The Saga of the Feet

A tale of the hazards of home brewing or, as one friend put it, suffering for my art.

On the evening of December 23^rd 2005 I had been out for a cycle ride. On my return I removed my cycling shoes and put on a pair of sandals; an unfortunate choice, as will become apparent. Shortly afterwards I was preparing a new 5 gallon batch of home brewed beer. The malt was in the bucket and six pints of freshly boiled water was ready to go in. I picked up the pan and tipped the water. Unfortunately, due to the hot pan handles I missed the bucket and the water went all over my feet.

To describe it as painful is an understatement. The next door neighbours herd my yells! I rushed up the stairs and sat with my feet under the cold bath tap. The next half hour was spent sitting on the edge of the bath with both feet in the cold water and feeling very uncomfortable. Cath rang NHS direct, and after discussion with them we called an ambulance. The crew arrived and we all gathered in the bathroom, where my feet were still in the cold water. By now blisters were forming and they decided to take me in to the Accident and Emergency department at Harrogate District Hospital.

I made it down the stairs with the help of the ambulance crew. I was helped in to the back and on to the bed. Off we went for what must rate as the most unpleasant journey I have ever made. Not the fault of the crew, but the effect of the cold water was wearing off and the pain became more and more acute. Entonox did little to relieve it so the crew resorted to the blue light.

Into Harrogate and I was wheeled in to a cubicle where a doctor and two nurses were rapidly in action. More Entonox, some morphine and they started the slow process of dressing my feet. Flamazine, layers of Jelonet wrapped round and round, dressing pads, bandages and tubular socks over the top. Finally I am given some blue plastic overshoes to protect the bandages.

The morphine had had some effect, but I was still experiencing a lot of pain, so was given a further dose. Eventually, with this second dose taking effect, it was time to go home.

By now it was about 3am. A nurse rang Cath to say she could come and collect me, and she set off from Ripon. I was given an appointment for 26^th December (Boxing Day) and some very strong painkillers. I then was sat in a wheelchair and taken out to the waiting area until Cath arrived.

At home there was the question of how to get in. We ended up with a relay of plastic bags for me to shuffle on to the door. Once in I got up the stairs on my hands and knees and into bed.

Thus began a long period of spending all day sat in a chair with my feet up. For the first week I couldn’t stand at all and my knees became very sore with crawling everywhere. Regular trips would be needed to get my dressings changed and as I could neither walk nor drive, then Cath would have to be both chauffeur and wheelchair pusher.

The first visit was on Boxing Day. A nurse removed the bandages to reveal huge blisters. It was an impressive sight, and I regretted not having a camera. The dressings were carefully renewed and, because of the risk of infection, I was given a course of strong antibiotics.

Progress has continued and now (29^th January) I am able to get around the house, and even a little bit further with sandals on. Shoes don’t work yet.

For my subsequent dressing trips I took the camera, The pictures are not for the squeamish, but if you really want the gory details, then carry on to the illustrated diary.

Many thanks are due to several people who have assisted my recovery:

The ambulance crew who took me in

The doctors and nurses in Harrogate District Hospital A & E department

The nurses in the Minor Injuries unit at Ripon Community Hospital

The practice nurses at North House Surgery

Cath, David and John, who have fetched, carried and generally looked after me during my forced immobility.

All of these have done a fantastic job, for which I am very grateful.

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