
Fast forward four weeks and the pains had returned and the drain bag was no longer filling up, I spoke to my GP who in turn spoke to SAU who insisted I went straight in to be checked over.
Once the Doctor had seen me he sent me for a CT scan which confirmed the pipe had come out of my Gall Bladder and was just sat outside the small incision into my Gall Bladder.
His decision was to remove the pipe and drain as it was no longer working and to monitor me for twenty four hours.
Less than two hours later I was in more pain than I could ever have imagined, I was being given the maximum amount of morphine and other pain killers that the doctors were legally allowed to give me but nothing could stop the pain!
Basically my Gall Bladder was pumping bile (digestive acid) all over my other organs, this started at 5pm and carried on until 9.00am when the specialist did their rounds.
When the specialist came at 9.00am and I explained what was happening and the amount of pain it was causing, they decided to carry out an emergency operation to see what damage was being caused and to see if they could remove the gall bladder at the same time.
After Four hours in the operating theatre and eleven yes eleven litres of cleaning fluid to clean contaminated organs I was left in the recovery room to come round from the anaesthetic when I came round there was a massive relief, no pain, I must have had a smile from ear rot ear it was such a relief.
Whilst I was coming around I saw the surgeon who had carried out the surgery and he said I was very lucky, then I passed out again, when I came to he had gone home.
The following day the surgeon came to see me after his shift and I asked him what he meant by “I was lucky!” He answered that that if they hadn’t done the operation when they did that I would have got sepsis and probably died within around five hours!!
After several more days in hospital and numerous more tests and checks I am happy to say I am on my way to a full recovery thanks to these guys.
I was lucky, I didn’t even really know what sepsis was but it nearly killed me.
So here’s to living life and enjoying everyday because one day it might be your last, I’m in my 40’s not my 80’s and there are lots of things I still want to do and see with my family and friends.
I have lost 3.5 stone in weight, and my energy levels are completely depleted.
I am going to walk 150 miles in March to help my recovery and raise money for this charity.
Fundraising is at the heart of our fight against sepsis.
It raises awareness, and sparks the question: “What is sepsis? In this way, fundraising can help prevent thousands of deaths & unnecessary suffering through knowledge & awareness of the symptoms.
It also funds our vital support work, Public Awareness, Educating Health Professionals & helping people adjust to life after sepsis through accessing our Support Group network. We also lobby government to support our cause and makes vital changes in areas such as the NHS.