What's the worst injury/illness you have ever had at Christmas?

[OneUmberJoker]

Only Flu for myself

Aged 20, haemorrhage in my eyeball, so was blind in one eye. Had to wait a fortnight to find out when the blood cleared if I would be able to see or if my retina had become detached....

Mmm.

Flu.
Covid
Crohns relapse
2 black eyes and a broken nose after a pre-Christmas accident.
On crutches non weight bearing after surgery

Not all the same year you understand!

hospitalised with quinsy and was on two drips, one for IV antibiotics and the other to hydrate me as the abscesses were so large I could not even drink fluids let alone eat

Mumps as a kid, can't remember what age, can't remember a lot except for feeling so sore and ill, and not consuming much other than hot Ribena.

Pluerisy and pneumonia, 2019. Hospital/Gp entirely uninterested. Eventually A&E de chucked me some antibiotics and strong painkillers. It was horrendous for 6 weeks. I thought I would die. I was coughing up bronchial casts the lot. One huge one in front of an A&E dr “ewww, that’s like spaghetti!” She said and then said “well, what do you want us to do about it?”

It was 3 months before I could walk up the stairs without losing my breath.

A miscarriage on Christmas Day many years ago, flu about ten years ago that wiped me out - I soldiered on with dinner, etc, and collapsed on Boxing Day, and a horrible bout of conjunctivitis two years ago that only cleared up with two rounds of antibiotic eyedrops.

Covid, caught it Christmas Day. 3 weeks off work and the hassle of chasing down antivirals

This time last year I had piles that ruptured, have never felt pain like it. Like shitting broken glass not just every time I went to the loo but every time I moved a muscle so all I could do was lie on the sofa shivering from the strong painkillers. Completely ruined the entire winter last year for me, thank god DH stepped up and sorted everything for Christmas and new year.

This and the previous story about the melted dress oil burn has convinced me to never, ever use foil trays at Christmas! Sounds horrific.

I’m so sorry.

Gastroenteritis which lasted from christmas eve to the day after boxing day so I missed the family get together. In bed most of the time. It was my first flat and neither not my parents were on the phone so no one knew why I didnt turn up.

Coming down with Flu while 8 months pregnant actually on Christmas day was the worst 'on Christmas day' one. Cause PPROM and my DS to be premature although that didn't happen until a week later.

I did nearly died many years ago from sepsis and spent several weeks in hospital including intensive care which started in November and dragged on. was in for nearly 2 months, I however got out just in time for Christmas day though so not sure that counts.

Being in hospital on Christmas day must suck. It definitely sucked in the run up as a kid. Every wannabe celeb and charity show up to milk the kids unit for press... they don't care that your sick and in pain if they think they can wheel you out for a photo op and the hospital jump too it because the make 'donations'. Somehow despite all my bad luck health wise I have always managed to get out by Christmas day.

A pilonidal cyst. So painful

My niece was in GOSH as a child. They had a footballer in for some celeb photos.

They tried it with my niece. My sister told them to fuck off. She said it just felt so exploitative when her child was so ill.

Covid, lost my taste and could only manage a plain jacket potato for Christmas dinner.

Flu. 13 years ago, took to my bed on Christmas Day and didn’t get out of it until New Year’s Day. DC’s, 4 and 7 at the time, had it too. We were renting a tiny house, DCs slept with me and DH slept on sofa, I was terrified DH would catch it too. All 3 of us lay in bed with cold, wet flannels on us trying to cool down. It was a hideous time.

Being diagnosed with cancer on Christmas Eve.

MS relapse at the moment, started high dose steroids on xmas eve, feel like im walking through treacle and am completely wiped out

I know both the treacle and the wipeout - Sending solidarity and hugs, and best wishes for recovery 🤗

Probably when I had a cold and flu around 12 years ago that dragged over Xmas and New Year. I've had coughs and colds over Christmas since childhood, my Mum caught one off me at New Year once, but nothing like what I had that time. I also remember a few years ago having a cold that started a few days before Xmas and on the morning, my youngest asked me to smell a lip balm and I couldn't smell it so did a Covid test which was negative.

My Mum had Covid just before Xmas year before last and somewhat got through the day - I remember stressing myself out at the thought of plans changing and having a meltdown at the school gates before a mad dash round Morrisons but thankfully she was well enough to have us over on the day!

I also found out through my daughter that her Dad had D&V Christmas night and Boxing Day - I would have been stressed when we were together about it ruining Christmas.

I was deathly ill, I was by this point septic and had gone into multiple organ failure and they had moved me in a special room they had so that when you die it doesn't upset the other children and they can get the body out without having to wheel it past other children.

They then woke me up WITHOUT pain meds (so I would be lucid) to do a photoshoot with some D list sports celeb... I scream instantly in so much pain they had to reverse it and re-sedate me instantly. I was awake for maybe 30 seconds and they did not get their shot.

To this day I wonder what the fuck possessed them to think to remove pain med from a child where they though death was imminent for a publicity stunt was ok.

By a miracle I obviously survived, a week later I made an amazing recovery but I have never even liked sports so obviously did not care about some local teams random 'star player'.

I had done several other 'group' shoots in the month leading up to Christmas (when I was conscious and could join in the 'activities' before I took septic). I didn't really mind when I felt ok some random celeb walking through (although I didn't know who any of them where, it was never like kids entertainers just random soap and sports stars etc...).

The one that annoyed me most (and you can maybe tell from some details it was quarter of a century ago) was when they came around like Santa with a sack and gave us all presents (second hand soft toys, most where dirty and stunk of smoke) and photographed us opening them, then after they got the photo they collected them back off us and left.

It was explained to us by the nurses that they weren't actually presents 'for us' and that they needed to take them for the next children at the next hospital as if we where being 'selfish' for questioning it. God know how that works with cross contamination because as they found out a week later that I had a highly contagious bacterial chest infection.

I have seen charities that claim they are collecting money for toys for kids in hospital and I remember that experience of them 'getting the photo' then taking the 'presents' back and call me skeptical but I just think they're scamming people out of money. I like to hope its better now but that pessimistic side of me thinks 'this shit never changes'.

Entire family went down with norovirus after Xmas dinner at dmil.

Dd started at 4.00 am, me at 6.00, Dh at 8.00, ds at 4pm.

Meanwhile this scenario was being repeated at relatives houses who’d been to the dinner all around us. 2 x Bil, one sil, various nephews and nieces and MIL.

Pancreatitis and obstructive jaundice caused by a black gallstone which also lead to cholecystitis while being 20 weeks pregnant.

*blocked not black!

Oh you poor thing, that is so painful.

I had a broken shoulder several Christmases ago. I went to the carols by candlelight service with my sling on and only when I was there did I realise I didn't have enough hands to hold the candle and the hymn sheet. The lovely lady next to me shared her hymn sheet with me. One of those acts of kindness from a stranger that you never forget.