This is a self indulgent post and will probably not be allowed by the mods. But here goes.
Last Sunday, a week ago, I went from Cumbria to York for evensong at the Minster, then to overnight hotel at Peterborough for Norwich and Bury St Edmunds Cathedrals the next day.
I was feeling a bit under the weather but nothing unusual, after events earlier in the week.
By Newcastle my right foot was playing up, so I rebooked trains from TPE to LNER for a better platform and lounge access while waiting.
By York I suddenly struggled to get off the train- unable to put weight on my foot. I then had to get from the station to the Minster and back (no mean feat at all with effectively a frozen right foot) and it turned out stand in line in agony inside the Minster for almost 15 minutes- very hard to do that when all I needed to do was sit down.
Later getting across Peterborough to the Travelodge was a challenge - normally the easiest thing in the world.
Next day it was a big battle to get from Norwich station to the Cathedral, Chelmsford was then substituted for Bury St Edmunds - that being a totally lost cause.
The next question was how to get from Liverpool Street to Euston, now rebooked on a 2 hour earlier train home. The easiest answer being the London Overground from Stratford to Willesden Junction, then Overground into Euston. Then afternoon tea in the Avanti lounge (a short duration offer) before boarding a mercifully on time train.
I don't actually know how I got home from my local station.
By next morning (Tuesday) I can't move at home other than by crawling and in great pain.
Tried and failed to get a home doctors visit. Eventually on Thursday evening (3 days later) got an emergency doctor appointment at the hospital after I've pressed the metaphorical big red SOS button and called in friends.
I am given pills for likely gout and sent home. As I'm leaving am recalled for X - rays, then blood tests which finally diagnose Septic Arthiritis. Admitted at 3am, but too complicated for my hospital so transferred at 5am by ambulance to my local major hospital 40 miles away.
There I remain, having what feels like the Irish Sea worth of anti biotics poured into me, a mountain of painkillers and various other meds. About an hour ago just regained some very basic movement in the foot.
Yikes! That sounds awful. I am so sorry this happened on your trip. Hope that you are feeling better soon.
I am SO sorry you are going through this. And am equally sorry your treatment was delayed by so many days. Septic arthritis is a big deal! Sending prayers that the treatment kicks in quickly and you are soon on the mend.
Glad you are getting the treatment and care you need. Wishing you a speedy recovery and thank goodness for the NHS!
Oh Stuart I am so very sorry to hear this - and as others have said, the awful debilitating pain, but also the delay in being seen meaning that you suffered for much longer than you would have otherwise !
I am also terribly sorry for how this affected your trip, which I am sure you had been looking forward to.
Hopefully this post will be allowed to remain as it covers many different train legs and decisions you made to adapt in light of your pain.
Hoping that your foot continues improving and you are 100% better soon!!!
Amazing, and not in a good way. Wishing you better health!
Sending so many positive thoughts and prayers to you Stuart! You have really been through it. I am thankful that you are now where you should be at a dedicated hospital that has the proper facilities and resources to help your condition. Septic arthritis is nothing to fool with. Please continue to heal and rest. You are such a special human being- hope you are back up on *both * feet very soon! :)
So very sorry! Non-medical person here, I had to look up Septic Arthiritis. Good that it was caught! I hope you have a quick recovery.
Having experienced that in a knee joint which put me in hospital for a month (with the knee flushed out and antibiotics pumped into the system), I had to relearn how to walk. I sympathise, it is incredibly painful and I'm amazed you managed to do as much as you did before succumbing. Take it steady and pace yourself, as even once you get back home you still need time to recover and regain fitness. Take care of yourself.
What an awful, painful saga! I do hope the meds are doing their job and sorting it out, wishing you all the best for your recovery
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
And perhaps a message to those of us [males especially] that sometimes it's better to listen to our bodies, and not try to just power through an increasing level of discomfort.
What a horrible situation to find yourself in. Thankfully your getting the proper treatment now. Wishing you a smooth recovery.
I hope the Irish Sea of medications washes away that dreadful infection..
sorry for the pain, the delay (although apparently as you were being discharged a bright spark decided to have a more thorough look - thank goodness), the undoubted stress and worry.
Bury St Eds isn't a million miles from me, nor is Peterborough - when you get back mobile and running all around the country like a duck in a fairground shooting gallery, I'll take you for a nice cup of tea.
Get well soon.
How awful for you! Glad you are getting the treatment you need. Hopefully you're on the road to recovery and will be well soon.
I hope all gets better for you!
Wishing you a quick recovery! Please take care of yourself.
Hope you are feeling better soon.
Glad they were able to diagnose it and that it's now trending in the right direction. I can't see why the moderator wouldn't allow this post-it serves as a cautionary tale for the rest of us. Most people don't realize that sepsis is a major cause of death if not treated early.
Wishing you a speedy recovery. All the best.
Stuart, I’m so sorry - I hurt for you just reading this.
Sending you hugs and wishes for a speedy recovery!
I’m adding my good wishes for a 100% and speedy recovery.
I read your comment on Betsy’s York post first - now this. Goodness! So glad you pushed the SOS button! And glad some bright person pursued the matter further than gout! Take care of yourself.
One hopes you are receiving proper care and via the magic of antibiotics the foot is feeling better. Rest and rest some more. Let your body heal.
I’m so sorry to hear this, and hope for a speedy recovery.
"And perhaps a message to those of us [males especially] that sometimes it's better to listen to our bodies, and not try to just power through an increasing level of discomfort."
I nag Marie all the time, she always overestimates what she can do physically. But I don't start the nagging until it seems she's verging into self-harm, which is too distressingly often. I'm too lazy to run into it that much.
Best wishes Stuart. As others who know you better have said.
So glad you are under care! Sending good thoughts for a thorough recovery.
Cheryl
Stuart, sending you best wishes for a thorough recovery. Reading about what you endured for a few days made me wince. Do remember what you were setting out to do — enjoy some lovely music! — before all the nastiness happened. While you’re taking it easy so your body can heal, be sure to listen to your favorite musical pieces.
Thank you for all your kind thoughts and wishes.
This is a case where I had paid more than I had to just to give flex in the trip, a lot more. A decision which paid off in dividends. The Travelodge for £27 being the only sign of my normal miserliness, and that booked only a week out - so cheap because of being a Sunday night.
Hi Stuart -
Sorry to hear you are in the wars, sounds grim. Hope you are back in fine fettle in short order.
Ian
All the best for a quick recovery, isn31c!
Traveler Girl
Oh my word! So very glad you pushed the SOS button. I hope you heal quickly.
So sorry to hear this. Please let us know when you are out of the hospital and on your way to a complete recovery. Just know you have lots of folks across the Atlantic ocean pulling for a swift and complete recovery.
So sorry to hear this. How scary. Wishing you a very speedy recovery.
Get well soon! Sending healing thoughts and vibes your way.
isn31c- I am so glad you were able to finally get it figured out and WHAT a DIAGNOSIS! I had to actually look it up. I had heard of it, but never thought anything of it because it has the whole "arthritis" add on which just says "old joints" to me. Wow. I am thankful that someone pulled you back from the dismissal process and looked further into your testing. I am sorry it dampened your little trip away and impressed you weathered the pain for that long!
Prayers for a speedy heal and also thankful for the Irish Sea worth of antibiotics! I did have to giggle at that reference. Not sure if that is good, bad or just "salty" but either way, you sound as though you are back on the mend so all is well.
Sending you very best wishes for a speedy recovery, from Canada.
But…..now you must rest and recover…..no more dashing about till you are well again!
Oh my gosh! Wishing you a quick and complete recovery, Stuart!
I'm so sorry! I hope you are much better soon.
Stuart, I'm glad they figured out what it was and that you're getting some movement in your foot, but I'm really sorry about the pain—and that you had to stay on your foot for so long before you got help.
How is the hospital? Are they treating you well? Have they told you how long you might be there? Sending healing thoughts your way.