Typing this not from my desk in Rutland with dogs sitting by my feet, or a train whizzing through autumn fields, nor a busy coffee shop or the kitchen table… but a hospital bed. This wasn’t quite the place I had imagined I would be writing my first UK blog from. But I am glad to be here.
Luce and I had a wonderfully relaxing week in NYC – shutting out the world once I had done various media interviews and sponsor meetings – and we flew home on Wednesday. While not at my healthiest in NYC, I’m happy my body held out its latest surprises until we got home. My GP prescribed various things for various infections and an apparent ‘What the heck is going on here?’ type reaction by my body to all the recent changes on Thursday morning and that evening, struggling to breathe, Luce took me to hospital.
I was admitted with suspected pulmonary embolism – but thankfully a scan suggested otherwise and I am now being treated for pneumonia and, as a precaution, for DVT. Two nights inside and I am feeling a lot better. Still a way to go but definitely heading down the right track.
So for now, I am signing out to get fit and healthy once more. Here’s hoping it happens super soon as Justine and I are planning some kayak training before the end of the month… For any kayaking with Justine is hardcore and she is a veritable machine. And right now I feel anything but.
Onwards.
Sarah x
P.S Happy Socks is en route to Seattle and Chimpy, is currently tucked up in a pocket at home.
P.P.S Thanks everyone for all the messages of support and donations to the L2L charities following my landing in Adak, Alaska. Any spare pennies and pounds gratefully received at : L2L charities
Wow Sarah – hardly surprising given what you have pushed yourself & your body through over the last few months. Such an extreme feat of endurance is bound to take its toll. Anyway – glad that you are in safe hands & on the mend. Here’s to a swift recovery.
Oh – will be wishing you a speedy recovery this afternoon as I go for a cycle in the starting-to-freeze Pyrenees wearing my L2L Buff 🙂
Sorry to hear about your illness, hope your body rebounds quickly to some much needed TLC and downtime at home. Congrats on all your accomplishments. Peace and love to you and Luce.
hi sarah,glad you are being looked after,bit of a bust being in hospital but you have been through the mill!,being back amoungst your closest will hopefully speed your recovery for which we are all really wishing,putting my buff to regula rgood use here on the windy wet east coast,versatile piece of kit,people have been asking about L2L so maybe that will stir some more interest,for now hope the recovery is swift,still amazed by your achievement!
regards
ian
Hi Sarah
Glad to hear that you are back safely after a wonderful time in NYC, but saddenned to hear that you are in hospital. Do hope that you soon get sorted out and will be at home again feeling much better. Thankfully you are back in the UK. Its not saurprising after what you have done over the recent months.
Just get better, big hug to you and of course to your Mum.
Love
C & K
O gosh sorry to heard you r not fighting fit but sure the hospital r looking after you and will get you right as rain in no time! You just rest up! 🙂
Take care! All best wishes for a good rest and return to sound health from Cape Town
Ingrid
A Happy Canadian Thanksgiving to you. Sending lots of healing thoughts your way and hope it won’t be long before you are back to kayaking strength. It’s not surprising your health has taken a bit of a dive after that amazing row!! All the best.
That you are posting from a hospital bed is NOT what I wanted to read! I guess you’re not quite finished with this leg of the adventure after all, are you?!
Please, please rest and follow orders so that you’re back to good health ASAP!! You need to be sitting at your desk with your dogs under your feet…and they need that too!
VERY relieved that a PE has been ruled out. Take good care, Sarah…rest, recover, rejuvenate!
Sorry to hear about the time in the hospital, but good thing you are smart enough to listen to the experts and get fully back on your feet! Wishing you a painless and speedy recovery! I look forward to any future posts you or Lucy share with all of us! Your adventure, your courage, and your strength during all of this is totally amazing!
Hopefully I will meet you sometime in Alaska next year.
Chris in Anchorage
People always say: Get well soon. I say get well now! Chanting, lighting candles and ringing bells for you, little one.
Just keep your mind from getting sick, …and you can welcome the future, any way you want to.
….for you are….Sarah Outen.
Sorry to hear about the hospital bed, but yr body and mind have been through so much, I guess something has to give! But thank God it happened as you say now and not before and you are in the best of hands with people everywhere caring for you. Get well soon and look fwd to yr continuing adventure.
cheers and all the best from a previous adventurer turned vicarious person now called housewife!!
jill o’h
Hi Sarah
Take it easy.
You need it and deserve it.
The old saying. When the going gets tough the tough get going.
Your it and more and you can do it.
Cheers from sunny Queensland
Sarah – my adventuring head case – training at the end of October is not going to happen and you need to switch off from stressing about training and get well!!!! Pneumonia is NOT something you can just shake off as much of a Superwoman you are. Lay back and think of ENGLAND for the next few months and then think forward to the rest of the World when you are 100% recovered…..x Susie
Hi Sarah,
Glad you and Luce had a good time to NYC. Also glad your health held out till you got back into the UK. Not nice being ill in another country. I’m hoping you get well soon and looking forward to hearing about your training with Justine. She sounds like a real pusher. Take it easy, rest up and you can stop pushing yourself now. Wow, what an inspiration you are…………….
Tim
Lake Erie, Ontario, Canada
Wow you poor thing. Speedy recovery to you. Nice that you are home with family for the holidays, but so sorry that your body is suffering. Thanks for the update. Nice to hear from you even though you are not in the ocean any more. Kind regards.
Sarah, I went thought DVT/PE episode and wound up on Warfarin. I live nearby and if you need any help, I will.
The critical care unit nurse in me is sssssooooo glad to hear it is not embolism PHEEWW!!
Oh dear, I have studyied physiologic adaptations to exercise in different environment (microgravity, altitude, deeps) I had no clue an adventure like yours was that rough on someone’s health. Body, without a doubt, drained in energy but ouuufff….. Hope you’ll get better soon and you will recover 100% without any permanent symptoms or anything.
I am still amazed by your accomplishment. (followed you on Twitter)
It’s nice to hear from you again even if you’re back home.
Thanks for sharing this incredible experience with the world.
Anne
P.S.: Will you be in France, when Mylène will arrive???
Hopefully yes for Mylene, depending on timing and how fit I am.
All best,
S
Poor you. Not overly surprised, but really sorry, to hear that your health has taken such a dip (pun not intended!). It just goes to show the power of the mind over the body. I guess that while you were on the ocean, your body rallied to cope with the incredible stresses that your mind was putting it through. Now you’ll have to respect what your body is telling you – rest and recover. Forget the thought of kayak training for now. Concentrate on relaxing, planning and getting properly better!
all the very best for a speedy recovery
hope to get the chance to hear more about stage 2 maybe at RGS in London – really enjoyed the talk on stage 1
Get well soon Sarah.Your successful voyage from Japan to Alaska has marked you out as a person of great courage and tenacity. now is the time to find a place of peace and contentment in the company of your loved ones and recover your strength ..
Love Mikexx
Thank heavens you weren’t on the deep blue sea when the lurgi struck… best wishes for a speedy recovery Sarah.
Good news – Sarah’s said good bye to her hospital friends and is now back recovering at home. All your messages much appreciated 🙂
My dear Sarah I am so pleased that you are now back home, where I know you will receive lots of
TLC. enjoy the rest and build up your strength.
love and ever blessing. June
So pleased to read that you’ve had the all clear to continue your recovery from home. Rest well, no one on earth has earned it more than you!
hi
hope you get well soon.
Virgil
If you feel like a Rutland visitor then just give me a shout, if you are still nearby. xx Got a children’s story about the lake to lend you – not by me! But it will tickle your sense of humour, I know. XP
Hiya Pam,
Mostly down in Ox these days but will shout if back home and around anytime soon. Would love to read the lake story!
Sx