Charles Hinderliter, 39, of Maplewood, spent 58 days in a hospital and 21 days in a skilled nursing facility with the flu. After the experience, which he said almost killed him, he described it on Twitter to encourage everyone to get a flu shot.
He started feeling sick after a conference in Jefferson City in January, according to a report from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Hinderliter went to the doctor where he tested positive for influenza a few days later but it was too late to start anti-viral drugs. He got worse, and in the end of January was admitted to the hospital.
He describes his experience:
Serious thread: The flu nearly killed me. I spent 58 days in the hospital and 21 days in a skilled nursing facility (aka a nursing home). I was fortunate that I will make a full recovery. I don’t recommend my experience. Get a flu shot. 1/
— Charlie Hinderliter (@cmhinderliter) September 19, 2018
I was in a medically induced coma for more than a week and have no memory from the wee hours of the morning on January 27th when I went to the ER at @mercysaintlouis until February 8th. 2/
— Charlie Hinderliter (@cmhinderliter) September 19, 2018
I am considering having @tinymonstertees make me a shirt saying, “If you think I'm boring now, you should have seen me in a medically induced coma.” 3/
— Charlie Hinderliter (@cmhinderliter) September 19, 2018
The docs and my family were concerned about brain damage when (if) I came out of the coma. 4/
— Charlie Hinderliter (@cmhinderliter) September 19, 2018
One of my first memories after the coma was a doc asking me what was causing me pain. I pointed to my wife. I thought it was hilarious, she was less amused. That was her first clear sign that it was still her husband in there. 5/
— Charlie Hinderliter (@cmhinderliter) September 19, 2018
When I woke up from the coma, it was overwhelming (in a bad way) to hear what I had just gone through and how near to death I had been. What they didn’t tell me for another couple of months is how serious my condition still was at that point. 6/
— Charlie Hinderliter (@cmhinderliter) September 19, 2018
Before I left the hospital I did an hour long cognitive test to check for brain damage. My brain still work good. 7/
— Charlie Hinderliter (@cmhinderliter) September 19, 2018
My grandmother and I lived in the same nursing home for three weeks — not an experience I expected. I turned 39 two days after getting out of the nursing home, which is just a weird sentence to say. 8/
— Charlie Hinderliter (@cmhinderliter) September 19, 2018
It was also overwhelming (in a good way) to hear about the outpouring of support and prayers from friends, family, lobbyists, REALTORS, former classmates and colleagues – it was incredible and I am so grateful. 9/
— Charlie Hinderliter (@cmhinderliter) September 19, 2018
The food in the hospital and nursing home sucked – #GetAFluShot and avoid bad food. I learned that my esophagus can atrophy – I didn’t know it could do that (also not a good experience). 12/
— Charlie Hinderliter (@cmhinderliter) September 19, 2018
I lost 40 pounds (mostly muscle) and it will be 6 to 12 months from when I got home in April for me to be back to 100%, especially in terms of strength and stamina. 14/
— Charlie Hinderliter (@cmhinderliter) September 19, 2018
There are permanent effects from this experience. I have hearing damage in my right ear due to ototoxic drugs (I learned lots of new words). I have new scars due to surgery and drainage tubes. The emotional impact will linger as well. #GetAFluShot 15/
— Charlie Hinderliter (@cmhinderliter) September 19, 2018
This past weekend, some friends joined me in getting flu shots and we all got ice cream. I encourage you to get your flu shot this fall as well. #HerdImmunity End/ pic.twitter.com/vu2sn1qyeK
— Charlie Hinderliter (@cmhinderliter) September 19, 2018