Fit to Return to Work

Fit to Return to Work

27^th October 2012

The good news is, my right wrist has been operated on for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. After a series of tests, having my wrist tapped to check for pain and pins and needles, and electric shocks being sent down my arm, I had Open Release surgery. Open Release surgery consists of a small slit in the palm of my hand and the tissue being removed/cut away from the median nerve. The procedure takes about twenty minutes.

It’s a strange feeling as you are under local anaesthetic and can feel what’s going on. Cutting my skin sounded like someone cutting into fabric! You can feel the tugging, but there’s no pain. A tiny stream of blood trickles but it doesn’t tickle. I wish I could have taken a photo, but I wasn’t allowed to look and had my face covered by a sheet!

Straight After Surgery

Sausage Fingers

After surgery, the median nerve was “stretching out” and it felt as if there were continuous volts of electricity pounding through my hand to my fingers. It wasn’t necessarily painful at first, just very uncomfortable. 

A week later and the stitches were out. Having said that, as soon as the stitches came out, the slit slid open and up flowed a small current of red. Butterfly stitches were then applied to keep the wound closed.

Four days later the butterfly stitches were nervously removed by myself. All that was left was a pink-red, scabbed line and a couple of pin-point dots.

Butterfly Stitches and Tape

Stitches Out and Tape Removed

In between all of this, I was going back and forth to the surgeon’s office for medical leave paper work for Image and their American Maritime medical company. Quite frustrating as they need an update every month, even if the surgeon has signed me off for two months. In return I received a whopping $6 a day medical leave payment!

Once the two months was up, I was back again with another piece of paper in my hand for him to fill out. He must have been sick of the sight of me! The surgeon knew what my job consisted of – repetitive movements and lifting/moving heavy weights. As a precaution, he signed me off as “fit to return to work but on light duties for 1 month”. Why? Chances of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome returning are high with my type of job. Being a ship photographer and only 25 took that “high” rocketing up. The surgeon actually expects me back soon to have my median nerve released again, if I carry on with the job I’m currently doing.

Five Weeks Later

A month and a half later, I’m officially off medical leave, fit to return to work!

Here comes some bad news. I’d gone back to the surgeon to let him know that I have pain, swelling and pins and needles in two and a half of my fingers in my right hand. Annoyed, he explained that the Ulnar nerve in my wrist which controls the (right half) middle to pinkie finger must be trapped too.

Turns out, as my medical debark papers from the cruise ship stated “Carpal Tunnel Syndrome”, that’s what I was tested and operated for. As the pain was all across my hand, the surgeon didn’t think the check both nerves and thought once the median nerve was released, all the pain and aching would stop. Instead the Ulnar nerve is trapped inside the Guyon’s Canal.

What’s the solution? More Open Release surgery, but it can’t be done for a long time because I’ve just had one batch of surgery and the tissue will still be scarred. Wonderful! Just what you want to hear! 

In the meantime, I can take anti-inflammatories and wear a wrist brace for support. Wearing a wrist or hand brace was always on the agenda as a way of guarding the scar on my palm and prolonging any chances of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome returning. It’s disheartening and frustrating knowing both nerves could have been released at the same time. I will, however, be holding out for as long as possible until I get the Ulnar nerve sorted.

Looking on the bright side, my wrist will one day be fixed. Having said that, my job as a cruise ship photographer will probably have to draw to a close soon. My work as a photographer, won’t! 

Straight After Surgery

Six Days Later

Six Days Later: My fingers look like fingers again

Seven Days Later 

Shower Time!

Eleven Days Later

Five Weeks Later

Three Months Later

Medical Debark

Medical Debark

4^th May 2012

Over the past couple of days there has been a question mark lingering over whether I’d definitely be leaving Disney Magic in Port Canaveral. It wasn’t until the afternoon before Port Canaveral, while the ship was docked in Castaway Cay, that I received my flight details to Montevideo, Uruguay. My original flight details, received the day before, were to London Gatwick. Someone at Image HQ in Miami hadn’t changed my address or home airport to Punta del Este, Uruguay, keeping it as London, England. The whole process has been frustrating to say the least. The second confirmation that I was leaving was shoved underneath my cabin door that night. My sign-off checklist.

The sign-off party last night had been a laugh, the characters had turned up and the photographers stayed for a while but most were on Morning Sale and left fairly early. Two of the Uruguayans turned up, a bit disappointing as I wanted to say bye to the others. Having said that, I understand people on ships come and go. The tough work schedules will still be in place the next day. Those who stay, have to carry on like usual. It's just another part of ship life.

Leaving at 03.00 I bumped into two friends from Bar, Angel and Jose. Giving each of them a bear hug and exchanging email addresses, I walked back to the cabin. While walking the I-95 I didn’t have the same sense of homeliness I had on board the Mariner of the Seas. In a way, I was grateful for that, as it made leaving the Mariner of the Seas harder. I did, however, still have some good friends so it would be sad leaving and not knowing when you’d see them again. Such is ship life, I guess.

Waking up at the ludicrous time of 05.30, I dragged on my comfy clothes; jogging bottoms, top and baggy hoody, brushed my teeth, messily tied my hair up and sleepily staggered to the Walt Disney Theatre to meet Carolee for Immigration. US Immigration at 05.45… why, oh why!?

Thankfully, I had Carolee signing off with me. We had our checklists to do so we marched around the ship getting things signed off and so on. It's amazing the amount of things you had to do before signing off a ship.
On Royal Caribbean ships, you did it all the night before. On Disney you’re expected to work like usual until you actually sign off! Last night I worked until 01.00. The poor dining room staff were still serving breakfast to the guests, in between running down to the crew office in the nick of time to get papers signed!

Paying off what we owed, we had to get a stamp from wardrobe, even though Disney don’t supply our uniforms. Next stop was to the lab to find Csaba to sign the box stating our cabins were clean, tidy, ready for the next person and nothing was missing.

Once everything was signed, we had about an hour to spare. With nothing else to do, we headed to the Crew Mess for breakfast. Knowing it’d be the last time (for a while) that I’d be eating the ship food, it made it more bearable.

Just as we were finishing our coffees, a group of new hires came in. Smiling, I couldn’t help but remember when that was me, three months ago to the day. I am signing off on my 3month anniversary! “Poor sods. They don’t know what they are letting themselves in for.” I commented to Carolee. Amused, she replied “they look happy”. For now anyway, we laughed.

Meeting in Sessions (the guests' Jazz bar), we filled out some paperwork for US Customs and I had to declare my new camera. If I didn’t and I was searched, I’d be charged tax and duty. Lovely. Totalling up how much my possessions were worth, I was shocked at how much I was carrying!!

Debarking, the moment you get off the ship, is like a huge weight being lifted off your shoulders. It’s hard to explain the excitement, the rush and relief you feel. No more hard work, false smiles, tiny cabins and a life "on show" or as Disney liked to call it “On Stage”. You’re heading to a place far from everything you’ve lived and worked for during your contract. Home for most. A comfy bed, no need for Mickey Mouse alarms, no more 30 minute power naps. A place where you can relax and chill out in the slow paced “real world”… before getting bored and willing your vacation to end so you could return to the fast paced way of ship life! 

Grabbing our suitcases, we struggled with them towards the Disney bus. How I managed to balance two suitcases on top of one another and pull it to the bus left handed, I’ll never know. Carolee helped me chuck my two suitcases into the belly of the bus before we slung hers in too. We were giggling about the amount of baggage we had but compared to some, we were travelling relatively light! There were people with four suitcases! Someone was dragging along something resembling a giant chiller crammed with stuff. I bet the airlines love us crewmembers!

After a quick cigarette, I was nestled into my seat next to Carolee. The bus pulled off and there was an almighty eruption of applause. This is it... We’re free and on our way home!

It wasn’t long until both Carolee and I had drifted off to sleep, occasionally awoken by the shouts of overexcitement from the Scouser (someone from Liverpool, England) sat directly behind us. Reaching the airport, Carolee looked like she was about to throttle the girl. “Oh my God! I can’t wait to have fish and chips when I’m home. Oh my God! And I big dessert. Oh, and a proper curry!” and so the high pitched, almost hysterical, voice whistled on. One look at Carolee’s face – “if only looks could kill”.

Pulling our luggage off the bus and to the sidewalk, Carolee went in search for a trolley. Neither of us could pull or carry our cases for very long. It was surprising how much of Orlando International Airport I remember. Carolee returned with the trolley costing an unbelievable, non-returnable $5. I’m still so used to trollies either being free or costing a returnable 1 euro or 1GBP.

Carolee was able to check in straight away. Luckily for her, she didn’t have a lengthy wait for her flight. It was probably around 11am by the time we arrived at the airport. We found where I’d finally be checking in, but, of course, with ten hours still to wait, my check-in was closed. Pushing the trolley around, we found somewhere to have something to eat.

Within a couple of hours it was time for Carolee to make her way to security before heading to her gate. Giving Carolee a hug, I’d miss her but she was right, she needed a vacation. Carolee was shattered. Her attempts at fake crying, to embarrass me infront of everyone failed miserably. Instead, it cracked me up. Her sense of humour and hilarious impressions of everyone would be missed but they are memories I won’t be forgetting anytime soon!

I’m overly grateful for the help Carolee gave me at the airport. Without her, I’d still be outside the terminal, struggling with my luggage and a bandaged up wrist!

On my own, I had a wonder around before finding out when my check-in desk would open. Although it didn’t bother me in the slightest, I wouldn’t have minded unloading my suitcases. The check-in would open four hours before my flight’s scheduled departure. Only another four hours to kill before checking in then!

Settling down, I remembered Kate telling me there was free wi-fi at Orlando International Airport. She was right! Finding somewhere to sit and plugging my laptop in, I surfed the net, checked my Facebook, left messages left, right and centre, and called the parents. In between, I sat watching the world pass by, or in some cases, people running in a panic to get to their gate.

After a couple of hours, I nipped into a bookstore to see if there was anything of interest for my Dad. English books in Uruguay are gold dust! I picked up a couple of magazines and a newspaper for my Mom before grabbing a coffee from Starbucks.

Settling down again, I surfed the net and watch people go to and fro. A few guests from the cruise ship past. Some looked at me oddly, recognising a crew member but questioning themselves as to whether it really was. Quickly putting my head down, I secretly hoped they wouldn't recognize or notice me.


Strangely enough, there was a Disney Store situated a couple of metres away from me. Sitting outside was a model of Snow White, perched upon a throne with a space for people to sit next to her. I was amazed that people who’d just been on the cruise and met the real Snow White, were insistent that their children sit next to the model to have their photo taken. I’d have thought they’d have been sick to the back teeth of Disney and completely pictured out. How wrong was I? Although, some kids seemed to agree with me, as they kicked and screamed while their parents plonked them down next to Snow White.

Sitting around hour after hour wasn’t as hard as I thought it was going to be. In fact, it was the complete opposite. After three months of having my life run for me according to a schedule, it was so peaceful sitting around, doing very little, with nowhere to go in a hurry.

Time to check-in soon rolled around and already there was a queue of Brazilians. I was amazed by some of the luggage people were taking with them. I thought some of the crew members were travelling too heavy. They have nothing on the Brazilians! Porters with massive trollies were coming along wheeling large numbers of oversized suitcases for small families!

I laughed at myself for worrying about having two cases, only to find myself unconsciously counting how many baggage items others were bringing to the check-in desk. One family in particular made me laugh. Two adults pushing pushchairs with children aged maybe 5-7. How many suitcases did they have? 11 morbidly obese, bursting at the seams suitcases! In addition, the lady was carrying a handbag big enough to stuff her two children inside! Only the Brazilians…

After a couple more hours waiting, sitting around and calling the parents on Skpe, it was time to say goodbye to America and make my way through security. Soon I’d be up in the air and into the first leg of the long journey home.

Goodbye America. Uruguay, here I come!

Game Over

Game Over

1^st May 2012

It’s another turn around day and things haven’t been going too smoothly to say the least. I’ve been back and forth to the medical facility, trying to get an appointment to see a specialist in Port Canaveral or Nassau. So far, nothing has materialized for a number of different reasons.

The first problem we encountered was the medical facility not knowing who would pay the medical expenses, Disney or Image. In the end, we found out it would be down to Image Photo Services, but the medical couldn’t get confirmation as to whether or not they would pay or if my medical insurance covered such injuries. Although the medical was sure I would be covered as it’s a work related injury, rather than hurting myself while jet skiing, it was still a case of waiting and waiting some more.

My doctor at the medical facility changed too and I finally got a diagnosis. The pain in my wrist which wasn’t improving was in fact, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Apparently, it’s very common in photographers and spa girls working on ships, due to the amount of repetitive movements and pressure we put our hands and wrists under.

I guess when in Ressi, getting an image count of 300 an hour and flipping your wrist for horizontal and vertical shots around 100-150 times, it’s bound to cause some sort of damage. But who would have thought? I won’t lie, I’d never heard of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome before this. Google really did come in handy for a bit of research! Either I’m going to need a bit of surgery or inflammatory pills to sort my wrist, but I’ll be having to take a long time off work to recover.

While off in Port Canaveral I spotted Lee and Chet heading over to the shuttle bus, back to their ships. They had no idea I was there, so I ran after them. With the way things are going, I didn’t want to chance not seeing them again. I told them what had been going on and neither could really get their heads around it, not like I could either. I laughed at how medical wanted to medically disembark me today, with less than 24 hours’ notice. My stop was first, and I was reluctant to say bye to either one of them, especially Lee, in case I was sent home.

It seemed strange and just shows how time flies. Lee is one of the closest friends I have in ship life. I’ll never forget the day he showed Hernan and I around the Mariner of the Seas. Also, going for drinks in SOB with Lee, while he gave me some tips of the trade and we nattered on about everything and anything. He was so easy to get on with. I first met Chet over a year ago at Miami training and hadn’t seen him since, until a couple of days prior to today.

I was online, in Nassau, about to go back to the ship when I got a message from Lee saying Monarch was docked next to Magic. Packing my things, I ran over to their ship. Lee had literally just got back on board and came back out to see  me. Not long after, to my surprise, Chet came strolling out. We literally had 20 minutes before I had return to my ship. It was still great seeing them again and one of those pit stops I won’t be forgetting for a while. I wish I had a team like they did on the Monarch. As Lee says; they work hard, play harder.

Back on board Disney Magic, I popped into the medical facility again. My fingers were crossed that I could at least get some answers as to what would be happening. If and when I’d be getting my referral to see a specialist in Port Canaveral or Nassau. Unfortunately, no referral was made. The good news was that Image have agreed to pay my medical expenses. Talking to the doctor, he said I’d need at least a month out to recover. Therefore, he was having me medically disembarked the following Port Canaveral in four days.

Although my heart sunk and thudded once it reached the pit of my stomach, I was relieved in many ways. First of all, once back in Uruguay, I could finally get my wrist sorted once and for all. Image paying the medical bills was a real relief, I can tell you.

Secondly and most importantly, I’d get to see the parents again. It’s been hard working so far away from home, knowing your mom isn’t well, having to hear all about the chemotherapy, its side effects and then plaster on a smile to photograph/serve guests when your head is elsewhere.

Now came the hard part, telling Csaba and Aniko. After what seemed like ages, I found Csaba and told him I was to be medically disembarked in Port Canaveral. He wasn’t happy but almost expected it. Having said that, he was still clutching at straws, hoping that I could be spared from being disembarked, getting the treatment in one of the ports and doing light duties in the meantime. An experienced photographer with one hand and able to do some work is better than a new hire or nobody at all. I could see his logic and Csaba was in a sticky situation!

Why is Csaba in a sticky situation? Well, three out of four of the team’s strongest members are leaving or have left. Kate resigned and left today. Carolee would be going on vacation in four days, the same day I disembark. Ani would be left to take the burden, train the new hire Toni and drag the others along with her.
By the looks of it, Image weren’t sending a replacement for Carolee and obviously, it might take a couple of cruises until they find someone to take my spot. Csaba, however, didn’t want just anyone. No more new hires. He, quite rightly so, wanted and needed experienced photographers or else the team would literally sink and drown.

Changing and going to Display, Ani was there. I think she knew what was coming but still upset when I told her I’d be leaving. She’s one of the few people I get on with in the team, the closest.

Once I had a chance, I got online to call the parents. They were pleased I was coming home and would be seeing them shortly but as you can imagine, it wasn’t in the best of circumstances. The mama with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Dad in need of a hip replacement and now me, a one handed daughter – such is the Tickle family at this present moment in time! What a family!

So,  for me, it’s game over… for now. The countdown is on, again, for the second time. Four days left to go…