Gunvalson reveals she survived a near-death sepsis scare, mistaking it for a sinus infection.
Vicki Gunvalson, known for her role in The Real Housewives of Orange County, recently opened up about a terrifying health scare that could have ended her life.
On her podcast, My Friend, My Soulmate, My Podcast, the 62-year-old reality star shared how a simple sinus infection turned into a life-threatening battle with sepsis.
Gunvalson explained that before going on a family vacation to Europe in early August, she was diagnosed with a sinus infection and prescribed antibiotics. After returning home, she started experiencing strange symptoms, including amnesia and what appeared to be stroke-like behavior.
Gunvalson visited the hospital twice, and it was during the second visit that doctors realized the severity of her condition. The sinus infection had escalated into sepsis, a serious condition where the body’s response to infection can cause tissue damage, organ failure, and even death.
“I was talking gibberish and didn’t know something was wrong,” Gunvalson recalled. She described feeling confused and having memory lapses. She was at her office when her boyfriend Michael Smith’s daughter, Olivia, noticed something was off.
After hearing Gunvalson speak incoherently and observing her confusion, Olivia rushed her to the hospital, suspecting a stroke.
Despite this, Gunvalson was initially sent home, still misdiagnosed with just a sinus infection. Michael Smith, who was out of town, found her unconscious in the bathtub upon his return, narrowly preventing what could have been a fatal drowning.
Gunvalson slept for 14 hours, raising alarm bells for Smith, who then took her back to the hospital. It was then that doctors identified she had pneumonia and sepsis, a combination that could have easily been fatal.
“They told me I had a 10 to 20 percent chance of survival,” Gunvalson shared on her podcast. “The sepsis that went to your body is deadly, and you survived it.”
After several days in the hospital receiving antibiotics and steroids, Gunvalson was released but is still dealing with the aftermath of her ordeal. She remains weak and struggles with energy levels, admitting, “I’m having a hard time getting it up.”
Gunvalson expressed her gratitude to Olivia, Michael, and her friends for their support and quick actions, which she believes saved her life. The experience has left her emotionally shaken. “I cry a lot,” she said. “I think I have a little bit of trauma from it.”
Gunvalson’s cohost Christian Gray Snow and podcast producer Pat Safford have also shared their relief and ongoing concern for her health. “Seeing Vicki go through this has been devastating and terrifying,” said Snow. Safford added, “We’re all grateful she’s going to be okay. We love Vicki!”
Despite the scare, Gunvalson is now recovering at home, focusing on regaining her strength and processing the traumatic experience.