I honestly don’t know if this is an embarrassing update or not. I still have “mild” cellulitis (it really hurts, whoever said that; I guess it’s the swelling that hurts more than the actual spot that ulcerated - it feels like my skin is stretched?) BUT no sepsis - apparently, most of my problem was lack of steroids. I have Addison’s but not much experience managing it (it’s fairly recently acquired and usually is a “background” disease because my life-limiting condition is considered more serious); I did ask the GP (on Thursday? Friday? I can’t remember) if I should be doubling steroids while on the antibiotics and they said no.
Today, a new registrar/doctor came on, saw I have medication-acquired Addison’s, and ordered them to give me double steroids immediately. Within about 2 hours, the “I’m going to die” feeling went away completely, but I still feel so weak and shaky. But this is more like just being really sick; like worst than the worst flu I’ve ever had, but also a bit different. Since my infection markers have gone down, I can hopefully go home very soon. I just need to take 3x the steroids while I’m on antibiotics.
Which is GREAT news, because DH’s therapy assessment has been moved to tomorrow. He and I spoke to our GP this morning, and they’ve given him a few more days of calming medication, so he can get me home from the hospital and go to his therapy assessment tomorrow. My friend is here and she’s helping us out and I’m so, so, so grateful. I’ll never be able to repay her. Also, I’m sorry for over sharing and being dramatic - I really feel a bit embarrassed but I’ve never felt like that before, ever, even when I’ve been previously hospitalised. And I’m not exactly new to being sick. I know it can feel awful, but I’d just never felt like this. And I’ve had a horrible flu; it’s not like that.
I just wanted to say, for anyone reading this, if you ever have this sensation, you’ll know it: you feel like you’ll never be warm again, your jaw locks up, your chest hurts, your heart races, and you think something VERY wrong is happening. You haven’t been thinking you were that sick, but suddenly you’re convinced that you’re going to die. This is a very real symptom and the doctor said it’s more common in women (I’m too sick to look this up; he definitely believed it). If this ever happens to you like it did to me, do NOT wait like I did. Call 999, please. You’re absolutely worth it and you’re not “stealing” anyone else’s place in the hospital. We all deserve to live.
And please, just ignore any typos. I still feel so fucking sick.