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Original poster

Fed up :( Scaphoid fracture from saving a baby, holiday in 2 weeks

49 replies

Ilove · 14/07/2017 11:22

Yesterday I had a horrible, almost car accident. I'll Cp the message I sent to DH as I can't bring myself to type it all again.

Anyway before I go, I have had a bit of an accident today with the car, and i think i might need to get my arm looked at tomorrow. I was driving up te hill from the train station in XXXX earlier, and a woman started screaming. When I looked she had somehow let go of her pram and it was in the road coming straight towards the car. I slammed on, and because the windows were open i stuck my arm out as i opened the car door and managed to stop it, but it did tip up. The baby was ok, but i think i have done some damage to myself.

Anyway. Been to minor injuries this morning and I have, indeed, fractured my scaphoid.

We go to Cyprus in 2 weeks. First summer holiday for 10 years. We have had an utterly shit time recently, and this was our "oh my god we get a break" moment.

Now I can't swim, look a twat with the brace on (they've agreed to a brace so I can fly, rather than a cast).

I'm utterly fucked off, and feeling very 'woe-is-me"

And I'm self employed so can't even work out any time off. And it bloody hurts.

The mon ther was on her phone and must have let go to type one thing. But it's a steep hill, and the brakes mustn't have locked on properly.

OP posts:

BritInUS1 · 14/07/2017 16:18

Get one of those waterproof covers, then you can still go in the pool x

Straycatblue · 14/07/2017 17:02

Scaphoid fractures can take longer to heal than other hand fractures and have the potential to become more serious so you do need to be careful with it. However you can still do lots.

One of my friends had a scaphoid fracture whilst we were on holiday. She got two of the spints and used one for going in the pool and the shower. Swopped to the dry one for going out whilst the other one dried on the balcony.
Ask the miu for a second spint, they may not give you one but you can buy them online. You can get different colours as well.

Also make sure you have updated your travel insurance as you may not be covered for any complications related to the fracture abroad if you havent told them. Ensure you have enough painkillers with you for the duration of the holiday so you dont have to try access them.

As for feeling fed up, try and change the way you are thinking about things, you are worried about looking like "a twat", to be honest if people think you look a twat for saving a baby then they are idiots. Ive also never met anyone with a splint and thought they looked like a twat, just wondered how they had injured themselves.

Only you can choose how you feel about this, continue feeling "woe is me" or try and put a positive spin on it and be glad that you saved a baby - you're a hero, be proud of yourself.

crazywriter · 14/07/2017 17:48

Oh I've had that break and it is painful. You have my sympathies. I actually went 6 weeks without a diagnosis because it didn't show up on xrays at first and it was only by chance that it was diagnosed in the end. After a couple of weeks it didn't hurt anywhere near as much. I had a brace rather than a cast since it was starting to heal by the time they caught it. At least they're removable. I had to a few times as the brace got ridiculously sweaty and stinky! It probably wasn't recommended and I'm not saying to do that but my break healed in the end. Like with all breaks I get a little jip in the cold.

orangina · 14/07/2017 17:56

I have done the scaphoids on both my wrists a number of times and while it is a bore, it's a great thing you are only in the elastic brace thing.... so you can still remove it and wash your hand/arm. The idea of getting a second splint to take with you is a really good one, and honestly, once the swelling/pain has gone down (which it should do by the time you go away), I'm sure you'll find it won't really restrict what you do at all.

I seem to remember the last time I did mine, my doctor gave me the ok to go ski-ing about 3 weeks after the event....

Have a great holiday!

orangina · 14/07/2017 17:56

PS: Just to confirm, the splints are absolutely fine to get wet, no need for a cover.

Kentnurse2015 · 14/07/2017 17:59

I broke mine just before a holiday. Had a brace so took it off to have a dip in the pool. As others have said you won't be able to properly swim but a relaxing dip will be fine!

Well done on your reflexes!

heebiejeebie · 14/07/2017 18:00

I would ask if you can have a second brace so one can be drying off if you go swimming. It will be fine - a war wound - and when people inevitably ask about it you can revel in how your quick thinking possibly saves a life.

Original poster

Ilove · 14/07/2017 18:24

Thanks so much, you've all made me feel a lot better. I'll ask for a second brace when I go to the fracture clinic on Thursday, and hope they don't insist on a cast.

I'm a bit weepy tonight, guess thats fairly normal after this kind of thing. I just keep thinking, ten seconds later I'd have hit that pram head on, the baby wouldn't have stood a chance

OP posts:

GhostCurry · 14/07/2017 18:29

Nosy question : what was the aftermath like? How was the woman, what did she say to you etc?

CigarsofthePharoahs · 14/07/2017 19:40

Whilst you're on holiday you should milk your injury for all its worth.
Everyone else will have to do everything for you as you're injured. You should not have to lift a finger for the entire time. Make sure you're waited on hand and foot!
You're a hero op.

M0stlyBowlingHedgehog · 14/07/2017 19:51

Well done for having lightning fast super-hero reflexes. At least you can't swim for a good reason - I tripped over my own big feet on day one of my holiday, bashed my head, then needed stitches which I couldn't get wet. Hopefully you can do a bit of swimming with the brace on.

InvisableLobstee · 14/07/2017 20:01

Another well done for saving the baby from me

Original poster

Ilove · 15/07/2017 18:39

Sorry, been out at Meadowhell all day holiday shopping with DDand friends we are going to Cyprus with.

The immediate aftermath is a bit blurry. People picking up the pram, me trying to work out if I could drive to the school for the pickup I was on my way to, the mother hysterical, baby crying.

Other people got her to the side of the road with the baby, I said i had to get to school - not my child I was collecting, I'm a nanny, so had to get there.

By the time I drove back past about 15 minutes later, it was as though nothing had happened. Hospital said that if the mother brought baby in and asked, they would tell her I had been in but nothing more. But I went to a village minor injuries unit, not main A&E.

I'm sore today. Couldn't fasten my bra this morning, that really did annoy me! It all just seems really surreal.

OP posts:

GhostCurry · 15/07/2017 20:16

Eurgh, it all sounds horrible - though your actions saved a life, there was no "climax", just a rushed scramble and then no thanks or acknowledgement. I can see why you are feeling sort of down about it.
We think you are great though

Luckymummy22 · 15/07/2017 20:39

It may not be the holiday you wanted, but you will still enjoy it. And you deserve a break. You adapt to make it work for you and enjoy it.
My daughter broke her elbow the day before we went on a short holiday. It was in UK but we had to change our planned activities as most were now a no no. We still had a great time and she enjoyed it.
We have another holiday coming up and because they never realised she also dislocated it she will now have a cast on for that holiday too.
Again it will not be what we wanted but we will enjoy it.

And you are amazing saving that baby.

Original poster

Ilove · 16/07/2017 16:57

Ooh, the aldi man went slower for me AND packed my stuff into its bags this afternoon!!!

There's an upside, lol!

$Fed up :( Scaphoid fracture from saving a baby, holiday in 2 weeks$

OP posts:

LivingInMidnight · 16/07/2017 17:07

You can buy something called (I think) bra angel that lets you put your bra on one handed. It's still not easy though, I broke a bra the first time. To be fair I'd already tried without it and then got frustrated that I couldn't do it so I think it was more my fault than the bra angel's.

RockyBird · 16/07/2017 17:11

Ouch but OMG you saved a baby

I hope it's not too painful by holiday time.

I broke my metatarsal 3 weeks before a waterskiing holiday, had a cast to my knee. Managed to get it off and skied on it fine.

Good luck and wow to you

TrinityTaylor · 16/07/2017 17:15

Take it off for trips to the pool. It'll feel a lot better in two/three weeks if you're careful. That combined with a couple of poolside cocktails and you'll be right as rain.

Well done you , and have a fab holiday. Make sure you get dh running after your every whim!!

Original poster

Ilove · 17/07/2017 13:17

Fingers crossed! Just hoping that they don't want to put a cast on on Thursday, my DH has said to just refuse to have one on. I've got my final uni exam on Tuesday next week, and have to be able to use both hands - doing a degree in BSL, cannot have a hand out of use for that.

Just want to get on that flight now, it has been a bit of a struggle really.

OP posts:

LeannePerrins · 17/07/2017 13:33

You did an amazing thing, OP. God bless you.

purpleprincess24 · 17/07/2017 13:42

I broke my arm at the start of our honeymoon in Mexico

They put me in a split cast so I could fly the next day to LA. We considered coming home but decided the show must go on ... we still had a good time and I could paddle in the pool.

I also went to Thailand in a pneumatic boot after breaking my ankle

janaus · 17/07/2017 13:43

Make the most of being looked after and fussed about. And be very proud of what you did.

Toddlerteaplease · 17/07/2017 14:02

Get a Limbo cast protector for when you go in the pool.

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