Well i am not a happy bunny..I have just started to enjoy my cycling again and lo and behold i have a big crash...
I was out riding on 12th Jan, all i remember is putting my bike on the roof of the car and the next thing being laid in a ditch (4hours later having only covered 4.5 miles according to my computer). My air ambulance colleague(i am paramedic) was crouched next to me looking most concerned. The rest of the week is a bit of a blur, have been in the neuro ward. The morol of the story i guess is wear a helmet? I always do..my friends will vouch for that..but for some bizarre reason there wasnt one one my head!
Anyhow i am home but have very poor speech, have lost 8lb in weight in week..but still wanna ride my bike (which the police have as it looks like a car hit it)...wear your helmets girls x

Crikey! hope you feel better soon, and take it easy for a while (though it's good you want to get back on your bike after that!)

SO the police think it was a hit and run then?

HI, thanks for reply.. yeah hit/run blue paint on bottom of left fork leg, broken carbon forks..I know i have been real lucky, as could of been dead in that ditch..
It is the most frustrating injury ever, not being able to communicate except by type or text.. keep getting tearful but hoping it will come back?? It wierd like i know what i want to say but like Jade Goody my mouth isn't attached to brain!
Good job i got jake the cannondale still!
I won't be riding for some time, prob a good thing i can't remember the accident or wouldn't want to ride agin?
All those years of downhill racing and i never got myself this bashed up!
Keep riding, don't let me put ya off, but do tell people where/when you are riding..i never used to but will now..

Blimey - sounds rough, I'm assuming from the memory loss that you suffered a cracked skull and various other head injuries.

Have you found your helmet or did it disappear?

I hope that you get better soon x

Hi, thanks 4 reply,
Helmet and MP3 missing in action?
I have a contusion(bruise)on my brain that is affecting my speech, hearing(everything really loud) and appetite! I have lost 8lb in weight in 10days, just don't feel hungry..(wish i could market this symptom and bash peoples head in the same place, I would make a furtune!)
Jane x

sounds pretty nasty... bags not volunteering for clinical trials of your weight loss method though. seriously though i hope you get better soon.

Get well soon Jane - sounds horrendous - really hope you make a full recovery and get back on the bike real soon.

Yikes! Glad you are around to tell what little you can remember of your story - sounds pretty scary! Hope you recover quickly.

Jane, take it easy and stay focused. You will get better.

..and something we can learn from climbers and walkers..always leave a note or tell someone where you are heading and when you are planning to return. Always also mention what is your plan B if plan A goes wrong.

Thanks for the get well wishes!!
Today i can say around 3 words in a row with pausing! Oh i still cant type, the letters are all the wrong way round and i have to correct it all when i have finished!
weight loss to date is 9lb, complan is gross!
anyone else had anything like this happen? i have so many questions..especially on how long to recover etc...

nasty jane but if its any concillation you will get on the bike sometime soon i hope.... i burst one vertebrae and fractured two and had lung contusions and i'm back on the bike just keep the faith and be patient!! You must let your body heal

Jane, that sounds terrible.

It's mind-blowing that you were mugged and left like that.

I hope you're getting pampered while you recover.

Wow Jane this sounds pretty tough, but seems to me like you are handling it really really well. Keep your chin up, you will get better every day and before you know it, you will be back on your bike.

I too have suffered slow recovery from a surgery years back and know how frustrating it is when you are an active person straightjacketed by a position such as yours. It will get better, mine did and life has never looked better.

Take really good care of yourself now because you will reap the rewards later and will ultimately heal quicker.

Thank god for the internet eh, hope chatting with people virtually is keeping your spirits up. If you feel sh't, get on here and chat or... your could always go to Singletrackworld and wind up a few blokes :-) Keep us posted on your progress x

you poor thing. those darn car drivers just dont care what they do. here's hoping your on the mend.

Nelli - that's a good point, we always do some kind of route plan for climbing and walking but never for cycling, but often we cover similar terrain.

Jane's experience shows that accidents happen everywhere - not just in remote mountain situations.

Hmmm, going to have a think as to how I can amend the Scout route card for cycling.....

Cheers Girls, making me feel a bit more positive..police doing an appeal for witnesses to hit/run, not much chance though i dont think..expensive day out, new bike wrecked, and they cut off my windstopper/tights etc, lost my helemt/mp3 somewhere too...anyone got good insurance to cover this sort of thing??? i might take it out for future..
I am back to the neuro day unit tomorrow, prob for some basket weaving or something equally entertaining!
My speech is slightly better, can string 3 words in a row without stopping, how frustrating when people finish off my sentences for me...and get it wrong and i have to start again!
i am walking to the ambulance station each day and sitting with my colleagues so i can practise my speech, feel silly talking to dogs all the time...they think i have tourettes anyhow ;)
shame there is not a "live" chat room in here..altohugh i am a little slow and type back to front all the time!

Sounds like you're making good progress, it's good to hear.
As far as insurance goes M&S house insurance offers the best cover, there's a thread about it on here somewhere.
Take it easy
;D

Good luck Jane, plenty PMA (Positive Mental Attitude). Although you do seem like you already have plenty PMA.

well today i went back to the hospital to have some more tests, they were basic 5 year old stuff, but mouth is still not in sink with brain so hence didnt do great, the doc was patient and forgave my swearing/frustration! apparently i have suffered diffuse axon damage? (must look this up later...)nerves in brain stretched/torn and can take days to die?
i actually feel well in myself apart from constant tedious headache..she says i can drive!!!! how about cycle????i dare not ask her that one...
I have been referred to the neuro re-hab team, and await an appointment.. I have also been put on amitriptyline to help with my sleep/appetite, although i not sure i wanna start taking them to be honest.. (the weight loss is good and i can sleep in the day?!)
hope everyone else doin ok? nice rides? its a bit chilly mind...

Glad to hear you are feeling better. Just take it easy!

I know you just want to get out and ride. Have you a turbo trainer? I had a pretty bad head injury last year (in hospital for 3 days) and I spent my recovery just turning my legs over on the turbo - at least if you do start to feel rough you can just get off. I know they are boring but it was better than just staring at the walls going crazy! Don't venture out off-road just yet!

Get well soon.