Feeling Drained!
By TMX Archives on 17th Jul 06
As if another injection isn't bad enough, Swordy's been hooked up to the National Grid for the last four weeks... If you read last month's column you were probably aware that my ankle was getting better and at the time of writing it was - but then things took a turn for the worse. The infection in my leg didn't clear up properly which resulted in another trip to hospital where I was kept in for eight days. In that time I underwent a small operation to clean the wound and was stuck on a high dosage of antibiotics.
Because part of the wound was left open they put a drain in my leg which helps to suck out the infection and speed up the healing process. The drain was in for almost four weeks and while it wasn't painful it was uncomfortable and severely restricted what I could do because it had to be plugged into the mains. The good news is I went to the hospital this morning to get my dressing changed and they decided to remove the drain which I'm over the moon about - it means I can pop down the pub on Saturday for a shandy!
Next week I will start physio and get myself down to the gym and not before time as all my muscles have shrunk and I've lost over one-and-a-half stone since the crash. I'm really looking forward to starting training again - even though it's going to be light training to start off with - and just getting out of the house and living a semi-normal life again is a good feeling. I'm not a very patient person and there is only so much TV anyone can take but it's been good that the World Cup's been on and that Wimbledon's started.
I was disappointed not to be able to get to the British GP to catch up with everyone although I did watch it on TV and thought it came across good. I heard that a few people were complaining about the track but it looked fine from where I was sitting. On their way to the GP my team and a few other mechanics popped in to see me. Jan (the boss) and Ellen called in also on the Friday to say hi - it's good to know they are supporting me. I talk to Jan and Luka two or three times a week just to let them know how I'm getting on and they fill me in on all the news from the races.
I'm missing the time at the races, when I watch them on TV I try to picture myself there and imagine where I would be in the race. I've been studying all the riders, especially Everts - he's so calculated and is in control of the race all the time.
When you're racing everything revolves around training, riding and travelling so when you have an injury that puts you out for a while it's a shock to the system for a month or so. But now I've got my head around the situation (and got rid of the drain) I'm going to go and enjoy some of the things that I wouldn't normally do when I'm in the middle of a full season.
Well that's about all for this month - all that remains is to send out my love and thoughts to the Lyons family who have lost a real gentleman.
Take care and see you all soon...