Help - long one catalogue of events

[kazdav]

Hold on to your hats it’s a long one.
Arrived on Thursday afternoon, went to collect car from Dollar which I had booked through AutoEurope, had paid for the Platinum equivalent but found that this no longer includes road side assistance so this was an extra $5.99 per day + tax. Then found out that our TomTom which I had lovingly carried in my hand luggage seemed to have lost its US maps. Back to the desk for a satnav, got a Garmin for $12.99 per day + tax (We are here 21 days!).

Got to the villa okay, was slightly disappointed as it was quite tired looking, carpets need replacing and a note to tell us that the TV wasn’t working. (This is apparently being fixed today). Friday arrived and we spent the day at the pool, later I went in the house to find it rather warm. On checking the thermostat saw it was 86 deg, thought the kids had been messing with a/c but no it was knackered. Called management company who got out an engineer, turned out the compressor had gone and it was going to cost $$$$$’s to get it fixed and this could not be done until Monday. The management company have moved us into a much nicer house whilst we wait for it to be fixed but as I said to the lady as nice as this house is I would rather we were still at the original house because it’s a pain having to go back and forth for clothes, food, drinks even washing up liquid etc.

This was all happening late Friday evening bearing in mind that I had to go to the airport to pick up hubby who had been travelling for 48 hours from Iraq.

When we collected him we had to have him added to the car and we decided to return the satnav and buy one locally as it was cheaper and at least we could sell it or use it in the UK. This we did yesterday, I bought a TomTom XL from Walmart preloaded with US and Canadian maps and lifetime membership I think for updates. This cost $139 + tax ($148). It’s quite nifty now I have changed the voice back to Basil Fawlty but the Uk maps are going to cost me £30 so not sure it’s actually a bargain.

My original one was a Go 700 with hard disc and cost £500 several years ago. It’s quite nice to have a flat screen. However, looking on Amazon it appears that the UK ones have better graphics and include trees etc not necessary but a nice touch; however, it’s difficult to compare the exact model to see if it is worthwhile keeping it or if I should take it back and get one in the UK. (Then I have to question whether I will need one as my old one still works fine!). The model I have bought is TomTom XL 335.SE ™ (Lifetime traffic & maps edition) not sure what that means. For any of you techies out there who can work out the UK equivalent for me.

So now to the crux of the matter which is really concerning me, prior to the flight I had purchased compression stockings as I always have a slightly swollen painful ankle, doctor had said just take ibuprofen (not a brilliant doctor), chemist said I should get it checked out as a permanently swollen ankle could be down to something else as there were several valves in the foot. (I just assumed it was because I was carrying too much weight and this ankle is always the one I considered weak even as a child when I was skinny). Anyhow, foot had started to swell prior to the flight, duly put compression stockings on a gate and my foot did not seem anymore swollen than when we left. However, it is very painful and I am struggling to walk, every time I stop moving it seizes up. Husband is torturing me with icepacks that he had thoughtfully bought in his hand luggage. Apparently he has been using them for his knee and they have helped considerably. I am popping ibuprofen like they are going out of fashion. The thing worrying me is actually walking miles around the parks, the pain in my ankle actually wakes me in the night.
I don’t particularly want to go to a doctor here about it as it is a condition that I had prior to the holiday as in it has been like this for years. What do you guys suggest, we keep joking about a wheelchair but I am seriously worried that I might need one to get around the parks.
Sorry told you it was a long one!

 

[paulh]

we had problems with dollar at DTD location, yes they tried to sell us the roadside assistance which we refused.if the car brakes down and its down you you burst tire or car damage through accident.
But if its a fault with engine or electrics ect its down to dollar and they have to pay and not you
We also paid for extra drivers and gave all our licences and we found out later that they didn't add the extra driver on so for some days we were driving without cover
If adding extra drivers always check its added we believe because we didn't add the roadside insurance he decided not to add extra driver sales person was rude and abrupt all the time
Paul

 

[jtlover]

Poor you, you can take paracetamol as well as Iboprofen as advised by my doctor when I was involved in a car crash and had whiplash. That might help with the pain as iboprofen only deals with swelling.

Saying that there are some amazing tablets that we buy in Florida called Aleve which are fantastic for pain, though I dont know if you can use these with Iboprofen as well? We always buy them from Walmart.

I told my doctor about Aleve and he said they are stronger pain killers and in the UK they are only on prescription. But we buy them everytime we go to Florida.

 

[Nadia_disfan]

I really feel for you, sounds like you're not getting the vacation you deserve, I'm no dr or nurse, but I find heat compress like a microwave wheat bag helps aches and pains more than cold, maybe worth a try? Good luck I hope things take an upward turn

 

[catherine]

I'm so sorry to hear about all the problems that have happened so far! With regard to your ankle and the advise that you have been given! I would be really careful about self medicating when you really have no idea what the injury is to your ankle. Applying heat to an injury that requires a cold compress could do more harm than good and taking lots of Ibuprofen could really upset your stomach, even causing ulcers! I'm not trying to be alarmist but it may be that if the pain in your ankle is a lot worse than it normally is, then the best thing to do would be to see a doctor over there. Did you not declare it on your insurance as a pre-existing condition? I would get a wheelchair and let your ankle rest and see how it goes, hopefully if you get it rested the pain will not be so bad.

Good luck!

Edited to add: Have you used compression socks before or was this the first time? If it is the first time perhaps you're experiencing pain because of the pressure on an existing injury or problem with your foot or ankle!

 

[juliebro]

Try Walgreens "CoolnHeat" Sore Muscle Medicated Spray. DH injured his shoulder when we were last over there. He found it to be brilliant stuff.

http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/wa...muscle-medicated-spray/ID=prod6015929-product

 

[kazdav]

Yep seriously thinking about going to the doctors, I did wear the compression stockings for first time. Ankle problem referred to is that they are both slightly pudgy but this is not like anything I have had before. Re self medicating, I am only taking ibuprofen with food and today I also took a couple of paracetamol which is something I am aware you can do without effect. Hospital prescribed this for my son when he was four and had something with an unpronounceable name, Henlock Scholen Pupora or something like that.

I am using ice packs as cold is for swelling and heat is usually for muscle. My ankle and foot appear to seize when I don't do anything but the pain eases slightly on walking on it. I am concerned though and think I will ring insurance to check I am covered for this. I admit the thought of going round in a wheelchair or electric scooter embarrasses me as its not like its an obvious injury.

 

[kazdav]

OMG can it get any worse, early night tonight, get woken by phone, some woman screaming abuse down the phone, half awake I say ' I am sorry who is this' 'F**k you' was her reply and put the phone down. Five minutes later the phone rang again, it had a name on the display and I answered it with just hello, woman again said hello back, I asked if I could help and the phone was put down.

Now sitting here awake feeling rather un-nerved, there are no deadbolts that I can put on the door. What if it's someone who thinks I am here with the owner, all kinds of things going through my active imagination.

This holiday is turning out to be a flipping nightmare.

 

[joolz1910]

I feel so sorry for you - it sounds like a nightmare. I would contact the management company and tell them about this weird phonecall. Perhaps this agitated woman misdialled and then called back to confirm she had vented at a stranger, putting the phone down in embarrassment?

As for your ankles - I think I would visit the doctor so that your mind can be put to rest and you can get some medical advice. The worry/pain is affecting your holiday so it would be worth getting a consultation, even if you end up having to pay for it.

I hope things start looking up for you soon.

 

[paulfoel]

$5.99 for roadside assistance!!!! thats a new con !!!!

Hang on now, you pay them and they provide a car. If it breaks down surely its they're problem to sort out not yours? Appreciate it can happen but they're responsibility to sort out THEIR CAR !!!!!!

Sounds like a con to me..... Not being funny but I aint paying for that. If it breaks down I'll be on the phone to them telling them to bring another car and take the bust one back.

In fact, I did this a few years ago. It wouldnt start outside the villa so I told then they had an hour to get a replacement to me and they did.

 

[paulfoel]

Hold on to your hats it’s a long one.
Arrived on Thursday afternoon, went to collect car from Dollar which I had booked through AutoEurope, had paid for the Platinum equivalent but found that this no longer includes road side assistance so this was an extra $5.99 per day + tax. Then found out that our TomTom which I had lovingly carried in my hand luggage seemed to have lost its US maps. Back to the desk for a satnav, got a Garmin for $12.99 per day + tax (We are here 21 days!).

Got to the villa okay, was slightly disappointed as it was quite tired looking, carpets need replacing and a note to tell us that the TV wasn’t working. (This is apparently being fixed today). Friday arrived and we spent the day at the pool, later I went in the house to find it rather warm. On checking the thermostat saw it was 86 deg, thought the kids had been messing with a/c but no it was knackered. Called management company who got out an engineer, turned out the compressor had gone and it was going to cost $$$$$’s to get it fixed and this could not be done until Monday. The management company have moved us into a much nicer house whilst we wait for it to be fixed but as I said to the lady as nice as this house is I would rather we were still at the original house because it’s a pain having to go back and forth for clothes, food, drinks even washing up liquid etc.

This was all happening late Friday evening bearing in mind that I had to go to the airport to pick up hubby who had been travelling for 48 hours from Iraq.

When we collected him we had to have him added to the car and we decided to return the satnav and buy one locally as it was cheaper and at least we could sell it or use it in the UK. This we did yesterday, I bought a TomTom XL from Walmart preloaded with US and Canadian maps and lifetime membership I think for updates. This cost $139 + tax ($148). It’s quite nifty now I have changed the voice back to Basil Fawlty but the Uk maps are going to cost me £30 so not sure it’s actually a bargain.

My original one was a Go 700 with hard disc and cost £500 several years ago. It’s quite nice to have a flat screen. However, looking on Amazon it appears that the UK ones have better graphics and include trees etc not necessary but a nice touch; however, it’s difficult to compare the exact model to see if it is worthwhile keeping it or if I should take it back and get one in the UK. (Then I have to question whether I will need one as my old one still works fine!). The model I have bought is TomTom XL 335.SE ™ (Lifetime traffic & maps edition) not sure what that means. For any of you techies out there who can work out the UK equivalent for me.

So now to the crux of the matter which is really concerning me, prior to the flight I had purchased compression stockings as I always have a slightly swollen painful ankle, doctor had said just take ibuprofen (not a brilliant doctor), chemist said I should get it checked out as a permanently swollen ankle could be down to something else as there were several valves in the foot. (I just assumed it was because I was carrying too much weight and this ankle is always the one I considered weak even as a child when I was skinny). Anyhow, foot had started to swell prior to the flight, duly put compression stockings on a gate and my foot did not seem anymore swollen than when we left. However, it is very painful and I am struggling to walk, every time I stop moving it seizes up. Husband is torturing me with icepacks that he had thoughtfully bought in his hand luggage. Apparently he has been using them for his knee and they have helped considerably. I am popping ibuprofen like they are going out of fashion. The thing worrying me is actually walking miles around the parks, the pain in my ankle actually wakes me in the night.
I don’t particularly want to go to a doctor here about it as it is a condition that I had prior to the holiday as in it has been like this for years. What do you guys suggest, we keep joking about a wheelchair but I am seriously worried that I might need one to get around the parks.
Sorry told you it was a long one!

OMG. 21 days x $12.99 for sat nav = $272 !!!!! Probably buy one in Walmart for half that !!!!

 

[paulfoel]

we had problems with dollar at DTD location, yes they tried to sell us the roadside assistance which we refused.if the car brakes down and its down you you burst tire or car damage through accident.
But if its a fault with engine or electrics ect its down to dollar and they have to pay and not you
We also paid for extra drivers and gave all our licences and we found out later that they didn't add the extra driver on so for some days we were driving without cover
If adding extra drivers always check its added we believe because we didn't add the roadside insurance he decided not to add extra driver sales person was rude and abrupt all the time
Paul

Rental agents are all complete **** !!! I've had some right ones in my time.

For a few years I used to buy my own insurance here in the UK, and that used to wind them up no end. Had one guy tell me I was stupid if I thought the insurance was as good as theirs.

In the end, lost my rag and told him to get lost !!!!!