Ella's Health

[amartin71718]

In the female side of the bloodline, the hereditary illness was apparent in other forms. Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna was a very sick lady.

I came across this statement in the 'Alexandra and her Health' board (pg. 54) and was wondering if anyone could add any more detail to it. Thanks!

[Eric_Lowe]

Well...She was in better health than Alicky though. Their sisters VMH & Irene both lived to ripe old age.

[matushka]

Siridovich wrote somewhere in his first tome of "The last years of the court of Tsarskoe Selo" that GD Elisabeth was very unhealthy. I do not know exactly what does he mean. I only know for sure that Ella had to take a cure in Germany (Franzenbad) in 1896. Elsewhere in their letters and diaries I remember they mentions problem with legs (blood circulation?). Then she had a chirurgical intervention in 1907, something very serious which was discussed in those forum pages. Reading the letter she zrote to the Tsar announcing her operation, I was amazed by the fact she had serious pains during years and she never complained about it, having a very active life. Can find the quote if you want. Do people of those times know something else, perhaps related to infertility? I am aslo looking for information!

[Eric_Lowe]

That is a pretty broad statement --"unhealthy". I think Alicky was more sickly than her reminding of her "cure" in Harrogate before her marriage. After that she complained of constant series of "migrine headaches" in the first years of marriage.

[Svetabel]

Grand Duchess sometimes had serious illnesses - not only usual seasonal like cold and flue - but once in 1897 she had measles.

In 1898 by accident her nasal bridge was seriuosly damaged and she had little scars on it and on forehead.

[Svetabel]

Also she had parotit in 1893.

[amartin71718]

In 1898 by accident her nasal bridge was seriuosly damaged and she had little scars on it and on forehead.

How did that happen?

[Svetabel]

In 1898 by accident her nasal bridge was seriuosly damaged and she had little scars on it and on forehead.

How did that happen?

She was driving in a landau with her husband and some friends and grade crossing-gate dropped just right on her. Other passengers had no injuries.

[Thomas_Hesse]

That is a pretty broad statement --"unhealthy". I think Alicky was more sickly than her reminding of her "cure" in Harrogate before her marriage. After that she complained of constant series of "migrine headaches" in the first years of marriage.

Like Ella Alexandra suffered from sciatica and gout - I think that Ella mentioned problems in one foot once. The severe headaches were probably inherited from their grandfather Prince Karl of Hesse - Princess Irene and Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig suffered from that too. Prince Karl had it even as a child!

All in all Ella seems to have had quite a good constitution as a young woman - once she wrote about herself the German saying "I've got a horse's health". For instance she writes about the service of the water consecration of the Neva which even the ladies had to attend outside in January. Some ladies of them - like Maria Pavlovna t.e. - had to leave because they felt unwell and were afraid to faint. Ella says that she bore it perfectly well.

[Kalafrana]

'Grand Duchess sometimes had serious illnesses - not only usual seasonal like cold and flue - but once in 1897 she had measles.'

It would be surprising if someone living in that era went through life without getting measles.Before vaccinations it was pretty much universal. I was born in 1959 and had it aged three. In my age group anyone who hadn't had it by the age of ten was looked upon as a distinct oddity and rather spoilt and sheltered.

Ann

[Kimberly]

She also either had fibroids (or endometriosis)...which is very uncomfortable to say the least !!

[Svetabel]

At this thread:

http://forum.alexanderpalace.org/index.php?topic=11791.75

Marty asked about the medical report of the oncotomy - surgery in January 1908 year.

And here's this report, translated by me from Russian. The text is from the edition about the correspondence between Grand Duchess and Nicholas II. I did my best in translating medical terms.

"A report by Dr Rein to Nicholas about an illness of Grand Duchess Elizaveta Feodorovna

Your Imperial Majesty!

In addition to the telegram sent by the chamberlain of Her Highness Grand Duchess Elizaveta Feodorovna there is our loyal report to Your Imperial Majesty:
Her Highness had been ill with fybromioma (benign tumor) during some years, but the last months this illness has became  progressive and the patient has been suffering a lot. We noted the growing of the tumor, profuse bleeding and periodical rising of the temperature because of an associated adnexitis. All that could lead to fatal complications and we considered the one possible radical method in our case – the surgery.

The operation was done this morning at Her Highness’ hospital in a special room. The result is hopeful…

The tumor was excised by celiotomy incision, the fybromioma had grown much into  surrounding organs and broad ligaments at left.

The bleeding during the surgery was trivial, Grand Duchess exercised the chloroform anaesthesia quite well.

The surgery was aceptic. The full time of it was an hour and a half, the tumor was excising during an hour. The surgery was very difficult technically. The complications after it can make place during the next 3 days.
Her Highness regained senses just after the surgery.

Your Imperial Highness’ most loyal subjects:
Academician Rein
Honorary Surgeon in Ordinary,Professor S.Botkin"

It's interesting that 9 days after the surgery Dr. Rein was invited to the Alexander Palace where he told to the Imperial Pair the details of the surgery. Empress Alexandra even asked Dr.Rein to paint the operation schematically.

[amartin71718]

Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you! 

[Eric_Lowe]

Unfortunately not too much is known about Ella's health before in that detail. Wonder who was her regular doctor in Russia ?

[amartin71718]

Also she had parotit in 1893.

What do you mean by parotit?