Nam's Labyrinth - Solo & Sane
- Thread starter doublediamond
- Start date
growweblaar
Race Dog
Hang in there, mate. Hope you get well soon :'(
gobopolice
Pack Dog
Wish you well mate.
See Gravel Will Travel
Puppy
Hi Jacoboos
Someone here in the states life was saved by a friend using pepper spry to fend a black bear off. I have this link to offer, hope it will work. If you'r in your tent, keep the zipper up, if a lion is lurking out side!! :dousing:
https://www.pepper-spray-store.com/bears.shtml
Man,
Someone here in the states life was saved by a friend using pepper spry to fend a black bear off. I have this link to offer, hope it will work. If you'r in your tent, keep the zipper up, if a lion is lurking out side!! :dousing:
https://www.pepper-spray-store.com/bears.shtml
Man,
Jacoboos said:
Does anybody know how Craig is doing?
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2007
- Messages
- 23,346
- Reaction score
- 5,740
- Location
- Bloemfontein
- Bike
- Kawasaki KLR 650
Wishing you a full recovery Craig! :thumleft:
Our prayers are with you, hope and trust you are recovering well, matey.
We are still gonna hold you to finishing this report no matter what.
We are still gonna hold you to finishing this report no matter what.
Bakkie
Race Dog
Just finished reading the RR... brilliant :thumleft:
Craig hope you are ok.
Mike you got any news re Craig?
Craig hope you are ok.
Mike you got any news re Craig?
JACOVV
Race Dog
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2009
- Messages
- 4,628
- Reaction score
- 96
- Location
- East of London EC
- Bike
- BMW R1200GS Adventure
Very nice RR to read.
Get well soon.
Get well soon.
Adventurer
Gentleman Dog
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2006
- Messages
- 17,108
- Reaction score
- 4
- Location
- Kempen Germany
- Bike
- KTM 1290 Super Adventure
Had an sms from DD, he had a slight 'health hiccup' but is recovering, he will be back soon. :thumleft:
Adventurer said:
Thanks, was getting worried there...
doublediamond
Pack Dog
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2009
- Messages
- 112
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Glenvista, JHB
- Bike
- BMW R1200GS Adventure
Hey Fellow WD's
Firstly allow me to offer my sincerest, most heartfelt gratitude for the well wishes on this site & for those friends that visited, sms'd or called.
Last time I was in hospital was 16 years ago I came off my KZ250 - shattered the Radius & Ulna of my left arm & Various other scrapes & bruises. 5 Surgeries later & I was good to go.
Have not been inside a hospital or seen a doctor since then. 16 Years NADA!
Now before continuing please know this :- That I am now fully recovered, besides the rehabilitation necessary on my muscles & body which will still take a few weeks, I am completely pain free & back to a life of relative normality. So this update is merely to inform friends & well wishers etc - it is not a pity party or cry for attention or attempt to elicit any sympathy – I am well !!
On Monday the 14th Sept a friend & I went climbing/exploring the mountain behind the resort we were staying in - Paradis Hotel & Golf Club, on the Morne Peninsula, the resort is set against the backdrop of the iconic Le Morne Mountain.
On the way down, on a steep downhill section , my feet slid from under me, I am blessed with the dexterity of a herd of mountain goats & managed to land back on my feet , albeit now in a squatting position. I was mildly winded & felt a slight stab in my left knee & right hip. I have had bigger falls in my driveway at home. I made it down the mountain un-aided & never gave the fall any further thought.
By Tuesday evening the 15th of Sept my hip was getting progressively tighter, after dinner I could barely walk, with stiffness slowly becoming discomfort. By 1am on the 16th Sept (The morn of 41st birthday I might add) I was in agony. I had entered a whole new threshold of pain that was previously, not on my radar, not in my universe !!! The strongest pain relief the resort nurse could administer was 100mg voltaren suppository. I could not move & needless to say my long suffering wife & I got absolutely no sleep whatsoever. Nurse kept feeding me voltaren for the pain.
Resort Doctor visited later the morning & initial diagnosis was that I had ruptured a disk in my back.
The resort nurse had inadvertently overdosed me on voltaren & I now had an additional complication to contend with, I had developed a severe allergic reaction to the medication, which manifests itself in a red “measle” like rash across my entire body that itched like crazy and a fever that alternated between boiling hot & freezing cold. A further consequence was that the doctor could not administer any further medication because of concern as to how my body would react. I was a not a very happy camper. To say the remaining 24hours till our flight home was torturous would be grossly understating the facts.
Everybody involved in getting me home, truly humbled me with their care, service & compassion. Hotel staff, airport staff, SAA crew on airplane, ACSA support staff at OR Tambo, fellow passengers on airplane, our friends travelling with us, strangers at airport, & most of all my wife!!
I was sore, grumpy, tired, and miserable and I am very moved & grateful for all the help I received.
I was admitted to Milpark hospital & thankfully some strong drugs brought temporary relief, the past few days prior to my admission in hospital would become a Sunday school picnic by comparison with what lay ahead.
I will spare your all the gory details of the past 4 weeks, - over 2 weeks in hospital 7 different specialist doctors & more needles, tests, MRI’s , Bone Scan’s, pain & discomfort than I care to mention.
A series of perfectly timed environmental conditions coupled with the trauma of my fall & an auto –immune reaction to medication triggered a form of reactive arthritis to which I already (unknown to me at the time) had a genetic pre-disposition. This insidious little fucker settled at various joint’s in my body, with sole intention of torturing the remaining lust for life from my ill fated person. The pain from the fall became a place I longed for by comparison to the pain of the reactive – arthritis, this was all magnified by a constant fever of between38.5-40 degree’s.
Eventually the right doctor, a specialist rheumatologist to whom I am very grateful, but whom I am convinced moonlight’s at Guantanamo bay as an interrogator of Al-Qaeda operatives, due to his penchant for inserting thick needles into inflamed joints to remove various fluids, correctly diagnosed the challenges & administered the right medication. On Sat evening 3rd of Oct Satan removed his furnace from my belly & my fever broke. Sunday the 4th of Oct was the first 24 hour period I went without Pethedine or other pain killers. I left the hospital Wed 7th Oct.
Today Thursday 15th Oct was the first day I walked the whole day without crutches. I am slow but mobile. I will be back to my running & cycling programme within the next few weeks & I will complete my 2nd comrade’s marathon & the Cape Epic mountain bike event as planned in 2010.
I have learned a lot in the last 4 weeks. I am not bullet proof & invincible, I realize how much I took my body & my health for granted. I am emotionally, physically, mentally & spiritually more fragile than I would ever have believed.
I have developed an overwhelming, heart wrenching respect and admiration for survivors of situations & illnesses that make my little challenge insignificant by comparison, because I discovered how tough it truly is to retain a winning, positive attitude when your pain is so severe that you weep with a sense of helplessness. I discovered that it is easy to have a great attitude & be friendly & positive when you’re life is unchallenged, but the true test of your attitudinal integrity is when your situation is desperate & nobody has solutions & answers – I failed.
I developed a renewed respect, love & admiration for my wife, who passed the test’s I failed with ease. Despite my daughters catching measles & various other challenges while I was in hospital, she rose to the occasion & conquered every challenge with self-assured composure. I am humbled by the selfless manner in which my wife devoted herself to ensuring my comfort. I am joy filled with the love & devotion I received from my incredible daughters & family –in-law.
I realize that needing friends & family is not a weakness, quite the contrary, their love & concern, the time they sacrificed to visit & call & sms strengthened me & my resolve to get well. I was constantly astounded at the random acts of kindness we as a family received from our extended network of family, friends and business associates, I offer to you all the most powerful words in my vocabulary :- Thank you!
I am eternally grateful for this growth opportunity in my life, these challenges were a necessary catalyst to , question, explore, change and grow. I am truly blessed & Love my Life.
With the small exception of Armageddon & the total annihilation of our speck of dust in this monstrous universe, I will be back to finish this RR soon.
FREEDOM ……..
Firstly allow me to offer my sincerest, most heartfelt gratitude for the well wishes on this site & for those friends that visited, sms'd or called.
Last time I was in hospital was 16 years ago I came off my KZ250 - shattered the Radius & Ulna of my left arm & Various other scrapes & bruises. 5 Surgeries later & I was good to go.
Have not been inside a hospital or seen a doctor since then. 16 Years NADA!
Now before continuing please know this :- That I am now fully recovered, besides the rehabilitation necessary on my muscles & body which will still take a few weeks, I am completely pain free & back to a life of relative normality. So this update is merely to inform friends & well wishers etc - it is not a pity party or cry for attention or attempt to elicit any sympathy – I am well !!
On Monday the 14th Sept a friend & I went climbing/exploring the mountain behind the resort we were staying in - Paradis Hotel & Golf Club, on the Morne Peninsula, the resort is set against the backdrop of the iconic Le Morne Mountain.
On the way down, on a steep downhill section , my feet slid from under me, I am blessed with the dexterity of a herd of mountain goats & managed to land back on my feet , albeit now in a squatting position. I was mildly winded & felt a slight stab in my left knee & right hip. I have had bigger falls in my driveway at home. I made it down the mountain un-aided & never gave the fall any further thought.
By Tuesday evening the 15th of Sept my hip was getting progressively tighter, after dinner I could barely walk, with stiffness slowly becoming discomfort. By 1am on the 16th Sept (The morn of 41st birthday I might add) I was in agony. I had entered a whole new threshold of pain that was previously, not on my radar, not in my universe !!! The strongest pain relief the resort nurse could administer was 100mg voltaren suppository. I could not move & needless to say my long suffering wife & I got absolutely no sleep whatsoever. Nurse kept feeding me voltaren for the pain.
Resort Doctor visited later the morning & initial diagnosis was that I had ruptured a disk in my back.
The resort nurse had inadvertently overdosed me on voltaren & I now had an additional complication to contend with, I had developed a severe allergic reaction to the medication, which manifests itself in a red “measle” like rash across my entire body that itched like crazy and a fever that alternated between boiling hot & freezing cold. A further consequence was that the doctor could not administer any further medication because of concern as to how my body would react. I was a not a very happy camper. To say the remaining 24hours till our flight home was torturous would be grossly understating the facts.
Everybody involved in getting me home, truly humbled me with their care, service & compassion. Hotel staff, airport staff, SAA crew on airplane, ACSA support staff at OR Tambo, fellow passengers on airplane, our friends travelling with us, strangers at airport, & most of all my wife!!
I was sore, grumpy, tired, and miserable and I am very moved & grateful for all the help I received.
I was admitted to Milpark hospital & thankfully some strong drugs brought temporary relief, the past few days prior to my admission in hospital would become a Sunday school picnic by comparison with what lay ahead.
I will spare your all the gory details of the past 4 weeks, - over 2 weeks in hospital 7 different specialist doctors & more needles, tests, MRI’s , Bone Scan’s, pain & discomfort than I care to mention.
A series of perfectly timed environmental conditions coupled with the trauma of my fall & an auto –immune reaction to medication triggered a form of reactive arthritis to which I already (unknown to me at the time) had a genetic pre-disposition. This insidious little fucker settled at various joint’s in my body, with sole intention of torturing the remaining lust for life from my ill fated person. The pain from the fall became a place I longed for by comparison to the pain of the reactive – arthritis, this was all magnified by a constant fever of between38.5-40 degree’s.
Eventually the right doctor, a specialist rheumatologist to whom I am very grateful, but whom I am convinced moonlight’s at Guantanamo bay as an interrogator of Al-Qaeda operatives, due to his penchant for inserting thick needles into inflamed joints to remove various fluids, correctly diagnosed the challenges & administered the right medication. On Sat evening 3rd of Oct Satan removed his furnace from my belly & my fever broke. Sunday the 4th of Oct was the first 24 hour period I went without Pethedine or other pain killers. I left the hospital Wed 7th Oct.
Today Thursday 15th Oct was the first day I walked the whole day without crutches. I am slow but mobile. I will be back to my running & cycling programme within the next few weeks & I will complete my 2nd comrade’s marathon & the Cape Epic mountain bike event as planned in 2010.
I have learned a lot in the last 4 weeks. I am not bullet proof & invincible, I realize how much I took my body & my health for granted. I am emotionally, physically, mentally & spiritually more fragile than I would ever have believed.
I have developed an overwhelming, heart wrenching respect and admiration for survivors of situations & illnesses that make my little challenge insignificant by comparison, because I discovered how tough it truly is to retain a winning, positive attitude when your pain is so severe that you weep with a sense of helplessness. I discovered that it is easy to have a great attitude & be friendly & positive when you’re life is unchallenged, but the true test of your attitudinal integrity is when your situation is desperate & nobody has solutions & answers – I failed.
I developed a renewed respect, love & admiration for my wife, who passed the test’s I failed with ease. Despite my daughters catching measles & various other challenges while I was in hospital, she rose to the occasion & conquered every challenge with self-assured composure. I am humbled by the selfless manner in which my wife devoted herself to ensuring my comfort. I am joy filled with the love & devotion I received from my incredible daughters & family –in-law.
I realize that needing friends & family is not a weakness, quite the contrary, their love & concern, the time they sacrificed to visit & call & sms strengthened me & my resolve to get well. I was constantly astounded at the random acts of kindness we as a family received from our extended network of family, friends and business associates, I offer to you all the most powerful words in my vocabulary :- Thank you!
I am eternally grateful for this growth opportunity in my life, these challenges were a necessary catalyst to , question, explore, change and grow. I am truly blessed & Love my Life.
With the small exception of Armageddon & the total annihilation of our speck of dust in this monstrous universe, I will be back to finish this RR soon.
FREEDOM ……..
Your back! :thumleft:
I think you should stick to bikeing. Leave this running,cycling and mountainclimbing stuff to people that does not know the joys of exploring new places from a bike.
Speedy recovery Craig.
I think you should stick to bikeing. Leave this running,cycling and mountainclimbing stuff to people that does not know the joys of exploring new places from a bike.
Speedy recovery Craig.
doublediamond
Pack Dog
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2009
- Messages
- 112
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Glenvista, JHB
- Bike
- BMW R1200GS Adventure
A few pic's
Le Morne Mountain in the background
Morne Penninsula from various point's on the mountain
Paradis Resort & Golf Course
FREEDOM
Wife & I at Dinner
Le Morne Mountain in the background
Morne Penninsula from various point's on the mountain
Paradis Resort & Golf Course
FREEDOM
Wife & I at Dinner
[email protected]
Race Dog
Welcome back DD - It’s good to know you’re OK. All our thoughts are with you and your family while you recover and strengthen!!!!
But Hey don’t think that we aren’t going to pester you for more of your RR till conclusion!!!
TM...
But Hey don’t think that we aren’t going to pester you for more of your RR till conclusion!!!
TM...
Piston Pete
Teach Peace
Glad you ok :thumleft:
MrBig
Grey Hound
welcome back! :thumleft:
Spore
Pack Dog
Very glad to hear that you are being blessed with the potential of full recovery! Best wishes for you, your loved ones and we are all looking forward to your reports and pics. Greetings :thumleft:
