In hospital

May 20, 2005

In hospital

Coming up to nearly a week now I've been in hospital with two smashed heels and a crushed lumbar vertebra after having unsuccessfully scaled the side of a house to get in after some friend's keys went missing. The fall was about 5m onto the road.

Visits

I'm at a stage where I'm together enough for people to drop by, hang out, watch DVDs, munch through the EU grape mountain. So please do! Address is:

Bed 23 (yes, not 25 any more; window seat, baby!)
Alan Apley Ward (11th floor)
St Thomas' Hospital
Lambeth Palace Road
London SE1 7EH

Directions and info about St Thomas'. NB Despite the NHS Trust's full name ("Guy's and St Thomas'") this is NOT Guy's hospital.

Do drop by! Call/text first so I know though; may be having stuff done to me (ooer, nurse).

A longer "thank you" is coming but for now I almost cannot put into words how grateful I am to everyone who's helped me; I am so touched. Nik & Eva for more than can be listed right now, my parents for being parents, Nadia for solidity and physicianly comfort in the early moments, Saul for internet and practical toys, Adrian & Emir for entertainments, Teresa for being lovely and knowing how my bed works, and the nursing staff for being so so nice.

Now for the good, the bad, and the ugly...

Short term bad news: I won't be able to walk for three months, broken (as it were) into a month full-time in bed in hospital, and two months in a wheelchair.

Mid term bad news: my heels are as I write exploded, and a joint in my right foot is quite badly shattered. I may get any or all of arthritis, joint stiffness, and random neurological (i.e. "wrong") pain anywhere from day 1 to some point later in my life. I say "may" because I'm optimistic but chances are it'll happen.

Short term good news (given the context): not paralysed; vertebra stable i.e. not in imminent danger of collapsing; not in much pain; psychologically OK; have--now--an internet connection; the food is quite decent; I get to do tricks in a wheelchair (just kidding, mum!!)

Mid term good/bad news: I am literally indoors for three months which will be pretty interesting, and cool to see what I can get up to...

Ugly: my feet, never the most attractive, are bloodshot, yellow, and very swollen, not to mention (mildly, in the scale of human catastrophe) disfigured through swelling and atomisation. I'll post some pics when I'm less exhausted.

If you're in the area, please do visit! :-) Hope you're all well!

Posted by Paul Makepeace at May 20, 2005 21:27 | TrackBack

Comments

Oooh, and indeed arse. Much sympathies. You'll understand if I don't visit in person.

Though if you've got to sit down for the next three months, might be a good time to learn five balls. I only learnt three coz I was in plaster for same amount of time, as you prob remember.

Posted by: Jez at May 21, 2005 02:16

Er. Um. Ouch.

Heal well. Heal soon.

Posted by: Vulcan at May 21, 2005 09:02

Yowsa.

FWIW, the emotional side of a physical trauma is critical in terms of healing. I'd be using affirmations for complete recovery before sleeping.

Posted by: Dave at May 21, 2005 12:37

Dave: yeah, I've been doing this, although perhaps not as diligently as I probably could. Also visualizing the little fragments joining together really solidly, and then the nerves reconnecting without miswiring.

Done any accelerated healing hypno work? I remember Milton Erickson getting some astonishing results with this. Conversely I've been consciously attempting to block suggestions from doctors I'm not ready for/am not convinced they could necessarily know at this stage. Only just got my 'net connection up but any pointers gratefully received.

Posted by: Paul Makepeace at May 21, 2005 14:08

get well soon

Posted by: David at May 21, 2005 17:14

Yo. Been following your posts and gonna check out the East London Gym this week. Thanks for the tip. I do static trapeze and rope climbing -cue lots of tucks and hanging upside down. Look forward to hearing the latest KB nuttiness when circs allow. Cheers. Dave

Posted by: Dave at May 21, 2005 17:15

Oi, learn to bounce ya barmy bugga.

wanna sell ya bells.

spent 3 months not moving got into bells then.

heal soon mate, cheers Spud

Posted by: Spud at May 22, 2005 11:18

speedy recovery Paul!

i only hope you have full mobility and are pain free when the healing process is over.

best wishes,

Steve

Posted by: steve at May 22, 2005 12:47

Hey Paul,

hoping for the swift recovery and quick comeback to join us for some tough training when you're better.

Ken

Posted by: ken at May 22, 2005 22:44

Hey, get well soon! Beams from Finland.

Chris.

Posted by: Chris at May 23, 2005 13:07

get well soon,

best wishes.

andy.

Posted by: andy97 at May 23, 2005 22:37

What?? You mean you're *not* Spiderman???

Posted by: Kate at May 29, 2005 01:45

Hi there! Will try to make Monday - hope it goes really well. Can't believe I'm asking this, given the outstanding IT facilities you've created, but is it OK for you to use your mobile? If so, can you send me your number....I think the one I've got is an old one.....
Good luck, I'm soooooo impressed by your motivation.

Dawnie

Posted by: Dawn at May 29, 2005 09:32

TWAT!

Posted by: Claire at May 29, 2005 13:32

I will be there my sweet Paul.
Kat

Posted by: Kat at May 30, 2005 02:18

Ouch! I thought the world seemed a tad calmer... and for good reason it seems. I just checked my emails. Since you are now technically a neighbour again, I don't see how I cannot come along to wish you well. I mean, you can probaby see my block of flats from your window (so you can hide when you see me approaching).

I didn't think you had feet. I thought you had suctiony-pad-type-things instead. Obviously I was wrong.

Posted by: Dom at May 30, 2005 17:56

Hi Paul

Sorry to hear the news and enjoy the nurses (unless they are male (and I will not mention your lunch trip ;) )

Posted by: Roger Vanstone at May 31, 2005 01:01

The lengths people will go to to get some attention.

Enjoy the nurses and a speedy recovery

Posted by: Roger Vanstone at May 31, 2005 01:35

I smashed my heel bone 17 years ago, got the screws and plates and stuff, and now after all that I was still able to play a little golf (got to a 15 handicap) and just finished 2 seasons of rugby and then out of the blue I'm back to 4 weeks off and counting with some huge pain. The next step up is morphine, (maybe a little green stuff wouldn't go astray.) but I don't wanna go there. Anyhow Take every day as it comes and use it to the max cos tomorrow it may not be there to use. Take care.

Jason

Posted by: Jason McLaren at February 15, 2006 13:27