Vicki Gunvalson, best known as a former star of The Real Housewives of Orange County, recently opened up about a terrifying health scare that nearly claimed her life. Gunvalson revealed that what was initially misdiagnosed as a sinus infection turned out to be pneumonia that led to severe sepsis, a life-threatening condition.
Gunvalson’s Frightening Experience
The 62-year-old reality TV star and businesswoman discussed her ordeal on her podcast, My Friend, My Soulmate, My Podcast. Gunvalson recounted experiencing amnesia and stroke-like symptoms before being correctly diagnosed. She shared the chilling details of a conversation with a medical professional who confirmed the severity of her condition: “I said, ‘Did I hear this right that I had a 10 to 20 percent (chance of) survival?’” The response was sobering: “‘Yes, the sepsis that went to your body is deadly, and you survived it. And so you’re going to be okay. It’s just going to take a while.’”
Despite receiving treatment with antibiotics and steroids, Gunvalson admitted she is still struggling with weakness and fatigue. “I have pneumonia, which I’ve never had in my life. My right lung is pretty compacted with junk,” she said, visibly emotional. “I’m having a hard time getting it up. So that’s my biggest thing.”
Misdiagnosis and Life-Threatening Symptoms
The chain of events leading to Gunvalson’s hospitalization began when she was at a hair salon. She experienced a memory blackout lasting about an hour or two. During this time, Olivia, the daughter of Gunvalson’s partner, Michael Smith, found her at the office talking incoherently to a client. The client, a retired emergency room physician, suspected Gunvalson might be having a stroke and advised Olivia to take immediate action.
Gunvalson was taken to a hospital, where she was initially misdiagnosed with a sinus infection and sent home. Later, Smith found Gunvalson unconscious in a bathtub, which he described as one of the most frightening moments of his life. “For some reason, Vicki decided she wanted to take a bath. So she’s in the bathtub with water, and I walk in and she’s pretty much passed out,” Smith recalled. “I grabbed her, pulled her out of the water, put her in bed.”
After nearly 14 hours of sleep, Smith took Gunvalson back to the hospital, where she was finally diagnosed with pneumonia and severe sepsis, receiving the appropriate treatment just in time.
Understanding Sepsis
Sepsis is a severe and potentially fatal condition that occurs when the body has an extreme response to a bacterial infection, which could originate from various sources such as pneumonia, skin infections, gastrointestinal infections, or urinary tract infections (UTIs). When the infection spreads through the bloodstream, it can lead to symptoms like fever, chills, low blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, and confusion. The condition can cause the body’s immune response to turn against itself, leading to damage to vital organs, including the lungs, kidneys, heart, and brain.
According to Dr. Robert Glatter, an emergency physician at Lenox Hill Hospital, sepsis can lead to serious complications when the body’s inflammatory response to the infection also harms healthy tissues. While mild cases of sepsis are often treatable, severe cases like septic shock carry a high mortality rate, with approximately 30% to 40% of patients succumbing to the condition, as per the Mayo Clinic.
Gunvalson’s harrowing experience serves as a stark reminder of the importance of accurate diagnosis and timely medical intervention. As she continues her recovery, Gunvalson’s story resonates as a cautionary tale about the dangers of misdiagnosis and the critical nature of sepsis awareness. Her willingness to share her experience underscores the need for better understanding and vigilance regarding sepsis and similar life-threatening conditions.
