It's been a bit of a rough couple of weeks in the land of the Deep Fried which started with the big grown up (step) daughter's sarcoma surgery and then progressed to complications and an emergency dash to the hospital over the weekend.
An infection in the surgery site led to septicemia and septic shock.
Septicemia is an infection of the blood, also known as blood poisoning. It occurs when a bacterial infection in the body enters the blood stream. In her case it entered via an infection of the drainage tube.
This resulted in septic shock which can be very dangerous and potentially life-threatening. She was certainly in a bad way, that's for sure. "Death's door" is a term that comes to mind.
But thanks to the wonders of antibiotics and another urgent surgery to clean out the surgery site, she's managed to pull through and is now at home being nursed by her mum.
So today I thought I'd give a shout out to Sir Alexander Fleming, the Scottish dude who discovered Penicillin which has lead to the development of other life saving antibiotics. It's pretty safe to say that mass doses of intravenous antibiotics saved her life.
I know there's a lot of controversy surrounding antibiotics and their over-use in everyday treatment, as well as their use in food producing animals. But if ol' Alex hadn't stumbled across penicillin in September 1928, then sepsis would still be claiming far too many lives.
When was the last time you had antibiotics?
Ever had a run-in with septicemia?
Has there been a discovery or invention that has saved your life?
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Without further ado, it's time for the Lovin' Life Linky.
The Lovin' Life Linky is brought to you by Team Lovin' Life: Deep Fried Fruit, Seize the Day Project, Write of the Middle, And Anyways, 50 Shades of Age and Lifestyle Fifty #teamlovinlife
So pleased to hear the penicillin did its job Leanne. My great grandmother died of septicemia. Thank goodness for modern medicine! Big hugs to you all xox
ReplyDeleteModern medicine is amazing! I'm glad that penicillin is doing its job effectively in ridding your step daughter of her septicaemia!
ReplyDeleteIngrid
www.fabulousandfunlife.blogspot.com.au
So pleased to hear the antibiotics worked, Leanne!
ReplyDeleteSSG xxx
Yes fatality rates would certainly be a lot higher without the invention of Penicillin. I very rarely take antibiotics as I seem to be blessed with a pretty good immune system. I think the last time was when I had a bit of a chest infection a few years ago. I hope your step daughter continues to improve. :)
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've had antibiotics for about 10 years - the last time was when I slammed my thumb in a fire door in Hong Kong & attempted to bring the swelling down myself - leading to a nasty infection. But a very close friend almost died from a nasty infection in hospital a few years ago - & it brings home just how dangerous these bacteria can be, & what a life changing (& life saving) invention it was. #TeamLovinLife
ReplyDeleteHow scary for your all. I am glad she is doing ok now and thank goodness for modern medicine.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sydneyshopgirl.com/2017/06/lovin-life-862017-black-is-new-black.html
ReplyDeleteLeanne, it's happening again. I can't link. This is my post XX
I am so pleased to read of your step daughter's recovery. What a time it's been. Glad for antibiotics for sure. I have linked up a "non-medical" post today to remind me that there is more in my world than my newly diagnosed cancer AND upcoming surgery - no date yet. Denyse xx
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad your step daughter is on the mend now Leanne! What a scare! Thank goodness for antibiotics for sure! #TeamLovinLife
ReplyDeleteI've been living on antibiotics for about three months now, so I'm hella grateful for their existence. I forgot ONE dose on the weekend and my throat quickly turned to agony within a few hours of forgetting. I'm so glad the Step Daughter is recovering and it was all caught in time.
ReplyDeleteThat is so scary - I'm glad she's ok now. Terrifying!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, what a terrible thing to go through. Hope she's okay now, and you. I've been complaining because I also had a run in with a hospital last week, but I'm feeling way more fortunate now after reading about your daughter. I've been hammering antibiotics for the last two years for various reasons, and try as I might to avoid them, I'm up to about 20 courses in that time, or more. Definitely wouldn't be here without them.
ReplyDeleteI recently commented on FB that I was about to take some antibiotics for an ear infection and a lot of people howled me down about it. (Given I hadn't seen a doctor.)
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw my GP I told her this and we talked about the fact I used to get A LOT of ear infections and always had antibiotics on hand. I'd always know when it was infected as the entire side of my face would start hurting etc... I ended up not taking a course cos everyone worried me so much but in retrospect I should have cos the infection got worse because I didn't get to it early enough!
There are too many people with no expertise these days preferring advice and it was good that your doctor picked it up even though you 'knew'. I think "we" and I include me for sure...can be our own worst enemies re taking things when we get sick. I am glad you did get seen to and you had something to make you well. D
DeleteI know when I have tonsillitis before the doctors can see it. I'm so skilled :)
DeleteI agree, thank goodness for old Alex. And didn't the whole discovery start in a Hong Kong prisoner of war camp with mouldy cheese? Not sure if I've got my facts straight or just dreamt it! What a worrying time you've had. Really hope your step daughter is on the mend and getting stronger and better day by day :)
ReplyDeleteAn infection like that would have been a death sentence pre Alexander - and yes I know people overuse a/biotics, but they are worth much more than their weight in gold when we're fighting something as serious as sepsis - or even just something that our bodies can't cope with on their own. So glad she's on the mend and over the hump.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad she seems to be doing better!! Life would be pretty scary without some of the advantages of modern medicine---and antibiotics are definitely one of those!!
ReplyDeleteJodie
www.jtouchofstyle.com
I'm so grateful for antibiotics. Life saving stuff. I do think GPs need to be tougher and stop giving them out to everyone wh demands them for a bloody cold!
ReplyDeleteMy dad was allergic to penicillin so we always had to be careful around him but anitbiotics are an amazing thing, aren't they? So glad to hear your step-daughter is finally home x
ReplyDeleteSo glad your daughter is okay now. The controversy over use is about just that, not about when they are needed. And as for food supply, here in New Zealand, animals that get antibiotics are pulled from the human food supply. And to answer your question, without modern medicine I would have died from my first pregnancy.
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