Get well soon, Julian Earl

RE: Get well soon, Julian Earl

Bob Russell — Fri, 07 May 2021 14:37:01 GMT

Dead right about factors affecting the seizure threshold! I have to be very careful when I have disturbed sleep plus a viral infection!

Anti-seizure medication can lead to a degree of depression as well. I only found this out after being on medication for forty years!!!

Never forget the hero bit works both ways. The best way to show gratitude is to get better and beat expectations. Nothing gives a bigger buzz than doing a good job.

RE: Get well soon, Julian Earl

Julian Earl — Tue, 04 May 2021 22:09:30 GMT

I saw my consultant and saviour today, Gerry O'Reilly. He thought that I was moving well but was concerned about the depression anfd my loss of use of my left leg and arm ten days ago. As it is intermittent he feels sure that is not the implanted shunt that is failing because is so the weaknesses would be constant. Instead he now believes that I have developed petit mals explaining my restless sleeping pattern and my dizziness. He commented that we all have a seizure threshold and various factors can lower that threshold.., factors such as trauma! fatigue, fever, stress and anxiety, even just inadequate sleep. I tick several of those boxes. Because he does not think he shunt needs adjusting there was no solution offered at the literal flick of a switch by selecting a fresh pressure setting for the valve to drain the CSF This would have been a shot in the dark and could easily make things worse especially as he thinks the shunt is not to blame. In short it is a case of watch and wait plus record. Do my weaknesses coincide with seizures the previous day or night? If so try to avoid these trigger. But he is sending me to a seizure specialist for an assessment and wants to avoid further medication if feasible. Importantly I was given the all clear for my cycling and training again but he suggested avoiding training on roads due to traffic if I am unsteady. Fair enough but serious time-trial raining can only be done on road to replicate the efforts needed! Finally just before leaving we laughed together as we recalled our conversation when I was brought out of the induced coma. He recalled that I was pig-headed!" My words originally! Plus that all I wanted was to get back on my bike! To which he said, "Okay, well , then I will get you there!!! I said thanks again for not saying "Don't be daft you cannot even stand up right now!!" No of course not," said Gerry today.

"Well then ," Gerry added this afternoon, "You have certainly done that got back to your bike! ... Well done!" I Like I say, my hero for very real and genuine reasons!!

Thanks everybody on vetsurgeon for reading and for all of your morale-boosting comments during my time of trouble!

RE: Get well soon, Julian Earl

Mark Hedberg — Tue, 04 May 2021 05:44:39 GMT

What an absolutely brilliant letter. You've really done breathtakingly well with the hand you were dealt - i'm not the wordsmith you are, but know that "I hold you in the highest of respect!"

RE: Get well soon, Julian Earl

Julian Earl — Mon, 03 May 2021 20:02:58 GMT

I have just replied and also sent an e-mail with the letter attached. Thank you...

RE: Get well soon, Julian Earl

Mark Hedberg — Mon, 03 May 2021 14:30:14 GMT

Thanks very kindly, PM sent!

RE: Get well soon, Julian Earl

Julian Earl — Mon, 03 May 2021 08:29:09 GMT

[quote userid="7638" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/off-duty-discussions/12580/get-well-soon-julian-earl/230173#230173"]I don't get the vet times overseas,[/quote]

Thank you Mark, sentiments like yurs here, make a lot of difference! If you want to pm me your e-mail, I an send you a copy of the letter? Thanks...

RE: Get well soon, Julian Earl

Mark Hedberg — Sun, 02 May 2021 19:59:11 GMT

I don't get the vet times overseas, but if good wishes were pound coins, you'd need a lorry to haul them all to the bank. Hope things get better, Julian!

RE: Get well soon, Julian Earl

Julian Earl — Sun, 02 May 2021 13:18:10 GMT

Hello Kath,

Thank youvery much for that kind reply. Today is a little better than yesterday as yesterday I was becoming very concerned about n apparent loss of use of my left leg again, just as in 2015 when Ifirst applied for, and was registered as a Para-cyclist. Today for whatever reason my left hand is improved again which is very heartening. I do have objective proof of both yesterday and today because back in 2015, the local neurological physiotherapist gave me an exercise to improve my left hand dexterity and grip. Very wisely, he said that I seem to be competitive! [ Who Me?/ Really! Who knew??] and advised me to tie myself in order to monitor my progress both good and bad. I have done this exercise religiously every day since 2015 and can categorically say that I am literally ten times better than I was when I started! No exaggeration I am really ten times faster! I e-mailed them to let the department know an they sent a nice reply and now have confirmation that their advice works! A nice bonus is that I will be giving the staff there and patients my presentation "Cows In Trees and Other Stories probably in the next few months, COVID- permitting! It cheers me up a lot to hear people laughing at my stories especially as I remember the reav eventas again just as they happened! Is it wrong to laugh at my own tales do you think ??

Thank you again, always xx

Oh yes, the Kites? I cannot be sure how many there are but our friendly local birdwatcher David reports seeing up to 11 in one go on occasion. He is the one who has seen them carrying sticks and twigs towards a small wood about 1/2 to 3/4mile, if that from this cottage here. They certainly seem to be thriving though their appearance here is inevitably erratic!

8 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile as the Crow/ Kites fly that is!

We do have Ravens nesting o our local TV mast about 3-4miles away! A long way from their usual mountainous habitat! But they are easily visible if you know where to look. Big as well A wingspan of 3-4 feet I think. When we saw them a few days ago, they the Ravens were being harassed by a couple of buzzards! I reckon the buzzards must also be nesting near to there and know who might raid their nest? I have been advised not to say exactly where they are nesting because of the risk of poaching/ malicious killing! I ways look twice if a crow flies by nowadays!

We assume these local Kites, are all Kites hat have gradually migrated south from near Harrogate where they were re-introduced from Spain in 1999. But if they are nesting that close to us it will be very, very thrilling for me!

Had I mentioned that we had a Hobby flying past the cottage in the autumn of 2019? No doubt about the identity as it was close and in the middle of a swarm of Swallows and Martins. Usually only in Dorset and Hampshire before migrating to Africa over winters, I have had one in my hand at a local wildlife rescue centre back in about 2010. I recognised it instantly then due to the size and the red/orange feathers at the top of the legs. It happily flew away after I had checked it over and hopefully flew on for many years? The Hobby, the fastest UK bid in level flight and apparently are the only raptors agile enough to catch bats !

Yes I do love seeing birds of prey = :

RE: Get well soon, Julian Earl

KathW — Sun, 02 May 2021 11:09:23 GMT

I read your letter Julian and would echo everything that Claire said. It’s typical of you to take the time and trouble to thank your fellow professionals, thank you for doing that. Sometimes the emphasis seems to be on all the negatives related to our profession so it’s good to be reminded of the positives.

I hope everything is going ok for you at the moment Julian. Keep focusing on the positives and keep us updated about your good days and the bad days. So many people do care about you and are rooting for you with all the obstacles that you have had to overcome and are still facing.
How are the red kite numbers in your neck of the woods? Are they increasing over the last few years.

We see and hear some buzzards above us in Rossendale now, they weren’t around 10 years ago. An interesting change.

RE: Get well soon, Julian Earl

Clare Tapsfield-Wright — Sat, 01 May 2021 19:32:32 GMT

Hi Julian

yes , I read your letters and I think it’s really good for your fellow vets to know how much you have achieved since your accident. It’s always better to share and to reach out rather than struggle alone. Young vets need to know this , life hands out some dud hands sometimes and we just have to deal with them as best we can. Main thing is keep sharing and asking and accepting any help available.
enjoy the victories and pleasures of life however small or simple, and remember we are listening

RE: Get well soon, Julian Earl

Julian Earl — Sat, 01 May 2021 11:02:40 GMT

Directly related to my thread here... I hope that everyone has read the letters pages in the Veterinary Record dated 24th April/1st May? [Page 316] I Also the Veterinary Times Letters in last week's edition dated April 20, and on page23. In brief, both say basically the same, this being thank you to all of my friends and colleagues within the veterinary profession who have been so kind, supportive and most importantly; positive following my near-fatal cycling crash on the 8th August 2012. The fractured skull and multiple brain haemorrhages were obviously highly dangerous but my wonderful consultant, Mr Gerry O'Reilly at Royal Hull Infirmary had the necessary skills to save my life! He is a brain surgeon after all! But it has my friends, family, colleagues , clubmates who have kept my inner-spirit alive. This list, includes all of you here on Vetsurgeon.org of course, so please accept this as a Thank you.to you all individually? I hope that you all know who you are?

The profession has done itself proud in the way that you have stepped up to support a professional colleague in his time of trouble! I have been very depressed at times due to the loss of so much but you were always there... Thanks.

Stay safe and well everyone...

Julian Earl, B.V.Sc., AVVP- status [ SHP], [ WEL.], MRCVS(retired). Sorry but I rarely get the chance to write those qualifications nowadays, about which I still feel some pride!

Oxcombe Lincolnshire.

RE: Get well soon, Julian Earl

Julian Earl — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 21:41:00 GMT

[quote userid="5059" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/off-duty-discussions/12580/get-well-soon-julian-earl/70449#70449"]hopefully you'll be back on your bike soon, don't let it put you off![/quote]

Thanks Rob, I have just realised that I should have replied specifically to our comment! When I rode out with a couple of club-mates , just starting out again after my accident, one of them Maurice commented, "Well Julian, it is clearly going to take more than the little matter of a fractured skull to stop you trying to compete with us?

t my next check up with the consultant, Gerry,IO'Reilly, I passed this comment on and he laughed out loud saying..., " LITTLE MATTER?? You should be dead man! People do not usually survive your injuries!"

But here I am and indeed competing with my clubmates plus Nationally as a Para-cyclist due to my delayed onset left sided paresis! But para-cycling gives me a whole new set of objectives. I do struggle to compete with my younger clubmates nowadays and even the older ones beat me when I had the better of them before my injuries. I told them that their two legs are only beating my one good leg, the right one! But to compete I have to be alive which I am thanks to Gerry ad his staff! And thanks to family and also to friends such as you all on here keep me motivated.

Nothing, but nothing, aupsets me more nowadays when people challenge my decision to race competitively again, thinking that it is and I quote, "Madness!" They just do not "get it!" It is what I am and what I do so of course I compete as best as I can now. A friend pacified me by saying that they only think it madness because they would not be able to do it after such trauma! I dunno, but do they expect me to sit around watching daytime TV or similar for the next few years, being idle?

In fact I have said to my darling wife, that on my 100th birthday, all being well, I want her to drive me to the club-race for me to ride. If I do not win the Veteran's prize I will be mightily upset with myself! And no, I am absolutely not joking!

Likewise, sort of, a client told me that she thought I had retired too early!! I politely asked, " Sue, you do remember that I've had a life-threatening head injury, don't you? I am not allowed to drive anymore and heaven forfend I fall over underneath cattle or a horse, or whilst operating on one of her treasured Spaniels? . We spend years trying to build a good reputation by doing the right thing and I could ruin any reputation that I might have by working when not up to the job anymore! I am unsure if she really understood me or accepted what I said. Anyway, If I don't win that prize in 2057..., I'll just have to try again the next opportunity at these weekly ten mile time-trials! Anyway! I mean, what is the worst that could happen? That is an easy answer: My wife Annika not being able to share my triumph at that time!

RE: Get well soon, Julian Earl

Julian Earl — Wed, 04 Nov 2020 19:49:03 GMT

Thank you very much both Clare and Gillian, it is very, very kind of you to send those touching posts! I am not sure I deserve this really!

Incidentally I have just edited the post above to now say the " mostly caring hospital staff! There was one male nurse who because I was strictly confined to bed, when I used my arms to lift myself and change position for the sake of comfort, he would rush over thump one of my arms making it buckle and I'd drop back to the bed! Bearing in mind that apart from my head-fracture I also had a broken collar bone, five broken ribs ad a punctured lung, I think that this was rather excessive?!!W I genuinely started to develop a hospital-phobia after this. I did tell people but it continued to happen. The ward manager, Paul was lovely and when I was back on the ward in 2017 for vertebroplasty having developed 4 compression fractures due to osteopaenia from lazing in that bed for four months, I told Paul the full story and he remarked, " Oh, I think I know who you mean, but don't worry, he was sacked over another problem about six months later! Ah well, I said, "Sorry but I cannot shed any tears for him!" That was the worst part of my prolonged stay from 8th August 2012 until the December. The rest of the staff were indeed very kind and when I returned in 2017, I was greeted immediately like an old friend, on first name terms, even by the daily tea-lady! "White no sugar isn't it??" Yep, thank you and I am suitably impressed you can remember !

My consultant is my idol and I met him and his wife at a charity cycling event for his ward. I told his wife, Jo I think, this, and she laughed then said, well just don't tell him will you? But I couldnot resists and I reminded Gerry of his words when he brought me out of my induced coma...,Do you know where you are and what happened? followed by, "What are you like as a person? And what do you want to do in the future?" Easy questions tbh!! I did know who I was and where? . Despite the coma I somehow had gleaned I was in Hull. As a person? I am stubborn so do not give up easily! [ I blame the parents for rearing their children this way

In the future? I just want to get back on my bike! his wonderful reply? Okay, then I will get you there! Which he has certainly done! He just smiled politely and then credited his staff What a nice man he is?! He did not say, Don't be daft, you cannot even stand up at the moment, which I couldn't! So I think that I must count as one of Gerry's successes?!

Thank you all for your interest and concern!

RE: Get well soon, Julian Earl

Clare Tapsfield-Wright — Wed, 04 Nov 2020 19:00:01 GMT

Dear Julian , thank you so much for sharing your feelings with us. Takes a lot of courage but I think you have proved that you have that in bucketloads and it is definitely the right thing to do, be open about how you feel and reassure yourself the your vet colleagues are batting for you. Sending you my very best wishes, Clare

RE: Get well soon, Julian Earl

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 04 Nov 2020 18:40:17 GMT

Your contribution here is very much appreciated Julian and you always come across as a lovely man. Hang in there!

RE: Get well soon, Julian Earl

Julian Earl — Wed, 04 Nov 2020 16:35:00 GMT

[quote userid="3169" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/off-duty-discussions/12580/get-well-soon-julian-earl/226431#226431"]xcept mine on the first page, where you disagree! [/quote]

Well, fancy saying that cycling is not good for you??It is great for you, but crashing at 30-35mph in my hospital records,and head-butting a kerbstone is not very good for you I have discovered! My hemet saved my life but did not sop the other injuries!

Thanks, regardless!

RE: Get well soon, Julian Earl

Michael Woodhouse — Wed, 04 Nov 2020 14:24:23 GMT

Except mine on the first page, where you disagree!

[quote userid="3094" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/off-duty-discussions/12580/get-well-soon-julian-earl/226430#226430"]They are very much appreciated, thank you.[/quote]

RE: Get well soon, Julian Earl

Julian Earl — Wed, 04 Nov 2020 13:56:07 GMT

[quote userid="5741" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/off-duty-discussions/12580/get-well-soon-julian-earl/76201#76201"]update on Julian's progress?[/quote]

Only 8 years later? but I've just been going through all of your lovely replies. They are very much appreciated, thank you. Physically it has been a tough road with the loss of independence, the loss of use of my left arm/hand and my left leg to a large extent back in 2015. The consultant thinks that this was due to the CSF-pressure inside my skull being poorly controlled and not direct trauma to the brain because it developed so long after the accident. He's a brain surgeon, so who am I to disagree? After appropriate adjustments to the Programmed Shunt inside my skull using a piece of electrical /magical equipment that they place over the shunt, tweak a few buttons and hey-ho, my use returned partially and very gradually but certainly stopped deteriorating. While I was waiting for any improvement, I had travelled to London to be assessed by British Cycling, they who organise the sport in the UK and was approved to compete as a Para-cyclist. I was classed as MC-2, which the chap said is a good group to be in. The lower the number, the more severe the difficulties and the smaller the group as a result. That means, he said, more chance to progress, by he which I think he meant "to win!!" Since then I have managed to resumed competition both at a local club-level and also at a National Level! In the former, I ride the local evening time-trials [ = solo rides against the clock. At these I am much, much slower than pre-accident for the obvious reasons of my age, my injuries. I tell my club-mates that their two legs are just beating my right leg which still does 80-90% of the work but it is improving. In 207 I won a club trophy in our own League over the season. Surprising for me but very pleasing after years of competition with nothing! But in 2015 I was not ready for full competition and missed the National Para-cycling championship despite it being pretty local for me! But then in 017 I entered when it was at Sutton Bonington about 100miles away, not too bad. I rode but on the very poor road surface I could not grip the handlebars securely with my weak left hand and was veering a lot. I had to pull out after one of the 7.5 mile laps but not before a rider from behind undertook me at great speed on my left. I almost effed and blinded at the rider for this dangerous manoeuvre but luckily I did not. After the finish, the person responsible came up to me, recognising my club jersey and she apologised for doing so! It is a good job I did not swear because this was quite literally cycling Royalty! None other than Dame Sarah Storey! She said that she could see I was having trouble, had left a big gap down my left side so she simply went through it! She, not surprisingly won the female title for 2016 on that day. I wrote to the National Cycling Magazine about this saying what a lovely lady she was to apologise and was awarded Letter of the week, gaining an excellent new helmet as the prize!

Then in 2017, near Chester I improved by finishing this time and being in 11th place, frustratingly just outside the top ten. I immediately had an objective for 2018. In 2018 I had my most satisfying race-result of my life, in Essex, because I this time hit my objective and was 5th! I will treasure that result for the rest of my life! I don't think I would have been more satisfied if I had won! I had aimed for a top ten-placing since July 2017, and convincingly hit that! Not only that but this year I finished my lifetime's record of events, 55. When working that would not have been feasible. The rider who has taken the title for the last few years, Matthew Robertson is very impressive. He is fast for an able-bodied rider never mind a para-cyclist. with cerebral palsy...He is aged in his twenties In 2019 he overtook me in the championship in \South Wales when I was on a good day at 22mph on a long drag up the A40. I spoke to him afterwards and we laughed when I admitted that I thought, very briefly about chasing him down and overtaking him back after he'd gone past! But he disappeared into the distance so fast i realised immediately that if I could ride fast enough to do that, he would not have caught me in the first place !He averaged about 27mph to win the title in 2019on a hilly course! Very Impressive, like I aid! In tis year I was 6th so down a place but still top ten.

THis year, 2020, not surprisingly the championships were not held being delayed until 2021 for the obvious reason of COVID!

Apologies for this self-indulgent waffle but I have a genuine reason for reflection like this. I have long said that my wonderful consultant Gerry O'Reilly at Hull had the expertise to mend my skull abndt o save my life, plus his positive attitude has been fantastic always encouraging me forward.

But it has been my family and friends who have kept my inner spirit alive. This includes all of you here on vetsurgeon.org as well as my former boss from the 1980s who was in Lancashire but now lives in SW Scotland. He, David and wife Christine keep in touch and had visited before covid struck. There are other former work-colleagues both vets and nurses, plus local practices who I know largely via Lincs division BVA., My cycling club plus very many of my wife's friends as well. have all been supportive.

I say that this is important for me because with the loss of my career, my independence etc., etc. I was diagnosed earlier this year with depression and anxiety. Vet-Life have been very supportive as have local counsellors. I am not suicidal for one big reason: LOVE! for my wife and family and I could not inflict that pain on them,, but! I do now understand why people might take that course of action. I have known three vets do this: Harvey Pickup,, Mr Moore from Leeds, and Mark Robinson from university and Sheep Vet Soc. Harvey was young and saw practice with me when he was a student. I was mortified, thinking... B***hell Harvey, Did you not know you had friends here?? I met his parents again recently and they said that he never opened up to them either!

My counsellors have told me to make sure that I tell people of this problem so that is what I am doing. Thank you for your patience in reading this far!

Thank you again for your positivity and support. I hope that all this explains why it and all of you have been so important?

Re: Get well soon, Julian Earl

Julian Earl — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 10:32:04 GMT

[quote user="Mark Hedberg"]

Glad to see you back, Julian, if good wishes were pound coins you'd never have to work again!

[/quote]

That is so trueand iif good wishes really help the healing process then it is no wonder progress has been so good thanks.

Re: Get well soon, Julian Earl

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 19:46:15 GMT

I think you are doing amazingly Julian, considering the severity of your injury, and may your recovery continue. Catching the occasional adjacent key when typing is really not a biggie, in the grand scheme of things. I just hope you continue to send us the occasional progress report - I certainly like to hear how you are getting on. You remind me how amazing, and precious, life is!

Re: Get well soon, Julian Earl

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 19:12:20 GMT

Just be glad you didn't have to make an excuse to yourself for not going out on your bike in all the foul snowy weather like the rest of us cyclists, but is the typing dyslexia part of the problem? Obviously wishing you well but you couldn't expect that from me without the black humour.

Re: Get well soon, Julian Earl

Rob Davis — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 11:51:18 GMT

Glad to hear you're on the mend, hopefully you're through the worst now. Best wishes to your wife too who must have had a pretty rough few months.

Re: Get well soon, Julian Earl

CatherineThomas — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 09:09:04 GMT

I'm glad you are getting better. It sounds like you are lucky to be with us. I hope your recovery is swift.

Re: Get well soon, Julian Earl

Niall Taylor — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 08:47:11 GMT

Glad to hear things are picking up Julian - all the best.

Niall

Re: Get well soon, Julian Earl

Rory Bell — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 23:40:42 GMT

+ 1 for all the good wishes echoing through this thread. glad that you are on the road to recovery and hope its sustained.