Seattle, WA

My name is Darrylyn Blincoe. I am a 47-year-old black female. I would like to share my experience with E. coli 0157:H7.

My nightmare began on August 21, 2000. I awakened as usual, but my stomach wasn't feeling too good. I laid back down and tried getting up again but my stomach was telling me 'you will be at home today'. I called in and told my supervisor that my stomach was upset and that I would be in the next day. I drank 7-Up and ate chicken noodle soup with crackers, something light, because I didn't understand why my stomach was hurting so much. Towards the evening of August 22, 2000, I noticed the pain starting to intensify. When my sister came home from work I asked her to get me some Pepto-Bismol (Note: Never take Pepto-Bismol with E. coli 0157:H7). She did and I took the required dose followed by some water.

Around 11 o'clock p.m., I got up to use the bathroom. I noticed reddish orange diarrhea coming from my bowels. I still didn't think much of it until I tried lying down again. My stomach kept on hurting and that's when one of my cousins got up and told my sister that he heard me moaning, groaning and crying. By the time I had gotten up again to use the bathroom, my sister had come into my bedroom, taken one look at me and said "let's go" (to the hospital). She knew something was terribly wrong and had never seen me this sick before.

When we arrived at the hospital, I didn't have a chance to sit down. They called me and started checking my vital signs. I was lucid, but I had prepared myself for the next round of pain that would start from my lower right abdomen and move to the middle of my stomach.

The trip to the hospital resulted in my being admitted. The hospital decided to start an I.V. and run tests on me as I was very ill. My sister said that a surgeon was standing by as it might be my appendix rupturing or a bleeding ulcer. I heard a doctor mention the word E. coli, but I didn't hear too much more because I started sleeping a lot.

I slept most of the day on Wednesday August 23, 2000, as they were running tests on me. I couldn't eat or drink anything. On Thursday, I had the urge to use the bathroom. I wanted to vomit but I didn't. When I finally did go to the bathroom, they had put a plastic cup in the toilet to catch everything. I remember seeing my runny bowels. It was so red that it looked black and I could see along the edge some red color. I gave the hospital the specimen they needed.

Meanwhile, I was undergoing tests, and it had been three days of no real food to eat or water to drink (only ice chips). I just kept the pain medicine coming as I didn't want to hurt. I had a colonoscopy done and was allowed to only have clear liquids. I was discharged on the fifth day of being there and was sent home with prescription medicine.

I was at home recuperating when on August 30, 2025 the Health Dept. called me. I was then informed I had tested positive for E. coli 0157:H7. An official talked to me in a very authoritative and downward manner that made me feel as if I had done something wrong [Since then, some people have actually implied, since there were no other reported cases and the source could not be scientifically confirmed,] that I poisoned myself.

My doctor removed me from work because I have been upset and stressed out since my illness. Now I'm on Prozac and a nerve pill to help keep me calm. I have a condition called Irritable Bowel Syndrome. I still get upset and depressed because I'm unable to work and have no income. My insurance has denied me, and my only sister is taking care of me.

I pray to God everyday that he will shed some light on my situation and put me in contact with people who will help me. At the doctor's office, my hand was guided to the August 2000 issue of Redbook and that's how I found out about the organization S.T.O.P. I've read the book E. coli 0157:H7 and believe me I saw myself in this book. I 'm a survivor.

Now I'm spending my energy getting well, so that I won't be looking for a transplant later on in life. This is a devastating disease and I would never wish it on anyone.

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