helen haywood

If I tried to hold my husband’s carryon on my lap…I’d have a whole new set of problems! 🤭 But you were absolutely right about the wheelchair…since Amazon and I are on a first name basis I don’t know why I didn’t think of that!! I did just place an order for a folding wheelchair, which, sigh, I may need long enough that it certainly was cheaper to buy one. Got a toilet seat topper with handles too…my new glamorous life… Again, thanks for all the help.

We do have the first luggage tag number after self-debark/walk off. My husband can’t push me and wheel the carry on bag and carry my crutches. I’ll have him ask at Guest Services tomorrow whether we should go straight to Raw on 5 or bide our time in Tuscan. Food won’t be an issue…we will have already gone to Oceanview. Thanks for everyone’s help and good wishes.

One last question re disembarkation. Guest Services told me we have to be out of the cabins at 7 and to go to Raw on 5 where wheelchair assistance was first come first serve. But the disembarkation letter said to go to Raw on 5 at your scheduled departure time…which is 8:15. So if we leave the cabin at 7 and go to the Elite waiting area in Tuscan…my husband will have to wheel me there…then come back to the cabin to get our one carry on bag and my crutches. Then at 8 or so when we go to Raw on 5 he’ll need to make two trips again. Does this sound correct?

The place we usually stop has a huge woman’s bathroom…I’ll probably get him to go in with me…. Thank goodness for 37 years of marriage so I can put aside modesty… And I absolutely intend to do all PT as ordered!! I’ve read on here about how much of a difference it makes in people with joint replacements.

I’m mostly off my feet now. I gimp/hop along with the crutches just to get to the cabin bathroom or to the cabin door…then I’m in the wheelchair. Or lying down. Driving home will be an experience…I’m not sure I can really use crutches to get into a bathroom…afraid of slipping on a wet floor…but will have to cross that bridge when I come to it. I think I’ve found someone to loan me a wheelchair Sunday at home until I can rent one Monday. And hopefully get the surgery soon. Then weeks/months of trying to get back to normal…

Oh, I was aware hardware will be needed. I think I was told a plate and rods…. I have pins and screws in the other ankle from surgery back in 1975. I’m assuming orthopaedic surgery has progressed since then…

I have wondered if my arms should be straight or slightly bent on the crutches. I was afraid if I put too much weight on my wrists I’d be about to have another catastrophe.

My Cruise Critic name is Helen Haywood. A million years ago when I joined I thought it unwise to use your real name on the internet. Since then I have relaxed somewhat and therefore some people (notably Dani) know me by my real name. I was named after my maternal grandfather who was (and still is years after his death) my favorite relative so I’m very proud of the name. 😊

What are you saying?

That’s what the sheet said. Along with all the possible fatal side effects…. The St. Thomas doctor gave us a CD. My doctors office back home has got me a referral to an orthopedic surgeon not an appointment…but a “bring your X-rays by and we’ll see what we might want to do…”. They stressed I did NOT have an appointment. Another reason to not have accidents…

That’s good to know!! The information sheet said it could cause seriously shallow breathing…that could be fatal…and to take it under a doctor’s supervision!

Maybe down the road…but at the moment the leg with the cast is totally non weight bearing.

I forgot I’m 64 and need to be careful with every step I take…sigh. I was in the Oceanview Cafe eating lunch. I pushed back the low heavy chair…made more difficult by the carpeting underneath. Somehow the sole of my rubber soled sandals (which are a good idea to wear on cruises, yes?!) didn’t slide on the carpet and the chair leg may have played a part…I stumbled, twisted and fell. I could hear bones break. Passengers nearby were instantly at my side offering pillows…etc. I had fallen but not hit my head or back. Celebrity staff were also there instantly and told me medical help was on their way. Off to medical and after X-rays told it was a fracture that would need surgery and I would have to be evaluated by a doctor on St. Thomas as to whether the surgery needed to be done immediately. If not I could return to the ship. Thank goodness we had a late departure of 8 pm from St. Thomas. Not knowing what was going to happen I had DH go to the cabin and get our passports, wallet, cash, phone chargers, meds, etc. When the medical staff hadn’t yet gotten confirmation of the on island consult they said if DH wanted to go pack our bags in case we weren’t coming back and the bags would be given to the port agent…they’d send someone up to help him pack. They said they’d call him if I was ready to go. He only had time enough to get the cases out on the bed. So I’m wheeled off ship and only at the very last moment I’m told there is a $50 per person charge for the transport van. Luckily I’d had DH get the wallets! I wasn’t surprised at all…but they should tell people earlier to not have a delay if you need to go back to your cabin for more cash. Transport van does not take credit cards. But it turned out the medical staff information was incorrect…it’s $25 per person each way. The orthopedic doctor I saw came highly recommended. We had pictures of the X-rays so he didn’t need to do more for diagnosis. “Closed fractures of the distal tibia and distal fibula.” He said this injury always required surgery…but that I’d be OK to go on with the cruise. Whew! I’d looked into flights and hotels and the logistics were overwhelming. He took off X’s cast, rearranged my foot to relieve some pressure on my skin and put me in another soft sided cast. Got a pair of crutches. The device of the devil!!! (If you’re out of shape and over 20…) He prescribed what he called extra strength Tylenol …the bottle says Tramadol. The leg isn’t hurting at all and the printed information on the Tramadol was so frightening I was afraid to take any! Today I took some acetaminophen because my arms and shoulders really dislike those crutches!! (You should see the charming huge purple bruises on my inner arms!!) Celebrity let me keep the wheelchair but it won’t fit in the cabin door so I’m on crutches in the cabin…and getting over that small step into the bathroom is a killer. With DH’s help I managed to wash my hair in the sink. 😊 I was able to contact my PA back home and she got me a referral to an orthopedic specialist. They just called and are forwarding my info to their branches. Hopefully someone calls me tomorrow and hopefully I can be seen soon next week. Lots of logistics to work out once home. Can’t get a rental wheelchair until the day after we get home so I plan on using a wheeled office chair… Thank you so much to those who expressed sympathy! I wasn’t going to post it here until I got home and had more idea of next steps…

@grandgeezer I had previously tried a knee scooter when I had a stress fracture. It didn’t work for me. I’ll try wrapping the crutches and hope for a quick surgical appointment and hope I recover in a timely fashion. I’m lucky my DH is being a big help…and that we had already moved to a main floor bedroom house!!!

I think I’ll see if I can get the front passenger seat on the shuttle. That would be less confusing at Port Everglades where DH would have to come back thru port security…and I don’t want to be by myself…