Sorry about your flight and your hand! I had a similar experience a couple of weeks ago! We had arrived in Madeira late March to settle our one year rental that we had never seen, thinking that our visas would take several weeks. 4 days after we got here, they were in! 20 days from our appt in Newark. So we flew back to NJ the next day and stayed a week to pack our stuff and say goodbye to family and then we were flying back to Madeira. The day before we left, we took our normal walk / hike through a local park and a branch popped up off the trail and tripped me and I, like you, literally FLEW. The guy who ran to help my husband couldn't believe it. My knees never hit the ground - I landed on hands and lip (and 2.5 broken front teeth). We were flying out the next evening and I was SO MAD! My husband managed to get me an emergency appointment with our local dentist (who had only just met us weeks earlier) and she put in temporary "teeth" (Not caps, just kind of a "filling" that would need to be capped within days) - bill, which we thought was reasonable, was $814+ with insurance. My lip was HUGE and bloody, but thank God for masks in airports - and wine on planes). We were able to get an appt with our friend's dentist on Madeira the first 3 days we were here, but I had to cancel because, in our rental, the bathroom door lock broke and I was locked in the guest bathroom until my husband woke up and found me there. (Pretty hilarious actually). They rescheduled me for the next day!!! They took x-rays, tested my teeth to see if I needed a root canal - 2 hygienists and 2 dentists. They determined I should come back in 2 weeks to see if the nerves of the teeth recovered from the shock. X-rays and both exams - 55 Euros!!!! TOTAL! And they were delightful. They kept apologizing for their bad English, yet they all spoke better than many Americans I know. I hope that you find healthcare like this where you are. And, if not, the weather's amazing here! :-)
Apr 24, 2023·edited Apr 24, 2023Liked by Scott H-K
My understanding is that the ERs here also essentially function as urgent care clinics. Because there are no dedicated urgent care clinics, the bar for "serious enough for the ER" is necessarily lower. Also, I understand that the private ERs really are only for the non-critical stuff; for example, if you show up there with a cardiac event, you will promptly be transferred to a public hospital's ER. It's also worth noting that the main private ER here in Cascais (part of the ubiquitous CUF chain) has a website that tells you the current wait time, so I assume many others do as well. (Right now, only 26 minutes -- https://www.cuf.pt/hospitais-e-clinicas/hospital-cuf-cascais)
I'm so sorry about your dual falls and your hand. I hope it is as good as new very soon!!
The 80 year old mother of my partner’s friend tripped and fell in the waiting area of a crowded restaurant. On lookers gasped. She, a rather dignified soul, righted herself into the downward dog yoga pose. She declared she didn’t fall, just needed to stretch. Well played, I think. Happy healing in your new home!
Reminds me of my Gramma, at age 85, pointing to a woman about 65with with white hair done up in a bun, and saying: when I get old, that's how I want to do my hair.
I don't think my first comment made it. Sorry if this is a duplicate. Amy, I'm so sorry you got hurt but the way you tell the story really cracks me up. You should write a book about moving to Portugal.
So you still don't know the results of the x-ray? That's a bit baffling to me! Three days to read something that might be broken isn't right! There must be a better way...
OUCH! Flying in Lisbon it’s quite common, especially in those areas where the pavement is made of white little stones. I wish you a speedy recovery ❤️🩹 and full healing!
When I broke my elbow I accessed the CUF (hospital in Cascais) app on a Sunday night and got an appointment on Monday morning. Of course, I wasn’t asking for an elbow expert just an orthopedist. I am surprised that Lisbon is that different....
I suspect it isn't all that different. My innate *kicks heels* I don't wanna go to the doctor combined with new to me system and less than clear explanation from health coordinator led to unnecessary delay.
You are hilarious, Amy! Thank God, you have a sense of humor. I too have had a recent fall lately (mushing, got dragged what felt like 20 ft) and it's crazy how things appeared to be in slow-mo as I was screaming out the musher's name to stop the freakin' dogs. Anyway, it took three full days before I can sit down without holding my breath, haha.
Whew, so glad your hand is feeling better, Amy - AND that your shoes should be less trippy going forward! Great storytelling! From your account, I can picture you gracefully flying through the air... smooth sailing up until the moment of impact with the ground! It reminded me of the one time I flew without mechanical means when I was 18... on my bike, coasting merrily down the slope of a residential street. Large dog ran into said street from behind a parked car. Bike hit dog and I flew over the handlebars a good 10 feet and landed flat on the asphalt. The dog owners ran over to check on me but I was more worried about hurting the dog and tried to ask how he was... though couldn't get the words out since I'd had "the wind knocked out of me" and it took several seconds before I could breathe or talk. Weird feeling! Until then I hadn't realized that was such a literal expression. Thankfully the dog was fine, and after keeping my bruised ribs wrapped up for a couple weeks, so was I.
OK, so I just looked up "getting the wind knocked out of you" since I wondered what exactly happens... it's not that my breath was literally knocked out of me, but that the impact caused my diaphragm to tense up and contract, which didn't allow me to breathe until it relaxed again.
Same when you come to Madeira!!! Check out our blog bradyandlori.substack.com And you're right, it was more hysterical than anything (except poor Brady feeling so guilty). :-)
Sorry about your flight and your hand! I had a similar experience a couple of weeks ago! We had arrived in Madeira late March to settle our one year rental that we had never seen, thinking that our visas would take several weeks. 4 days after we got here, they were in! 20 days from our appt in Newark. So we flew back to NJ the next day and stayed a week to pack our stuff and say goodbye to family and then we were flying back to Madeira. The day before we left, we took our normal walk / hike through a local park and a branch popped up off the trail and tripped me and I, like you, literally FLEW. The guy who ran to help my husband couldn't believe it. My knees never hit the ground - I landed on hands and lip (and 2.5 broken front teeth). We were flying out the next evening and I was SO MAD! My husband managed to get me an emergency appointment with our local dentist (who had only just met us weeks earlier) and she put in temporary "teeth" (Not caps, just kind of a "filling" that would need to be capped within days) - bill, which we thought was reasonable, was $814+ with insurance. My lip was HUGE and bloody, but thank God for masks in airports - and wine on planes). We were able to get an appt with our friend's dentist on Madeira the first 3 days we were here, but I had to cancel because, in our rental, the bathroom door lock broke and I was locked in the guest bathroom until my husband woke up and found me there. (Pretty hilarious actually). They rescheduled me for the next day!!! They took x-rays, tested my teeth to see if I needed a root canal - 2 hygienists and 2 dentists. They determined I should come back in 2 weeks to see if the nerves of the teeth recovered from the shock. X-rays and both exams - 55 Euros!!!! TOTAL! And they were delightful. They kept apologizing for their bad English, yet they all spoke better than many Americans I know. I hope that you find healthcare like this where you are. And, if not, the weather's amazing here! :-)
That. Is. 1. Horrible. 2. Amazing
3. Hysterical.
That you are able to present it as funny makes you someone I want to meet! Let me know when you're in Lisbon and maybe we can get together!
Wow! That's quite an ordeal! Especially love the "getting locked in the bathroom" bit.
My understanding is that the ERs here also essentially function as urgent care clinics. Because there are no dedicated urgent care clinics, the bar for "serious enough for the ER" is necessarily lower. Also, I understand that the private ERs really are only for the non-critical stuff; for example, if you show up there with a cardiac event, you will promptly be transferred to a public hospital's ER. It's also worth noting that the main private ER here in Cascais (part of the ubiquitous CUF chain) has a website that tells you the current wait time, so I assume many others do as well. (Right now, only 26 minutes -- https://www.cuf.pt/hospitais-e-clinicas/hospital-cuf-cascais)
I'm so sorry about your dual falls and your hand. I hope it is as good as new very soon!!
Great to know!! And apparently VITAL information for me 😉
Yes, we have since figured out that "wait time indicator" as well.
The 80 year old mother of my partner’s friend tripped and fell in the waiting area of a crowded restaurant. On lookers gasped. She, a rather dignified soul, righted herself into the downward dog yoga pose. She declared she didn’t fall, just needed to stretch. Well played, I think. Happy healing in your new home!
In my dreams!
Reminds me of my Gramma, at age 85, pointing to a woman about 65with with white hair done up in a bun, and saying: when I get old, that's how I want to do my hair.
😂🤣
Love this!
I don't think my first comment made it. Sorry if this is a duplicate. Amy, I'm so sorry you got hurt but the way you tell the story really cracks me up. You should write a book about moving to Portugal.
Thank you so much, Carole!!!
I can only shake my head. I'm glad you are ok now. All's well that ends well. Love you.
Love you, too!
So you still don't know the results of the x-ray? That's a bit baffling to me! Three days to read something that might be broken isn't right! There must be a better way...
It's pretty much fine now. Phew!
She knows the results. They just came in Portuguese and required some sleuthing to figure out.
Yikes! So glad to know you are healing!
OUCH! Flying in Lisbon it’s quite common, especially in those areas where the pavement is made of white little stones. I wish you a speedy recovery ❤️🩹 and full healing!
I try for the best sneakers only, but it's inevitable, isn't it?
When I broke my elbow I accessed the CUF (hospital in Cascais) app on a Sunday night and got an appointment on Monday morning. Of course, I wasn’t asking for an elbow expert just an orthopedist. I am surprised that Lisbon is that different....
I suspect it isn't all that different. My innate *kicks heels* I don't wanna go to the doctor combined with new to me system and less than clear explanation from health coordinator led to unnecessary delay.
You are hilarious, Amy! Thank God, you have a sense of humor. I too have had a recent fall lately (mushing, got dragged what felt like 20 ft) and it's crazy how things appeared to be in slow-mo as I was screaming out the musher's name to stop the freakin' dogs. Anyway, it took three full days before I can sit down without holding my breath, haha.
Mushing?? I want the details!! By the way, where are you all in your journey to making Portugal home? I'm selfish and want you here!
Mushing? Where are you that you can go mushing recently?
We went to Alaska! 12/10 would recommend mushing, despite the fall, haha
Whew, so glad your hand is feeling better, Amy - AND that your shoes should be less trippy going forward! Great storytelling! From your account, I can picture you gracefully flying through the air... smooth sailing up until the moment of impact with the ground! It reminded me of the one time I flew without mechanical means when I was 18... on my bike, coasting merrily down the slope of a residential street. Large dog ran into said street from behind a parked car. Bike hit dog and I flew over the handlebars a good 10 feet and landed flat on the asphalt. The dog owners ran over to check on me but I was more worried about hurting the dog and tried to ask how he was... though couldn't get the words out since I'd had "the wind knocked out of me" and it took several seconds before I could breathe or talk. Weird feeling! Until then I hadn't realized that was such a literal expression. Thankfully the dog was fine, and after keeping my bruised ribs wrapped up for a couple weeks, so was I.
OK, so I just looked up "getting the wind knocked out of you" since I wondered what exactly happens... it's not that my breath was literally knocked out of me, but that the impact caused my diaphragm to tense up and contract, which didn't allow me to breathe until it relaxed again.
Same when you come to Madeira!!! Check out our blog bradyandlori.substack.com And you're right, it was more hysterical than anything (except poor Brady feeling so guilty). :-)