NEED TO KNOW
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A woman initially attributed her health issues to a stomach bug while doctors suspected an autoimmune disease; it was, in fact, sepsis and toxic shock syndrome (TSS).
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“I was so weak I could barely hold my 18-month-old son,” Audrey Leishman recalled.
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She has set up a foundation aimed at raising awareness about these health issues.
A woman from Virginia Beach believed she was dealing with a stomach bug, while medical professionals thought it was an autoimmune condition. Ultimately, the diagnosis was far more serious.
Audrey Leishman began to show symptoms she thought were related to an upset stomach a few days after having her Intrauterine Device (IUD) removed in March 2015, as reported by Sepsis Alliance.
“I had the IUD taken out in hopes of trying for another baby soon after,” Leishman, now 42, shared. “Two days later, I started my first period in 18 months and used a tampon for the first time since then. That Friday evening, I slept with one just like before.”
The following day, a mom of three, she started feeling quite ill with stomach cramps and “severe pain in my right elbow and left big toe,” alongside a high fever, nosebleeds, diarrhea, and shortness of breath.
“I could hardly hold my 18-month-old son due to weakness. My temperature reached 102°F,” Leishman said.
She went to urgent care, where doctors initially theorized she might have some kind of autoimmune disease.
“I honestly thought I was losing my mind… I hadn’t hurt myself. I was very confused about what was happening,” Leishman mentioned. “It took them quite a while to pinpoint what was wrong.”
“They kept running tests on me,” she added. “Eventually, I was admitted, spending 10 days in the ICU, including five days in a medically induced coma.”
Leishman was ultimately diagnosed with sepsis and toxic shock syndrome, according to the Sepsis Alliance.
Sepsis represents a life-threatening immune response to infection that can damage tissues and organs, leading to organ failure or death without prompt treatment, as noted by the Cleveland Clinic.
TSS is a rare complication resulting from specific bacterial infections, per the Mayo Clinic.
“I never even heard of sepsis, and that’s why I almost lost my life,” Leishman stated. “If I had recognized the symptoms earlier, I would have sought help much sooner.”
“When I finally woke up from the coma, it was quite a journey to relearn how to walk, manage at-home physical therapy, and deal with the central catheter,” she explained.
Realizing how little awareness exists regarding sepsis, Leishman founded the Begin Again Foundation with her husband, Marc Leishman, to promote understanding of these critical health issues.
“In tough times, if I can help lighten that burden… allowing people to focus more on their recovery, that’s what I’m passionate about,” she expressed, stating, “It’s my honor to continue this work, and that’s the foundation’s main objective.”
