A Cautionary tale

I just finished the Feb 13th Marina sailing to French Polynesia.What.a Cruise.

Of the cruises I've been on over the years its the only one I'd do over again.The water and snorkeling are amazing.Anyhow,my tale starts on the first day in Fakarava where the coral reef kicked my butt

I knew to steer clear but obviously I wasn't paying attention and soon I was on top of it with waves breaking over me tossing me about.When I finally got out and into open water i knew I had some abrasions,they stung a bit.However it wasn't until I was back on board that I saw the full extent of my injuries.Hard to ignore them actually as I was bleeding all over the place from multiple cuts/abrasions front and back mainly on legs! Used some antiseptic spray on board and was told by the guy running the tour to put lemon juice on everything as that would neutralize some of the bacteria

I cleaned my wounds,got lemons from room service and proceeded to follow the advice

Holy crap did that hurt!!!

Had brought Bacitracin ointment with me and used that 3-4 times/day.I had four days without any water exposure so thought that would help heal things.I'm 65 but without any preexisting health problems and have always healed quickly

Not this time.By day 6 the abrasion and cut on my right calf was worse-redness was spreading and cellulitis developing

I had no fever or drainage but it didn't look good so off I went to the clinic where they debrided it,dressed it and put me on two broad spectrum antibiotics.Now I am a critical care nurse so I thought what I was doing was the right thing.But in retrospect I should have gone to the clinic immediately.Funny thing is the wound that looked worse is healing fine but the leg one isn't. After the fact I did research and one can get septic from something like this or even a small cut can develop into a big problem

So my advice is please take these injuries seriously,especially if you have any health issues.Coral and salt water are bacterial cesspools Things are OK now,I think, after more than two weeks on most of my wounds but it will be another couple of weeks before my leg is healed.And being on systemic antibiotics is no picnic.

My first aid kit will be more robust the next time I take a trip where snorkeling is involved. I plan to pack hydrogen peroxide,betadine,antibiotic ointment,non stick dressings and Occlusive water proof dressings.Also plan to get some diver/rash guard pants.

Hope you heal soon. I can visualize a bit how it was when you were snorkeling. Three years ago I was snorkeling in Bora Bora. Most beautiful place to go snorkeling. Our first stop was with the black tip sharks and rays. Wonderful snorkeling. Crystal clear water.

The second place the boat stopped was also very nice. However, there were large boulders of a brown coral near the surface. All of a sudden I was swimming on top of them and did not want to move too much in case I scraped my arm or leg. Calm waters and was able to get to another area. Still, that area of the world is a great place to snorkel.

Thanks for reminding us that coral is hard and can hurt and damage our skin.

Thanks for sharing. I will definitely add items to my travel kit.

Wow,, thanks for the information---we plan a trip cruise soon on "O". Hope you get better soon. Rick

I had a similar problem years ago when snorkeling in Belize. I slid over coral not realizing how close I was. Fortunately for me I didn't really have any injuries! But your story is a good one for all of us to bear in mind!

Recover well ...

Mura

I had a similar problem years ago when snorkeling in Belize. I slid over coral not realizing how close I was. Fortunately for me I didn't really have any injuries! But your story is a good one for all of us to bear in mind!

 

Recover well ...

 

Mura

I was on that boat with you. We were quite shocked at the extent of your wounds and wondering how you had fared. Glad to hear you are on the mend but not surprised about the infection. On a happier note, it really was a great cruise and thank goodness for the change in itinerary!

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Glad to hear things are improving.

A word of wise...always clean the wounds under drinking quality tap water.Try not to apply antiseptic cream or spray to open wounds or burns.This can damage the skin and prevent healing.Apply a sterile adhesive dressing.Keep changing dressing as often as needed until wound is closed.. Use waterproof dressing so you are able to shower only.

A jagged edge wound is particularly liable to become infected.

In this sort of circumstance get someone medical to check ASAP.Sepsis occurs very quickly.

Judi, I've been thinking about you since we all got home. Hope your abx weren't as expensive as mine! Wishing you complete healing. Andee

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I just finished the Feb 13th Marina sailing to French Polynesia.What.a Cruise.

Of the cruises I've been on over the years its the only one I'd do over again.The water and snorkeling are amazing.Anyhow,my tale starts on the first day in Fakarava where the coral reef kicked my butt

I knew to steer clear but obviously I wasn't paying attention and soon I was on top of it with waves breaking over me tossing me about.When I finally got out and into open water i knew I had some abrasions,they stung a bit.However it wasn't until I was back on board that I saw the full extent of my injuries.Hard to ignore them actually as I was bleeding all over the place from multiple cuts/abrasions front and back mainly on legs! Used some antiseptic spray on board and was told by the guy running the tour to put lemon juice on everything as that would neutralize some of the bacteria

I cleaned my wounds,got lemons from room service and proceeded to follow the advice

Holy crap did that hurt!!!

Had brought Bacitracin ointment with me and used that 3-4 times/day.I had four days without any water exposure so thought that would help heal things.I'm 65 but without any preexisting health problems and have always healed quickly

Not this time.By day 6 the abrasion and cut on my right calf was worse-redness was spreading and cellulitis developing

I had no fever or drainage but it didn't look good so off I went to the clinic where they debrided it,dressed it and put me on two broad spectrum antibiotics.Now I am a critical care nurse so I thought what I was doing was the right thing.But in retrospect I should have gone to the clinic immediately.Funny thing is the wound that looked worse is healing fine but the leg one isn't. After the fact I did research and one can get septic from something like this or even a small cut can develop into a big problem

 

So my advice is please take these injuries seriously,especially if you have any health issues.Coral and salt water are bacterial cesspools Things are OK now,I think, after more than two weeks on most of my wounds but it will be another couple of weeks before my leg is healed.And being on systemic antibiotics is no picnic.

My first aid kit will be more robust the next time I take a trip where snorkeling is involved. I plan to pack hydrogen peroxide,betadine,antibiotic ointment,non stick dressings and Occlusive water proof dressings.Also plan to get some diver/rash guard pants.

infections from coral are serious, staph is airborne in the tropics and have you ever seen a fish restroom? ( hint your swimming in it and the temp is perfect for bacteria to thrive and the air humid enough to keep it going. )

When around coral I always wear a wet suit or jeans and a long shirt.. Funny but safe.....even in 80 degree water

ANY cut or abrasion in the tropics Hawaii or Tahiti should be treated at once and with serious meds. Hydrogen peroxide, Bleach , but not Lemons while being acidic they also have sugars in them which the bacteria love. See the ships doctor at once...dont mess around, a small infection can bloom into septic shock which can be lethal or you loose a limb/. Paradise has its dangers, I lived for 10+ years in it.... and used to be a Paramedic.

I got a scrape on Easter island and wound up getting 2 weeks 3x a dAY of IV therapy with Cipro ( an extreme antibiotic) Keep away too from fresh water in the tropics as you can easily get MERSA..

Glad to hear things are improving.

A word of wise...always clean the wounds under drinking quality tap water.Try not to apply antiseptic cream or spray to open wounds or burns.This can damage the skin and prevent healing.Apply a sterile adhesive dressing.Keep changing dressing as often as needed until wound is closed.. Use waterproof dressing so you are able to shower only.

A jagged edge wound is particularly liable to become infected.

In this sort of circumstance get someone medical to check ASAP.Sepsis occurs very quickly.

Jane you cite common wound care for UK and USA. in cool non tropical regions.

YOU are in the Tropics and even a scratch which breaks the skin or an abrasion is subject to staph infections and MERSA...

Clean the wound as soon as possible and head directly to seek medical help... an MD. Don't even dream that you can handle it.. you need help quickly... do not procrastinate go as soon as possible

.This is for ANY wound or bite or scrape ..this is no joke. its not Disneyland out there !!!

Jane you cite common wound care for UK and USA. in cool non tropical regions.

 

YOU are in the Tropics and even a scratch which breaks the skin or an abrasion is subject to staph infections and MERSA...

Clean the wound as soon as possible and head directly to seek medical help... an MD. Don't even dream that you can handle it.. you need help quickly... do not procrastinate go as soon as possible

.This is for ANY wound or bite or scrape ..this is no joke. its not Disneyland out there !!!

Agreed Dan,Hence I said in theses circumstances get someone medical to check ASAP.

My dear husband had a minor abrasion on his ankle and 12 hours later when we landed at LAX from Rurutu, he had a suppurating painful mess. Was on 2 antibiotics and had to consult with an Infectious Disease and Wound Care specialist. Another time, he contracted Pseudomonas Pneumonia after spending 4 weeks on Huahine and Moorea.....snorkeling in the wonderfully beautiful and interesting water. It was almost 2 months before he was right again.Again, the specialist told him he most likely received the infection by snorkeling in French Polynesia.

Has he snorkeled in FP since? YES!! But we both learned that if anything untoward and unexpected happens over there, seek medical attention asap.

BTW, dilute the hydrogen peroxide with water 50-50. Otherwise full strength hydrogen peroxide damages tissue.

All good responses . As for the lemon juice- it’s all I had and was recommended . Def plan to dilute the H2O2

And Andee- my leg is healing fine but it will be awhile before all the redness goes away from my various scrapes

Oh and it’s MRSA, short for Methcillin Resistant Staph Aureus

All good responses . As for the lemon juice- it’s all I had and was recommended . Def plan to dilute the H2O2

And Andee- my leg is healing fine but it will be awhile before all the redness goes away from my various scrapes

Oh and it’s MRSA, short for Methcillin Resistant Staph Aureus

Judy,

Flood a bag for me TKO

Very educational discussion. Hope for your complete healing.

A bit off topic. Since there have been a few threads about how expensive medical care on an Oceania ship can be, would you share approx. cost of your visit? Totally understand if that is too private for you.

Again, thanks for the info.

I went to the clinic for a UTI. Was told in advance that the MD charge would be $149, which I thought was very reasonable. Dipstick was $39, cheap.

Without discussing options, MD gave me a mega antibiotic, not appropriate for my infection; the charge was $400. That afternoon, after I requested my statement, I read the MD the riot act and he switched to a $200 med. I had the same infection several weeks earlier, and the abx cost $20.

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I was on two broad specttum antibiotics - both generic. Their cost was the bulk of my charge for the visit- over $300 for the two of them and $575 total A follow up visit to get dressing supplies and check on a rash was $123. I was concerned I had a drug rash but it was just multiple insect bites.! Funny, don’t remember being bit at all. The steroid cream was $25!!! Another thing to add to my first aid kit!

However my personal insurance will cover 85% after my yearly deductible is met and I will then submit the rest to my travel insurance company

I’ve been back to work and lectured by one of the ICU docs I work with ☹️ She said I could have had a particularly nasty infection caused by a vibreo species of bacteria that live in coral . I almost texted a doc friend of mine for advice, should have. He probably would have told me what kind of antibiotic the ships doc should order !

Live and learn

Thanks for posting this. We're off to French Polynesia later this year so

a) glad to hear you enjoyed it, and

b) thanks for the warning about the coral.

JudiK,

You were probably bitten by nonos which are like our no-seems. They're everywhere in FP. We wear repellent day and evening. Some types of Skin So Soft have a sun screen in them which is handy when beaching it. Will get the name if you'd like.

Very educational discussion. Hope for your complete healing.

 

A bit off topic. Since there have been a few threads about how expensive medical care on an Oceania ship can be, would you share approx. cost of your visit? Totally understand if that is too private for you.

 

Again, thanks for the info.

Not a problem.... for almost 3 weeks one surgical drain and IV with Cipro 2x a day for almost 3 weeks came to a tidy$ 6200.00 being classified as emergency treatment m Kaiser Perm. my carrier paid 100% I am on Medicare and know they dont pay out of the USA but Kaiser is my backup. My retirement pays the premium . If you have Kaiser they will pay 100% anywhere in the world...

Hey I had a recent Hospital stay with Kaiser and the bill came to $1,235,126.00 I has a $10 co pay. Kaiser=GOOD

I was on two broad specttum antibiotics - both generic. Their cost was the bulk of my charge for the visit- over $300 for the two of them and $575 total A follow up visit to get dressing supplies and check on a rash was $123. I was concerned I had a drug rash but it was just multiple insect bites.! Funny, don’t remember being bit at all. The steroid cream was $25!!! Another thing to add to my first aid kit!

However my personal insurance will cover 85% after my yearly deductible is met and I will then submit the rest to my travel insurance company

I’ve been back to work and lectured by one of the ICU docs I work with ☹️ She said I could have had a particularly nasty infection caused by a vibreo species of bacteria that live in coral . I almost texted a doc friend of mine for advice, should have. He probably would have told me what kind of antibiotic the ships doc should order !

Live and learn

if your in a region of the USA that Kaiser INS covers grab it has NONE of this deductible charges they pay 100% no deductible, any where in the world not just in the local region you live !!! That is awesome.

JudiK,

You were probably bitten by nonos which are like our no-seems. They're everywhere in FP. We wear repellent day and evening. Some types of Skin So Soft have a sun screen in them which is handy when beaching it. Will get the name if you'd like.

That has to be the answer! I had a bunch of itchy bumps up and down my arm. I admit to not using repellent because I never get bitten Of course in malaria areas I always use precautions but again I never get bitten

Thanks for the costs provided. It is staggering. Travel insurance needed just to cover my deductibles...

Thanks for the costs provided. It is staggering. Travel insurance needed just to cover my deductibles...

In reviewing medical costs You can expect $1500.00 for any ER visit+ meds which may run $150 each !!! Better yet get an insurance that does not have deductable

if your in a region of the USA that Kaiser INS covers grab it has NONE of this deductible charges they pay 100% no deductible, any where in the world not just in the local region you live !!! That is awesome.

Kaiser is decent insurance but it definitely has its drawbacks.

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