I honestly do not know where to start. I’ve struggled with debilitating chronic health conditions for 16 years. I always struggled with my gut, but when I was 19 (after a major surgery that we think caused a cytokine storm), I lost gut function.
I also have a genetic condition that causes other issues and illnesses, including nerve damage and autoimmune diseases. I’m a complex case. The doctor and nurses are always wide-eyed and overwhelmed when I’m admitted to the hospital.
This month, I went to the hospital for 3 days due to “an unknown infection,” which ended up being sepsis from two different bacteria in my bloodstream.
I was hospitalized for sepsis for 10 days. Then my new central line started bleeding. I was sent to the ER, and they found blood clots from my left elbow to my left shoulder. I was hospitalized for 2 days and put on injections for blood thinners. The oral blood thinners weren’t absorbing.
Yesterday, I wasn’t home for 23 hours before we had to go back to the hospital because my newest central line was bleeding, and I was covered in blood. Luckily, that was a quick in and out after they stopped the bleeding with clotting powder.
There are no words to capture the exhaustion of this past month.
The need for a private, reserved room for potential hospitalizations is a stark reminder of the gaps in our healthcare system. The constant trips to the emergency room for every crisis are not just annoying, they’re a call for better, more efficient care.
This is ridiculous. I’m beyond annoyed. Parts of me wonder if this is the beginning of the end. Some parts want to give up. But other parts do not want to leave my service dog and family. I’ve been fighting for my life, and I’m exhausted. But no matter how bad this gets, I will fight for life because I want more time with my amazing young service dog, my loving family, and my incredibly responsive team of providers keeping me alive.
Featured image via RDNE Stock project on Pexels
Living with central lines and facing sepsis changed how I see strength and survival. Each infection tested my limits, but the will to physical therapy for seniors Long Beach live always pushed me forward. Navigating chronic illness taught me resilience, the importance of advocacy, and how powerful hope becomes when your health constantly hangs in balance.