I went in for what I thought would be a routine uterine procedure in June 2025. When I woke up from anesthesia, I discovered the procedure had not been completed, and I was told there was a strong chance my uterus had been perforated. Not long after, I developed peritonitis, ascites, and sepsis.

The first sign that something was wrong was my heart. It was racing, and I knew that was not normal for me because I take beta blockers. I felt weak and dizzy, and my blood pressure dropped. I remember thinking, this isn’t right.

There was a moment where it became crystal clear that I needed help. I started to feel like I could not hold myself up or even stand. My body was telling me something was very, very wrong. I told my husband I needed to go to the ER.

That decision likely saved my life.

I ended up in the hospital for ten days and went home on antibiotics. Those ten days were some of the most frightening of my life. There were so many “touch and go” moments. I needed blood transfusions, IV antibiotics, other IV medications, and what felt like endless tests and scans. My abdomen filled with fluid, and I had to undergo a paracentesis three different times to drain it.

In the hospital, I could barely move. I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t drink. The nausea was relentless. I lost weight and muscle mass in what felt like an instant. Ten days sounds short when you say it out loud, but when your life is hanging in the balance, it feels like forever.

What surprised me most was how hard recovery was after I left the hospital. I had heard the word sepsis before, but I did not understand how serious it was, and I completely underestimated what it would take to recover. When I got home, I could hardly take care of myself. I could barely walk around the block. It took months to feel even semi-normal again.

Looking back, I am so grateful I listened to my body and did not try to tough it out. If there is one thing I wish had been done differently, it is that I had been kept for observation, or allowed to stay overnight after my procedure, just to make sure I was truly okay before going home. Every second matters with sepsis.

I know I was one of the lucky ones. I also know my experience changed me. I will always be more cautious about infections from this point forward, and I will continue to educate myself, my friends, and my family about how serious sepsis is.

If I can leave you with anything, it is this: trust your gut. If you feel like something is wrong, do not wait. Seek medical care right away.