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‘Super fit’ woman, 24, left fighting for life after ‘harmless’ UTI spread uncontrollably through her body

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'Super fit' woman, 24, left fighting for life after 'harmless' UTI spread uncontrollably through her body

A WOMAN was left fighting for life in hospital after what doctors thought was a harmless urinary tract infection.

Erin Montgomery first noticed something wasn’t quite right while watching TV in September 2023.

Erin Montgomery could have died after she developed sepsis

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Erin Montgomery could have died after she developed sepsisCredit: Sepsis Research.
The 24-year-old was initially told her symptoms were due to a UTI

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The 24-year-old was initially told her symptoms were due to a UTICredit: Sepsis Research.

She was on the sofa at her boyfriend Ewan’s house when she felt her temperature rise and her heartbeat quicken.

“I was just on the couch when I started getting hot and had a pounding heart,” the 24-year-old said.

“At this point I already knew something wasn’t quite right as I was calm and sitting quietly and hadn’t done any exercise or anything.”

Later, when Erin went to the toilet, things took a serious turn.

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“I passed urine and it made me feel like I was going to die,” she said.

“My heart rate kept increasing more and more each time I went.”

Erin, from Irvine, North Ayrshire, called 111 and was reportedly told her symptoms were likely caused by a UTI, which are harmless in most people.

But after Googling her condition and discovering she could be at risk of sepsis, she continued to explain how “abnormal” she felt and was told to go to A&E two hours later.

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Ewan drove Erin to Crosshouse Hospital, where she received an initial assessment.

“Once I was there, my resting heart rate soared to 149bpm,” she said.

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“Due to there being no beds at first, I lay on a bed in the hall until I was moved through to a couch in the family room.

“I was there for over an hour after arriving before it was concluded that what I was experiencing was sepsis as the result of a urine infection that had spread to my kidneys and throughout my body in my bloodstream.”

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Sepsis happens when the body attacks itself in reaction to an infection.

This includes pneumonia and Covid, but as many as 25 per cent of sepsis cases arise from a UTI, according to Sepsis Research FEAT.

The most common symptoms are loss of consciousness, breathlessness, a fever, slurred speech, pale, clammy or mottled skin, a fast heartbeat and a weak or high-pitched cry.

It can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death.

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Globally, one third of people who develop sepsis die, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

It claims more lives in the UK every year than breast, bowel and prostate cancer combined.

And many who do survive are left with life-changing effects, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic pain and fatigue, organ dysfunction, and amputations.

Like strokes or heart attacks, sepsis is a medical emergency that requires rapid diagnosis and treatment.

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“When the doctor informed me of the sepsis diagnosis I can remember feeling shocked, panicked, scared, lost, and depressed,” Erin, who previously loved long walks, gym sessions and going on holiday, said.

“My family, including my mum, dad and Ewan, were really supportive throughout but I know that they also felt very worried, helpless and sad.”

Erin immediately began treatment, which involved drips, oxygen and antibiotics.

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“I can remember hoping at the time that it would be over fast,” Erin said.

“I was trying to stay positive although feeling very hopeless and depressed, angry at the world and very upset.”

Don’t wait until it’s too late as you are risking your life

Erin Montgomery

Four months later, Erin’s body was still recovering from her life-threatening condition.

“I still felt weak and my woods were very variable since having sepsis,” she added.

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“I think that I am still shocked that it happened to me at all as it all happened very fast.

“I am trying to get myself better and back to some sort of normality.”

‘TRUST YOUR GUT’

During Sepsis Awareness Month, she wants to urge others to be on the lookout for the tell-tale symptoms – and to trust their gut if they think something is seriously wrong.

“I was lucky though that the Sepsis Research FEAT website and social media posts helped me identify the first symptoms of septic shock and to get to the hospital before it was too late,” Erin said.

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“My message to others is that you should always trust your own body.

“If something feels out of the ordinary for you or just doesn’t feel right, seek medical help and attention as soon as possible.

“Don’t wait until it’s too late as you are risking your life.”

Sepsis – the facts

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  • There are 47 to 50million cases of sepsis every year worldwide
  • At least 11million people die from sepsis annually
  • One in five deaths globally is associated with sepsis
  • As many as 40 per cent of cases are in children under the age of five
  • Sepsis is the number one cause of death in hospitals
  • It is also the most common reason for hospital admission
  • Up to 50 per cent of all sepsis survivors suffer from long-term physical or psychological effects

Source: Stop Sepsis Save Lives

Dr Andrew Conway Morris, from Sepsis Research FEAT, said: “Sepsis takes more lives in the UK every year than breast, bowel and prostate cancer combined – that’s circa 250,000 cases per year, or roughly one every twelve minutes.

“It can be incredibly difficult to diagnose due to its symptoms overlapping with those of other common illnesses.

“That’s why it’s so crucial for individuals to be aware of the signs and symptoms of sepsis and to seek medical attention immediately if they feel unwell, even if they have already sought care and were sent home.

“If you or a loved one feels something isn’t right, trust your instincts and seek medical help immediately.

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“You have the right to be heard and to demand the care you need.

“Like many sepsis patients, Erin’s story reiterates the importance of trusting your instincts when you or someone else experiences illness that feels far worse than the norm and infection is present and seeking urgent medical help to ensure the best possible outcomes.”

Erin in hospital during her terrifying ordeal

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Erin in hospital during her terrifying ordealCredit: Sepsis Research.
'You should always trust your own body,' Erin said

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‘You should always trust your own body,’ Erin saidCredit: Sepsis Research.

What are the symptoms of sepsis?

SEPSIS is a life-threatening reaction to an infection that happens when your immune system overreacts and starts to damage your body’s own tissues and organs.

Symptoms of sepsis in an adult include:

  • Acting confused, slurred speech or not making sense
  • Blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
  • A rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
  • Difficulty breathing, breathlessness or breathing very fast

Symptoms in a child include:

  • Blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
  • A rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
  • Difficulty breathing (you may notice grunting noises or their stomach sucking under their ribcage), breathlessness or breathing very fast
  • A weak, high-pitched cry that’s not like their normal cry
  • Not responding like they normally do, or not interested in feeding or normal activities
  • Being sleepier than normal or having difficulty waking

They may not have all these symptoms.

If you think you or someone else has symptoms of sepsis, call 999 or go to A&E.

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Source: NHS

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One million people will buy weight-loss jabs next year, experts claimCredit: Getty

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