A New Complication: Photosensitivity

[lilwhiterabbit]

To make things very, very brief, I'm on a new medication that has made me extremely photosensitive. We're talking more than a few minutes in direct sunlight makes me feel like my skin is burning. I'm planning a trip to the World in November and I am absolutely dreading the long days in the sun, especially places like Epcot and Animal Kingdom where there is a distinct lack of shade in some places. I'm already planning on breaking out the heavy-duty sunblock, wearing a hat and shades and hoping I can figure some way to attach a parasol to my rollator (or maybe just convince my partner to walk beside me holding it over my head ) but I was wondering if anyone had any other suggestions on how to minimize sun exposure?

Do you think chemical icepacks would help? I'm considering long sleeves, but I'm also worried about overheating. Since I use the rollator for mobility issues, it's difficult for me to hold/carry things, but I could probably put stuff in the basket.

At this point, weird as it sounds, I'm sort of praying for rain!

 

[stargazertechie]

I think you'll be fine with long sleeves in novemeber.

My dad and I both buy clothes and hats with UPF protection. He's photosensitive due to chemo medications, and I'm so white I've gotten a sunburn through a patio door sitting at my kitchen table before. Just a consideration for you

 

[Bete]

I would rent a scooter with a canopy. If you are already using a rollator it might be nice to make it easier on yourself and go all the way with the scooter for the trip. Most outside rental companies will add a canopy for a small extra fee. You can wait til you get there and see how it goes if finances are a concern for a scooter rental, but that's what I would do in your case.

I feel November is better than some other months at Disney with regard to the heat and the sun.

You'll have to plan your trip with this photosensitivity in mind. Find ways to get out of the sun by alternating attractions and shows and eating. I think I would stay away from parades; unless, you can find a very shaded area for them. For the parks with less shade you may have to skip them or reduce your time there.

You may want to get a GAC (guest assistant card). This helps to get some better waiting areas sometimes away from the sun. Others here can expand on this feature.

I would get a big hat with a big rim to wear and I would take suntan lotion to the park and apply it through the day more than once. Try and find larged framed sunglasses. Look at yourself through the day to see if you are getting flushed or whatever. If you see a change for the worse call it quits; until, you can change your plans and do something that may help more for your situation. You stated you feel like you are burning up after a few minutes in the sun; so, be aware of all the signals that can go wrong.

As another poster stated you can buy clothes now that has UV protection built into it. You should still use suntan lotion, but every little bit can help.

Talk to your doctor. Make sure it's okay for you to take this trip. The doctor may have better suggestions for you.

 

[peemagg]

We have umbrellas that instead of a regular handle on them, they have a clamp on the bottom that allows us to put it on different things. It is also able to move to different angles as needed.

 

[Bete]

We have umbrellas that instead of a regular handle on them, they have a clamp on the bottom that allows us to put it on different things. It is also able to move to different angles as needed.

will break quite often. Can you share your experience with them. It seems many of the clamps are made out of plastic not made to last. If you have had a good experience will you share the kind you bought and where? Have you used it on a wheelchair? I'm curious if that has worked okay?

 

[peemagg]

I have not used it on my scooter or chair, but on a lawn chair or nieces and nephews strollers. These have clamps that are made that are made of plastic. There is even 2 different style clamps with the ones that we have. I know some came from Totes and I think some came from Walmart. We have had them for 6+ years, but they haven't gotten a whole lot of use to be able to speak of how they would hold up with lots of use.

I say try one and see how it works for you. They don't cost a whole lot. I think they were somewhere between $10 and $15 for one.

 

[Bete]

I have not used it on my scooter or chair, but on a lawn chair or nieces and nephews strollers. These have clamps that are made that are made of plastic. There is even 2 different style clamps with the ones that we have. I know some came from Totes and I think some came from Walmart. We have had them for 6+ years, but they haven't gotten a whole lot of use to be able to speak of how they would hold up with lots of use.

I say try one and see how it works for you. They don't cost a whole lot. I think they were somewhere between $10 and $15 for one.

your info about the clamp umbrellas. I think I will try one.

 

[M5ward]

There are some very nice clothes made with SPF fabric. Try this site:
www.coolibar.com

 

[SueM in MN]

Ohhhh, very annoying - I typed out a nice response and instead of posting, it disappeared. So, here goes again.....

There is more information about Guest Assistance Cards (GACs) in post #6 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread. You can find that thread near the top of this board or follow the link in my signature to get there.

That said, a GAC is not going to help much with sun protection for the simple reason that most of the sun exposure takes place while walking between things, not while in line for attractions.
WDW does have a stamp for the GAC that says the guest needs a “place to wait out of the sun when the queue is in the sun for a prolonged period of time.”
In the past, there were some queues where this occurred, but most queues at this point are well shaded, even in Animal Kingdom.
I can think of 2 that are not shaded off-hand. One is the queue for the Nemo show at AK, but waiting in that line can be avoided by doing the reserved seating lunch at Tusker House.
The other attraction in the sun for a long period is Lights, Motors, Actions at the Studio, but that whole area is in the sun and would be difficult to find a path to the seating area without going thru the sunny areas - at least in the morning.

A lot of sun exposure can be avoided by going to the parks early and leaving or doing indoor attractions during the time the sun is highest and most likely to burn - between 10 am and 2pm.
Since you are going in November, the sun will be setting earlier, so I would save World Showcase in Epcot for the late afternoon to late evening hours. That way, you can avoid most of the walking in the sun. Some of Future World area closes at 7pm, but you can avoid a lot of sun exposure by hitting all the attractions in one area and avoiding criss-crossing the park.

I am not sure if you are concerned about heat because of your condition or because of long sleeved sun protection clothing, but much of the sun protection clothing is made for wear in the summer and is pretty light and airy.

Here’a a link to the American Cancer Society page about sun protective clothing.

Besides, the link already posted, here are some others:

REI has a nice selection of sun protective clothing:
http://www.rei.com/search?query=sun+protective&button.x=0&button.y=0

Solumbra (Sun Precautions) has also been making sun protective clothing for a long time and has a good selection: (their website seems a little buggy this evening though)
http://www.sunprecautions.com/

Columbia also has some more fashionable clothes and a lot of sporting goods stores carry at least some of the Columbia clothing:
http://www.columbia.com/Omni-Shade/Science_Omni-Shade,default,pg.html
(look for the OmniShade icon byte he clothing).

 

[elcodfish]

You can also buy a detergent to wash your clothes in to give them an SPF protection. I would second renting a scooter with a canopy.

 

[Bete]

You can also buy a detergent to wash your clothes in to give them an SPF protection.

This is good to know; it sounds like a good product.

 

[lilwhiterabbit]

Thanks for all the information guys! I was pretty sure a GAC wouldn't be terribly useful, though I suppose I can talk to Guest Services anyway and see what can be done. I'm pretty sure we'll be skipping the Nemo show this time around, so that's one queuing area I don't have to worry about. What I was mostly concerned about was those long stretches around the World Showcase or in DinoLand in with the sun reflecting up off the hot pavement....

I love the idea of the clamp umbrella, so I think I'm going to look into getting one of those. I'm pretty short, so I think I should be able to clamp it onto the arm of the rollator and still keep it over my head. Also, thank you so much for the suggestions of the UV blocking clothing--I had no idea those even existed! I need to buy some new clothes for the vacation anyway and these seem like a great idea.

I'll have to do more research into the detergent before I can make a solid decision on that. I've got crazy sensitive skin and can't use things with lots of chemicals, scents or dyes, so I'll have to see if it will cause me to break out in a rash first.

Some of you know my longstanding avoidance of ECVs, so those would probably be a last resort (for those who don't know, driving them makes me seriously stressed and frustrated, so I try to avoid it), but I do appreciate the suggestion.