However, after few days I was advised to visit primary healthcare (PHC) emergency services. The PHC-doctor did a regular physical examination, including listening to my lungs with a stethoscope. The PHC-doctor suspected pneumonia, without any further tests, and prescribed antibiotic. I went home and took my course of antibiotics, shortly after I am at work. Somehow, I thought I was getting cured, as of course I took my course of antibiotics.
Getting weaker
However, after a week I was just getting worst and my mom decided to pay me a visit. When she came to my city, she was horrified to see me. I was very weak, had high fever and could hardly breathe normally. She called immediately 1177, and described my symptoms. The nurse over phone gave my mom advice to revisit my PHC doctor. By that time I was so weak, that I don’t want to find myself in the long hospital queues. However, the day after I was convinced to revisit the PHC.
Directed to the emergency
At the PHC, I was immediately directed to the emergency (ER) department at Sahlgrenska University Hospital as I was not responding to the current medication. The first impression of ER-doctor was; “you look very healthy”, because I just had a great laugh with my colleague. I was suddenly from an employer at Sahlgrenska to a patient. But ER-doctor’s happiness did not last long, the vital parameters and the infection results were not very satisfying.
Rapid IV infusion of cefotaxime
I was immediately admitted and the treatment started, I had a rapid IV infusion of cefotaxime including other medication and received oxygen therapy through a nasal tube. Cultures were taken to identify the pathogen and CT-scan was performed. I was continuously followed up with lab tests and had sessions with physiotherapist.
Not responding to treatment
During the initial phase of my treatment I was not responding as there was no drop nor in the infection parameters or temp and I still had a low blood pressure. Culturing the pathogen would also take a few days. However, slowly I started responding to cefotaxime. Of course, very relieving, but unfortunately I got an allergic reaction so I had to switch to another antibiotic.
Finally got to leave the ER
I was discharged few days later from the ER-department and recommended to finish the entire antibiotic course. I never got my culture results and was never told that I had sepsis due to my pneumonia. All I knew, was that my CT-scan showed a lobar pneumonia.