We need a little “Magic”, right this very moment! – Completed

[franandaj]

2 weeks for you!!! ​

I know! And less than two weeks until we fly out. I hope that things go smoothly. I NEED to start packing (well I have but not REALLY).

 

[franandaj]

So we had a small setback yesterday. Fran went to see the Wound Doctor. We were hoping that they would discharge her, but evidently the last two wounds had scabbed over, but not actually healed underneath. So they knocked the scabs off and the Doctor did his poking and prying.

Before the Doctor came we talked with the nurse about the Helmet Dive and she said that she didn't think we should go in the saltwater with her wounds open as they were. We asked about getting a Doctor's note so that we could cancel without penalty, and she was sure that was not a problem.

When the Doctor came in we mentioned the whole thing and he was all, "No, I don't see a problem, just clean it out really good when you get back to the room with saline and put MediHoney in it and you should be fine."

Regardless, I need to go back to doing dressing changes everyday/otherday and bring all the wound care supplies on the trip, but we're really on the fence about the dive. I know the helmet dive would be fun, but now Fran is questioning if she can climb down the ladder. We looked at a lot of videos about how you got into the water and she was confident that she could do it. Now she is doubting, especially with the possibility of infection in the salt water. Also who knows, if the wounds are not completely scabbed over, the salt water may sting. She is thinking about having our Primary Care Doctor write a note excusing her in case she chickens out. I imagine we would have to do that the first day of the cruise....

Anyone have any insights?

 

[Pinkocto]

I don't think it would sting. Salt water and saline are essentially the same thing. The main difference is saline is sterile and salt water has microorganisms in it. I know I don't know Fran but from all you've shared with us when she gets an idea in her head it's hard to shake it. If she has started thinking it won't be a good idea it might be better to cancel now rather than have to do it later. I do think you'd have a great time though. Neither of you are claustrophobic right?

 

[dgbg100106]

We did a one way drop of the rental car, thru national. I am surprised they stopped that.

 

[franandaj]

I don't think it would sting. Salt water and saline are essentially the same thing. The main difference is saline is sterile and salt water has microorganisms in it. I know I don't know Fran but from all you've shared with us when she gets an idea in her head it's hard to shake it. If she has started thinking it won't be a good idea it might be better to cancel now rather than have to do it later. I do think you'd have a great time though. Neither of you are claustrophobic right?

Well, I'm not sure. She had to have an MRI earlier last year and she FREAKED out. Neither of us expected that. Maybe you're right. Perhaps there is something else we could book at this time. I'll talk to her tomorrow, I'd rather cancel now and rebook something than do it on the ship.

We did a one way drop of the rental car, thru national. I am surprised they stopped that.

Yeah, Corinna was able to get one on her trip, but I've been reading on the boards and no one seems to want to do it anymore. I looked into it and no companies were offering it.

 

[PrincessInOz]

I've been diving before and whilst I'm not claustrophobic, I wasn't entirely comfortable with the diving initially. It took me a good 10 minutes before I settled down enough to enjoy the dive. Having said that....Once I settled, I really loved the dive. DH really loved the diving.

But if you and Fran are having second thoughts, better cancel now rather than later.

 

[rentayenta]

I don't think the salt water will sting once she gets used to it but I think they'll be an initial burn and it may become quite itchy after. I don't think I'd do the dive if she's worried and the potential for pain is there.

 

[franandaj]

I've been diving before and whilst I'm not claustrophobic, I wasn't entirely comfortable with the diving initially. It took me a good 10 minutes before I settled down enough to enjoy the dive. Having said that....Once I settled, I really loved the dive. DH really loved the diving.

But if you and Fran are having second thoughts, better cancel now rather than later.

Well she had even started dive classes well back before I met her, but she broke her wrist on a bike ride and wasn't able to finish the class. I don't know if she would get claustrophobic, she's fine with a mask and snorkel, but we should probably talk about how she feels with the whole helmet thing and salt water in her potential wounds.

It would be better to reschedule now than later. I'm not having second thoughts, but I will do whatever she feels comfortable with.

 

[franandaj]

I don't think the salt water will sting once she gets used to it but I think they'll be an initial burn and it may become quite itchy after. I don't think I'd do the dive if she's worried and the potential for pain is there.

Well the Doctor said to clean out the wound as soon as we got back to the room and he thought we would be fine. The nurse said, "Don't talk to me if it comes back infected....." Tough call, my conservative side says pick something else. My other side says just go for it, saline will clean it out!

 

[rentayenta]

Well the Doctor said to clean out the wound as soon as we got back to the room and he thought we would be fine. The nurse said, "Don't talk to me if it comes back infected....." Tough call, my conservative side says pick something else. My other side says just go for it, saline will clean it out!

For the record and please tell Fran, I vote no. I never thought the words *stay on the conservative side* would leave my mouth but there ya go.

What are your other options for activities if you cancel the dive?

 

[dolphingirl47]

Yeah, Corinna was able to get one on her trip, but I've been reading on the boards and no one seems to want to do it anymore. I looked into it and no companies were offering it.

Enterprise does one way rentals, but you have to ring them. I was driving myself crazy trying to get this sorted online as it would not give me an option for Galveston. In the end it took a three minute call and I was all set.

As to the helmet dive, if in doubt, cancel it now. We did have a beach holiday about 2 months after Graham had his motorbike accident and not only did he still have deep wounds, but also external metal work. We checked with his consultant if he was OK to go in the sea and we had a similar answer to the one your doctor gave. The only extra thing because of the metal work was that he was not supposed to go in the sea on his own.

Corinna

 

[dgbg100106]

Well, I'm not sure. She had to have an MRI earlier last year and she FREAKED out. Neither of us expected that. Maybe you're right. Perhaps there is something else we could book at this time. I'll talk to her tomorrow, I'd rather cancel now and rebook something than do it on the ship.



Yeah, Corinna was able to get one on her trip, but I've been reading on the boards and no one seems to want to do it anymore. I looked into it and no companies were offering it.

Sorry to hear that, b/c that was one of the reasons we liked going out of Galveston...

 

[dgbg100106]

Well the Doctor said to clean out the wound as soon as we got back to the room and he thought we would be fine. The nurse said, "Don't talk to me if it comes back infected....." Tough call, my conservative side says pick something else. My other side says just go for it, saline will clean it out!

That was my thought too, doesn't the salt water clean it out?

 

[MomToPrincePhillip]

Oh that's not great news. Don't let it get in the way of all they other ways that Fran has been feeling better lately.

Is there another excursion that interests the 2 of you? Maybe if you found an alternative activity to get excited about it would help make the decision...

 

[ACDSNY]

Good luck with your decision, I think I'd cancel it and find something else you both might enjoy. With Fran's compromised immune system I wouldn't want to take any chances on an infection.

 

[franandaj]

For the record and please tell Fran, I vote no. I never thought the words *stay on the conservative side* would leave my mouth but there ya go.

What are your other options for activities if you cancel the dive?

Quite a few, I will give you an update!

Enterprise does one way rentals, but you have to ring them. I was driving myself crazy trying to get this sorted online as it would not give me an option for Galveston. In the end it took a three minute call and I was all set.

As to the helmet dive, if in doubt, cancel it now. We did have a beach holiday about 2 months after Graham had his motorbike accident and not only did he still have deep wounds, but also external metal work. We checked with his consultant if he was OK to go in the sea and we had a similar answer to the one your doctor gave. The only extra thing because of the metal work was that he was not supposed to go in the sea on his own.

Corinna

Good to know. In the end a rental car company wouldn't have worked out well for us since our plane arrives at 1:15AM, we would have had to wait around the airport that long or take a shuttle to a Houston Hotel and then come back and get the car and drive. In the end I think we worked it out pretty well. With Super Shuttle we get the whole van and believe me! I think with our luggage and the scooter, we WILL fill up that whole van!

Sorry to hear that, b/c that was one of the reasons we liked going out of Galveston...

Well, I'm glad that Corinna, cleared that one up. You still can!

That was my thought too, doesn't the salt water clean it out?

Well saline cleans out the wound, but with all the nasty little micro organisms living in the sea water and all the potential trash or sewage, I wouldn't trust it with her current condition. Besides, she is also on the immune-suppressant arthritis drugs, so if something got in there, it could take her right down.

Oh that's not great news. Don't let it get in the way of all they other ways that Fran has been feeling better lately.

Is there another excursion that interests the 2 of you? Maybe if you found an alternative activity to get excited about it would help make the decision...

See the next update!

 

[franandaj]

Good luck with your decision, I think I'd cancel it and find something else you both might enjoy. With Fran's compromised immune system I wouldn't want to take any chances on an infection.

You snuck in here just before I got my next post completed! See next post!

 

[franandaj]

So my last update wasn’t very happy. Besides Fran’s leg wounds reopening, we had a “different” sort of a set back. Two nights ago we went out to the Disneyland Resort for dinner. I wore some kind of “stupid” shoes. They weren’t heels or anything, I can’t wear those anyways. They were just flats, the problem was that they are a tad bit tight.

Well after eating lots of food (probably kind of salty) my feet swelled up, A TON. I couldn’t get my feet back in my shoes without them cutting into my heels. Fran was kind enough to offer me her scooter while she said she would walk. Besides it would help build up her strength for the 2 miles that she would need to walk for the Mayan Ruins tour.

She did great, we walked out of Disneyland, into DCA, over to Off the Page to pick up the item they had been holding for her, and then out to the car. Everything seemed to be fine. However, it was a little bit odd last night when she said at 7:30, “I need to lie down.” Without even eating the Philly Cheesesteak that she had ordered via delivery. I finished my dinner and went to bed pretty early. Well this morning, she woke up and announced that she felt like she had been run over by a truck.

As we sat getting dressed, she said that there was no way she was going to be able to do either of the excursions that we had booked. She just wasn’t up to climbing things, walking or getting in and out of buses. So after I fixed us some breakfast, I sat down at the DCL website and looked for what excursions were still available, and were not so taxing.

Most of the excursions included some sort of snorkeling or something so I overlooked those. But I found this “Duck Boat Excursion”.

On this tour you will:

• Meet your guide and board an amphibious "duck" style vehicle. Depart the Sea Port in George Town, Grand Cayman and ride the streets through downtown to see historic places and buildings including Heroes Square, The Traditions Monument, the parliament building, the historic library, as well as the only fort that was on the island.
  
• Leave downtown for a ride up historic Seven Mile Beach, one of the world's most famous beaches.
  
• Travel back to George Town where your vehicle will "splash" into the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean Sea. Once in the water, enjoy underwater views through one of 6 monitors with 2 underwater cameras. No need to get wet here as one of the tour guides will point out the historic living coral reefs with fish, sea turtles and countless marine life.
  
• Get to see a number of shipwrecks both above the water and deep down below. The Parrots of the Caribbean trolley boat will spend approximately 40 minutes on the water and about 30 minutes on land.
  
• Return back to land and conclude your tour back on the pier where you started.

Then for Cozumel we looked around at various excursions, there was another Mayan ruins which included about 1 mile of walking, but Fran was really worried about wearing herself out for the rest of the trip. She has been asleep in her chair next to me ever since we started re-researching excursions.

We finally settled on this one, which in actuality was my top choice overall when we were choosing them. She was thinking really big and lots of energy and exertion. That would be fine if we were working out and going to the gym every day, but at this time, my biggest energy exertion is taking out the trash cans every week!

On this tour you will:

• If you ever wanted to experience a taste of Mexico's traditional tequila, Discover Mexico Park is the perfect setting for this experience. Start your tour with a short 5-minute transfer to the Discover Mexico Park. Here you will take an approximate 20-minute self-guided tour of the Museum and view an immersive video collage that takes you to different corners of this marvelous country.
  
• Admire handcrafts fashioned by native artisans in the onsite museum and trace the evolution of Mexico's ancient civilization as you tour replicas of Chichén Itzá and other pyramids and reproductions of grand monuments and cathedrals.
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
• Next you will be delighted with a sample presentation of several different white and aged tequilas of surpassing quality, including tequila crème and liquor. You will learn the history of tequila and the process of this spirit that has been made for centuries. You will return an expert on the subject!
  
  
  
• During your Taco Buffet lunch, experience 6 completely homemade salsas and learn how to make margaritas from scratch! Included in your lunch are 3 beverages (margaritas, sodas or beer.)
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
• After your lunch, watch a live Papantla Flyers presentation in the courtyard.
  
• At the completion of your tour, take the short drive back to the pier.
  
• Lunch includes: Tinga tacos (beef), Cochinita pibil tacos (pork), Chorizo and potato tacos and 6 different salsas. Beverages include: Tequilas: anejo, reposado, blanco, cream of tequila, soda, margarita, beer and bottled water.
  
• All alcoholic drinks will be served only to Guests age 21 and older.
  
• Lockers are available at Discover Mexico Park for $2.00.

All in all, to me these sound like much more relaxing excursions than our previous choices. In my old age, I am getting much more finicky about getting wet, and with our current activity level, it would have been fun to see the ruins, but not sure how much I want to be walked around with a bunch of strangers being tied to a bus schedule, not being able to stop if I want or move faster if I am bored. At least with both these excursions we are not exerting a tremendous amount of energy so that we get tired out. AND, I still get some tequila. Instead of touring a factory, we’ll just have a chance to taste various kinds. Not that I don’t already know about Reposado, Anejo, etc. but I always like to hear someone else’s take on it.

 

[ACDSNY]

These sound like great choices!

 

[MomToPrincePhillip]

Sound like a plan Fran...and Alison