Mum's urgent warning after innocent UTI led to life-threatening condition – and all four of her limbs being amputated
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KIM Smith's hands and feet went black and had to be amputated after a common infection turned deadly.
"I woke up at 4am and I thought I was going to die," the 63-year-old said in a TikTok video, recalling the day fateful day she woke up sick.
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Kim Smith after her quadruple amputations.
Credit: mediadrumworld/@kims2ndchance
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Doctors diagnosed the mum with severe sepsis and put her into a coma
Credit: mediadrumworld/@kims2ndchance
The mum-of-two from Milton Keynes was on holiday with her family in Spain in 2018 when a simple urinary tract infection (UTI) spiralled out of control.
A UTI is a common infection where bacteria infiltrates parts of the body like the bladder, kidneys and urethra.
It often causes a painful burning sensation when urinating and the need to pee more often.
Familiar with the signs, Kim, then 56, saw a doctor on November 28 2018 and was prescribed antibiotics.
Read more on sepsis
TAKEN TOO SOON Mum, 28, with stomach ache died after hospital staff failed to spot sepsis
But the pharmacist did not have her prescription available for collection that day, so the former hairdresser returned to their hotel, where she quickly deteriorated.
"I had severe breathlessness, slurred speech and confusion. I was really really cold. I had a fever and I was shivering like mad," she explained.
Kim was rushed to hospital in the early hours of November 29 where doctors diagnosed her with severe sepsis - with the mum being put into a coma.
Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection, which occurs when the body's immune system overreacts to an infection.
By the next day, her hands had already turned purple.
For weeks, Kim remained in the Spanish hospital, with her family getting more and more concerned.
My UTI turned out to be cancer & I had my vagina reconstructed with my bum
Eventually, her daughter arranged an air ambulance to get her home, and two weeks after coming back to the UK Kim was brought out of her coma.
Waking up, Kim saw her limbs had blackened and died, with doctors telling her she needed them to be removed.
Once she recovered from the quadruple amputation, the mum spent 12 weeks in physical rehabilitation, where she regained her strength and learned to live without her limbs.
If you feel unusually unwell and you know something is not right, please please please advocate for yourself
Kim Smith
Now, the mum wants to raise awareness for the little-known risk associated with common UTIs.
"I want to tell you, if you need to go pee, go pee," she said.
"Don't hold it, that could cause you to get an infection and that could develop into sepsis," she added.
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The hairdresser before she developed sepsis
Credit: SWNS
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The mum is now raising awareness about sepsis symptom
Credit: SWNS
"The symptoms are severe breathlessness, slurred speech and confusion I had that I didn't pass much urine that day and I had a fever but I was really cold," she said.
"If you get anything like that, if you feel unusually unwell and you know something is not right, please please please advocate for yourself," the mum urged her followers.
She added: "Tell [doctors] something is not right and ask them to test you for sepsis.
"Ask for a second opinion if you have to. Do not leave if you feel something is wrong."
How UTIs and sepsis are related
UTIs affect the urinary tract - including the bladder, urethra, and kidneys.
In the UK, 1.7 million people suffer recurrent UTIs (three or more a year). Around half of all women will get a UTI at some point.
Common symptoms are burning pain when peeing, needing to go more often, and cloudy urine, which can also signal dehydration.
Some may feel lower abdominal or back pain, fever, chills, or a dangerously low temperature below 36C.
Severe symptoms may mean a kidney infection, which can lead to life-threatening sepsis if untreated.
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Globally, sepsis kills 11 million people a year. In the UK, it claims 48,000 lives annually.
Septic shock can cause blood clots that block oxygen to limbs which is when tissue dies, turning skin black.
Doctors may try removing dead tissue, but if that fails, amputation is needed.
UTIs are a leading cause of sepsis, known as the 'silent killer' because symptoms mimic flu.
Key signs of sepsis include confusion, slurred speech, blotchy or blue-grey skin, difficulty breathing, and a rash that doesn't fade when pressed.
Skin may be pale, cold, clammy, or show purple bruises.
Producing less urine or not peeing for a day is another warning sign, as sepsis lowers blood pressure and blocks blood flow to kidneys.
The NHS urges anyone with these symptoms to call 999 or go to A&E immediately.
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