In 2014, Allison Miller’s life was turned upside down by the flu: she developed a rare complication that led to the amputation of her left leg.
- In March 2014, Allison Miller came down with the flu. In a few days, his state of health deteriorated significantly.
- The flu caused pneumonia. The lung infection, in turn, led to sepsis and septic shock that put the young woman’s life in danger.
- Doctors had to amputate her left leg to try to save Allison Miller’s life.
When she was 33, Allison Miller began experiencing coughs, sore throats, headaches, and fatigue. The doctor she consulted quickly diagnosed her problems: it’s the flu. The American, who was living in Wisconsin at the time, was certain that the prescribed cough medicine and rest would be enough to recover from the infection. Unfortunately, she developed a rare infection…
His flu led to shock septic
In March 2014, Allison Miller’s flu symptoms were not particularly worrying at first. “I was a little congested, but everything else seemed fine”explains the now forty-year-old to Fox News Digital. But the night before her consultation, she started having severe back pain.
“Thinking it was the flu or something I could get through, I kept waiting for it to pass and get better. And it’s clear that wasn’t the case.” she remembers. The pains were so intense the next morning that she lost consciousness at times. She finally called a friend. Faced with his worrying state of health, he called for help. Allison Miller has little memory of the events that followed.
“I remember being loaded into the ambulance, and then I really don’t remember much after that, for about three weeks to a month.”she explains.
Doctors who treated her determined that she had developed bacterial pneumonia in both lungs due to the flu. The pulmonary infection then progressed to sepsis and then septic shock. This deadly disorder caused a dangerous drop in blood pressure. All of the patient’s organs began to shut down.
Complication of the flu: his leg was amputated
To save the young woman, the medical team placed her on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. (ECMO : blood oxygenation is ensured by a machine and not by the lungs and the heart). After five days in intensive care, Allison Miller experienced a rare complication. Blood was unable to circulate in his left leg. Doctors were forced to amputate above the knee while she was still in a medically induced coma. “By the time I got out, it had been three weeks. I woke up in a very foggy state and I had no left leg.”she remembers.
In total, the American was hospitalized for three months and spent several weeks in a rehabilitation center learning to walk with a prosthesis. In addition to the amputation, she suffers permanent lung damage and her heart function remains below average.
Nearly 10 years after the incident, she says she can do the things she loves doing again – as to travel worldwide – without feeling limited by their disability. However, she wants to send a message: “A viral illness like the flu can lead to something more serious.“
Flu : must be proactive
Allison Miller shares her story in the press to raise awareness about the potential complications of the flu. “In my case, it was very fast. CIt’s within 24 to 48 hours that I am past from the start of the flu to being in the hot seat.“ The woman, who was not vaccinated at the time of the tragedy, wants to remind people of the importance of vaccination against the flu.
“I had missed the note that flu shots were for everyone, and being 33 at the time and otherwise in good health, itIt didn’t even register as something I should consider doing.”she confides. She advises: “If there’s anything you can do proactively to minimize the risk of something this bad happening to you, you absolutely should do it, I think.“
Second advice from the American: “If you are sick and the symptoms are severe, don’t waste time wondering if you should see a doctor. Listen to your body: It’s better to be proactive, rather than regretting it later.“
