Olamide Ogunseye, 36, experienced a near-fatal battle with sepsis after medical professionals initially attributed her worsening symptoms to job stress. What began as irregular menstrual cycles led to a life-threatening infection that required intensive medical intervention.
Ms. Ogunseye first sought medical attention in March 2023 when she noticed her periods occurring every 14 days, significantly shorter than the typical 28-day cycle. She had experienced two relationship breakups and a job redundancy in the preceding weeks, leading her general practitioner to suggest stress might be affecting her cycle. However, Ms. Ogunseye felt this explanation was insufficient, stating, "I genuinely wasn't stressed. I knew intuitively that something was wrong."
In addition to the irregular periods, her abdomen became significantly bloated, causing her usual size 6 trousers to become tight. After an initial examination, her GP advised she would refer her to the hospital if symptoms persisted.
By June, Ms. Ogunseye found it difficult to stand for extended periods. During a work meeting, she experienced a sharp abdominal pain, which she initially thought was severe menstrual pain. She returned home to rest, but the pain intensified, leading to vomiting. She contacted NHS 111 and, after being informed no ambulance could be dispatched promptly, made her own way to Croydon University Hospital.
Upon arrival at the hospital around 9:30 p.m., doctors discovered Ms. Ogunseye had a ruptured ovarian cyst that had led to sepsis. She was also found to have a bowel obstruction, believed to be linked to a previous fibroid removal operation. This obstruction had caused a portion of her intestine to wrap around a fallopian tube.
Sepsis, a life-threatening condition where the body's response to infection damages its own tissues and organs, is a significant public health concern. According to the Sepsis Trust, it affects approximately 245,000 people in the UK annually and claims around 48,000 lives each year, surpassing deaths from breast, bowel, and prostate cancers combined. Worldwide, a death from sepsis occurs every 3.5 seconds.
Ms. Ogunseye's condition was critical, marked by vomiting bile, dangerously high blood pressure, and a temperature in the forties. Blood tests revealed a high white blood cell count, indicative of a significant infection. She underwent multiple diagnostic procedures, including MRI and CT angiogram scans, as well as ultrasounds.
Surgery was performed on June 9, initially as keyhole surgery. However, a puncture to her bowel during the procedure necessitated a conversion to major open surgery. Surgeons repaired the damage, removed approximately 10-15 cm of damaged small intestine, and performed an abdominal washout due to the spread of pus from the ruptured cyst.
Following the surgery, Ms. Ogunseye spent three weeks in intensive care and then the hospital ward. She described the recovery as physically and emotionally challenging, requiring significant effort to regain mobility. She had to sleep on her back for an extended period and was off work for three months, followed by 18 months of regular surgical follow-up appointments.
Ms. Ogunseye has since made a full recovery and is sharing her story to encourage others to trust their bodies and advocate for their health concerns. "I want women to know to push for answers and not dismiss what their body is telling them," she stated. "Sepsis and bowel obstructions are serious. There should have been a far greater level of concern at that very first GP appointment; instead, I was told I was stressed. I understand the pressures on the NHS, but dismissed symptoms have consequences, and sometimes those consequences are fatal."