helen haywood

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…

Thank you so much for that information!! Of course, now that I think about it I’ve seen the passenger seat…it’s just generally obscured by excess luggage…😊 Being able to take the Park n Go shuttle would certainly be easier. I just called Guest Services and the lady I spoke to didn’t sound like she was very familiar with the process…so I’m going to have DH go in person. As an aside…we’re in port at Antigua today. There is a radio station playing music for the pier…currently playing that island favorite… Brick House by the Commodores…

This is a timely suggestion! Even though my leg isn’t giving me any pain…my shoulders and arms are today…and I have large purple bruises on each inner arm…

Thank you everyone!! Yes, X gave me a wheelchair to use. I have crutches the doctor gave me to manage around the cabin. Boy…that little lip into the bathroom…that I never gave a thought to!!! Thank goodness I’m not in any pain except my underarm/side breast area doesn’t like the crutches. I was going to call Guest Services today and say I needed a wheelchair to get off…I’ve just experienced and read about people being told one thing on board…and once off it’s a whole other story. I knew there would be some experts here!! I’m also going to call Park ‘n’ Go today and tell them I can’t get up the three tall steps of their shuttle and I’ll need to take a taxi and once I get there could they fetch our car. We have a 6 hour drive home…I’ll stretch out in the back seat of the Tahoe…and try to not have a heart attack at my husband’s driving….

Fell on the ship today…medical was very good…sent me to an orthopedic doctor here on St. Thomas. He confirmed fracture…put another cast on and said I would be able to wait for surgery until I get home in four days. I certainly indeed to ask these questions onboard…but I’ve read on people being told one thing onboard and finding out it was different in the terminal. My questions are, to anyone who has been in this situation…how far will the ship wheel you in their wheelchair? I can’t walk. The doctor gave me crutches but I can’t go more than a few feet. Can they go as far as to a taxi? And we’re parked at Park n Go…I’m going to call them to say I can’t get in their shuttle…can’t get up those three steps…so I guess I’ll have to take a taxi from the terminal to Park n Go. Really looking for information from anyone who has unexpectedly wound up in a wheelchair and can share their disembarkation story.