Sepsis is a medical emergency that can kill within hours. For some women harmed by surgical mesh, it is a terrifying reality. These are not isolated stories of routine infections. They are accounts of lives hanging in the balance: women rushed to intensive care, placed in induced comas, suffering kidney failure, heart attacks and repeated episodes of sepsis that doctors feared they might not survive. Years later, many still live with the physical and psychological scars, carrying the constant fear that the next infection could once again become a fight for their lives.

Half of our support group suffer ongoing urinary tract infections UTIs and many fear antibiotic resistance. Tragically members of mesh groups globally have died because of sepsis.

Six Women’s Stories

“I had sepsis twice and both times I was nearly not here anymore. The second time they had to give me penicillin which I am very allergic too as I wasn’t responding just on the vancomycin, I swelled up like a balloon and had a rash over my whole body but thankfully I am still here.”

“I developed sepsis after having stoma surgery because of mesh complications. Ended up in hospital and ICU for 6 weeks, heart attack, kidney failure, pneumonia, delirium and then induced coma. A chance I wasn’t going to make it. The staff were exceptional and my hubby and children were by my bed all the time. It was the most scariest time of my life.”

“I battled sepsis due to mesh and also hospital acquired Covid. All this after stage one mesh surgery which included 2 weeks in ITU. Worst 3 months of my life. Six years on and my life is still badly affected by this.”

“Sepsis scares me everyday personally and every time I open my phone scared that I will see another wonderful lady or gentleman with mesh be suffering because of it.”

“I had to go by ambulance to hospital and be put on a drip. When they sent me home I asked what to do if it happens again and they had no answer – just said to write to the mesh team. I take 50mg of antibiotics every day plus tamsulosin. It scares me I’ll get sick like that again. The hospitals don’t talk to each other and I think its important that we have it on all our medicals notes to take it seriously.”

“I developed sepsis after a UTI infected my left kidney. This is an infection that gets considerably worse very quickly. Never ignore a UTI.”

Know the signs

Sepsis is a medical emergency, but it can often be treated if caught early. Knowing the signs and acting fast saves lives. Visit the UK Sepsis Trust website or use their Sepsis Assessment tool.