A WOMAN who almost died after bacteria ate away at her nose credits baking soda with saving her life.
Beatrice Johnson, 60, came close to death after falling ill with nausea and stomach pain on December 20.
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Doctors at Tunbridge Wells Hospital in Kent diagnosed her with septic shock and advised her loved ones to say goodbye.
But during a last-ditch attempt to keep her alive, she claims doctors introduced sodium bicarbonate into her IV drip as an alternative to dialysis.
The unusual treatment was a success and within days Beatrice, a part-time secretary, was “feeling much better”.
After 36 days in hospital, she is now home and recovering well with her sister.
Beatrice, from Tunbridge Wells, said: “I never thought something so simple could save my life.
“I really thought I was going to die, but the baking soda made me stand up like a cake.
”I have no idea how I got sepsis, it could have been a torn ligament in my thumb.
“My family said goodbye for the last time. No one thought I would be here today, but I’m grateful they never gave up on my life.”
Beatrice’s ordeal began on December 20, 2023, when she began “feeling generally weak.”
Over the course of the day, her condition worsened and she even had difficulty climbing the stairs at home.
Realizing something was wrong, she called 999 and within 10 minutes was being rushed to hospital.
Mother-of-three Beatrice said: “As soon as I couldn’t get up the stairs I knew something was wrong.
“I called 999 and when the paramedics arrived they couldn’t find my blood pressure.
“They were surprised I was still conscious.”
‘MY CHILDREN WERE TOLD TO SAY GOODBYE’
In the emergency room, concerned doctors ran tests and diagnosed sepsis – a potentially fatal response to an infection.
She later went into septic shock – when her blood pressure dropped to a dangerously low level.
Tests revealed that her kidneys had begun to fail and that she would need to undergo dialysis.
I hate that my children have gone through something so traumatic. I’m shocked that I’m still here
Beatriz Johnson
Beatrice said: “I lost consciousness at one point, I had no idea what was happening.
”I was completely out of it.”
Beatrice was placed on life support and doctors called her three children to say goodbye.
It continued to decline until doctors suggested using sodium bicarbonate, better known as sodium bicarbonate, which can be an alternative to dialysis in severe cases.
Within days, Beatrice made a miraculous recovery and came out of her coma a week later.
She was taken off life support and “quickly felt like a new woman.”
Beatrice said: “One day I was like someone else.
”I remember looking around and seeing a lot of tubes coming out of my body.
“I could only communicate by blinking, but I felt like I was recovering.”
‘SO TRAUMATIC’
After he regained consciousness, doctors delivered the news that his nose had been eaten away by a carnivorous insect called necrotizing fasciitis.
It is a rare bacterial infection that spreads quickly and can be deadly.
Doctors used antibiotics to stop the spread, and although she is cured, her nose is still “numb at the end.”
On February 2, 2024, Beatrice was released from hospital – 43 days after being told she would die.
“I hate that my kids had to go through something so traumatic,” she said. “I’m shocked I’m still here.
”My nose is healing, but I’m slowly recovering.
“The recovery time was incredible and I have to thank the doctors for that.
“I never thought baking soda would save my life.”
A representative from Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Hospital said: “Sodium bicarbonate treatment is routinely used in our intensive care units.”
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What is necrotizing fasciitis?
Necrotizing fasciitis is a flesh-eating disease that occurs if a wound becomes infected.
It is rare and needs to be treated immediately in the hospital.
The first signs of the disease are:
- Severe pain or loss of sensation near a cut or sore – the pain may feel much worse than you would normally expect from a cut or sore
- Swelling of the skin around the affected area
- Flu-like symptoms such as high temperature, headache and tiredness
Later symptoms may include:
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Confusion
- Black, purple or gray spots and blisters on the skin (may be less obvious on black or brown skin)
You should go to A&E or call 999 if you have a cut that is more painful than expected, if you have a wound and symptoms such as a temperature or headache, if you suddenly feel confused, or if you have black or purple spots. or ash near a cut or wound.
Necrotizing fasciitis worsens quickly and can be fatal.
Treatments usually include antibiotics and surgery to remove the infected area.
Source: National Health Service
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
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