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Opinion: chicken soup

May 04 2015
On the street, germs are the enemy. © carnagenyc/Creative Commons On the street, germs are the enemy. © carnagenyc/Creative Commons
Being ill on the street is as tough as it comes, says a former rough sleeper

It starts with a sore throat. Rasping rawness in the back, sandpaper scratching away. Then there’s the hacking cough, plunging you into excruciating pain. Let’s add a running nose that makes your face raw from wiping.

Next we’ll throw in a pounding headache – thumping church bells going off in your head. Finally, chuck in a bit of lower back pain. Happy? Not finished yet... Here’s some back pain that makes you unable to walk for any length of time.

For more people it’s enough to justify a day off, lying in bed staring at the TV. The other half will make chicken soup and bring it on a tray. But no. You have to get up. Because you’re homeless and the police are about to shake you awake and move you on.

Most days are difficult enough on the street. The reality of the daily grind burrows into your psyche and takes root. Being homeless is not just a physical position: it’s a state of mind. When you’re on the street, though, being ill makes it tougher than tough. Even the less serious illnesses can be exaggerated. Being outside most of time doesn’t help. Neither does addiction, if you consider alcohol’s effect on the immune system. Suppressing the immune system makes the body vulnerable to attack from infections.

I’ve always felt that when I got ill on the street, it was best to seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Most major homeless day centres (in London, at least) will have a doctor on site, and if you get there early enough you will get seen. Ask the day centre staff where you can go to see a doctor. They should have a list of local GPs and health centres that will see you whether or not you have a fixed address.

I’ve used a fair few in my time.

While on the street I also ended up in hospital a few times. Once, I found myself in the ward after a bottle of vodka and a three-storey sky dive – I broke my ankle and had to have it repaired.

I used lots of painkillers over the week it took them to schedule the operation. It’s a strange feeling going under anaesthetic when you’re homeless. There is a stark contrast between the clinical sparseness of the operating theatre and the cold close, dirtiness of a car park stairwell.

I had been to the same hospital when I hypothermia the previous winter. At the time a student doctor tested me for diabetes because my blood sugar was high. In fact, it was a response to cold exposure and I didn’t have diabetes at all. I spent a year without chocolate for nothing!

Both times I was discharged back on to the street. The real problems begin once you leave the hospital and have to deal with the normal homeless issues with the added disadvantage of poor health.

After breaking my ankle was by far the worst medical thing I had to deal with on the street. Toughened me up a bit, no worries. But it was a pain in the proverbial to say the least.

They had me on crutches and this had a serious impact on mobility. I managed to get into a hostel but it was still a difficult thing to deal with. The hostel didn’t do any food, despite the money they charged to housing benefit. I found that at a time when nutritious food was needed to help my recovery, it was in scarce supply. There was certainly no physiotherapy. And I was still drinking at that point too. It can’t have helped.

One thing I do check out regularly is my sexual health. At least once a year, I go to a clinic and have a full screening. It isn’t just for you, but it’s for any partners you may have. It’s so easy to get drunk and sleep with the wrong person. Worse things can happen on the street too. At Guy’s Hospital, there is a clinic that will test you for everything. I found out about it on the internet though the NHS website. It’s a really relaxed environment and the staff are brilliant.

You go in and register and they test you that day. If the tests all come up negative, they don’t call you, as it saves them admin. No news is therefore good news. If you’re not in London, ask your day centre for details of your nearest clinic.

Prevention is better then cure, of course. Try and keep yourself clean as much as possible to prevent the spread of diseases like impetigo.

Pay special attention to your feet and intimate areas. Change your socks and underwear regularly.

I know the nature of addiction, but try to avoid drinking to excess on the street.

Especially during winter. There are services out there that can help you with this. If you are homeless and sustain immediate and serious injury, get to an A&E. Many hospitals also have a homeless team who you can speak to.

In winter, hypothermia can be life-threatening, so stay warm. Clothes in layers and sheltering in public buildings are the way through it. HIV can be caught by sharing needles or sex with an infected individual. Additionally, try to get screened for tuberculosis regularly.

Watch out for things like food poisoning too. Eat from reliable resources like soup runs or day centres. Never accept food, drink or drugs from someone you don’t trust. If you’re not well get to a doctor, and ask for medication, rest up as much as you can. Find a quiet place away from the crowd. Keep well fed when you have a cold, and have small controlled meals when there is a fever. Your body will burn more energy to fight an infection. I find this helps. Sometimes your health is all you have. So keep hold of it.

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December 2024 – January 2025 : Solidarity

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