Anyone travel after an appendectomy?

[DVC Mary]

My DH refuses to cancel our WDW portion of our vacation. The doctor has not been helpful, in guiding DH as to what rides will be ok for him. DH seems to think he can handle most rides except some the big RCs. I am terrified he'll do damage to himself. Has anyone travelled to WDW a week after an appendectomy who can share experiences?

My DH's appendix ruptured Tues am. He will likely be released Fri. We are supposed to leave for WDW this coming Tues 6/6. We have trip insurance, but DH insists on going. I was thinking of getting a GAC card for the lines & renting him a scooter if he demands to go to WDW.

Any suggestions?

 

[mcraft17]

I know after my appendix burst and I went home I didn't feel that great. I would say that it may not be the most enjoyable time to go. I would schedule it a little later after he has completly healed so that he can enjoy it with out pain and fatigue. Just my thought. Good luck and hope he feels better soon.

 

[Gabe's Mom]

To your DH. Hope his recovery goes great. OK, got to ask my nurse question. Was it lap or open? That makes a difference. As far as the rides go, he's really not going to hurt himself. I'm sure he will have pain medicine and can tolerate that aspect as well. What's going to get him is the energy level. After even a fairly minor surgery, all the energy we use in our day to day lives is going towards healing. I just can't imagine that his energy level would be what he would want for walking around the parks all day.
I can imagine how dissapointing the idea of cancelling is to you all. Keep us up to date on what you decide and if you do go, how he does.
Good Luck

 

[NDMD]

I am a physican, albeit ENT, not general surgery. However, as a surgeon and someone who has had an appendectomy, I would say your husband is crazy to do Disney one week after an appy. I was worn out for a month after mine and mine had not ruptured. In addition, the anesthesia often affects people for more than a week.

Finally, the wound strength is still very weak at this point. My opinion would be to reschedule if possible until a time when he is healed. He may not do permanent or serious damage. However he will likely fatigue easily and be extremely uncomfortable.

Good Luck.

 

[schoen]

I had this surgery when I was a kid. I have to tell you... I was REALLY tired for the first week after my surgery, and it took me about two weeks to get back to normal. I was as active as a kid can get (I was on a super competitive swim team, and I swam about four hours a day). The Friday after my Sunday surgery I went and watched my teammates at swim practice for an hour. Just going and sitting in the chairs watching took so much out of me that I came home and slept for four and a half hours! I did not have the lap procedure though. They opened me up with a three inch incision. I would cancel the trip if your husband is going to have a similar surgery. I can't imagine he would enjoy himself. It would also probably not be all that fun for you, because you would just end up having another person to take care of. Good luck either way!

 

[savs]

My 8 Yr old just had his out in November and he was pretty tired for the 1st couple of weeks. I just think it would be too much walking and the heat would be very hard on him.....when your feeling so tired already.

I know that is a hard choice to make, but I think it would be best to reschedule your trip.

I hope he is feeling better and thank god that it didn't burst while you were at Disney

 

[IndyJammer]

I had my Gall Bladder out (lap) and went 2.5 weeks later - and I would do it again in a heartbeat! My only real problem was the trip down and back - having to sit up for an extended period of time. There was no way that I was going to cancel our trip either - and I have NO regrets. Was I sore? Yes. Did I move a little slower than normal? Definitely. But, was it worth it? Absolutely!

I would just recommend that you guys do not go "Commando" and try to do absolutely everything! You can relax while at WDW & heal just as well if he were back to work - or better/faster!

The GAC card will probably not be a big help for the lines - but fastpasses will work great. Just let him rest while you guys do the big RCs. Maybe plan a couple afternoons at the resort so that he can rest/recover a little then.

Have fun - and make sure he takes a big bottle of Ibuprofen!

 

[Pixiedust34]

I had my gall bladder removed 3 weeks before our WDW trip last year. My surgeon assured me that I'd be OK to travel in 3 weeks. He was right, though I would not have wanted to go any sooner than that. I was sore and tired, especially the week immediately following surgery.

I wasn't allowed to bend or lift anything for 2 weeks, and it's difficult not to do that while you're on vacation. If your dh went to WDW that soon after his surgery and expected to ride attractions, I'd wonder at how well he'd be able to get in and out of the seats.

I wouldn't have had the energy to handle the trip in less than 3 weeks after surgery. Right when that 3 week mark hit, I felt great and went on vacation with my surgeon's blessing and "permission" to ride anything I wanted to.

I'm sorry to say that if I were in your husband's shoes, I'm be scheduling that trip for a later date. If he does go on vacation, I'd make it a lowkey one where he would take in a lot of the parades and shows and would pass on some of the rides.

 

[tink1978]

My DH refuses to cancel our WDW portion of our vacation. The doctor has not been helpful, in guiding DH as to what rides will be ok for him. DH seems to think he can handle most rides except some the big RCs. I am terrified he'll do damage to himself. Has anyone travelled to WDW a week after an appendectomy who can share experiences?

My DH's appendix ruptured Tues am. He will likely be released Fri. We are supposed to leave for WDW this coming Tues 6/6. We have trip insurance, but DH insists on going. I was thinking of getting a GAC card for the lines & renting him a scooter if he demands to go to WDW.

Any suggestions?

It took me two weeks to be back to normal after my appendectomy last year. He will definitely need to take it easy and rest often.

 

[TheZeppo]

Let the man do what he wants to do. I'm sure if he feels any discomfort he'll take it easy.

 

[dyna]

HMMMMMMMMMMMmm lets see I had gall bladder surgery on Wed on Friday I went out riding on a harley. Rode a couple hundred miles. Funny after that I wasn't near as sore. On Sat got in car an rode 600 miles up to the Mayo clinic in MN where we was at the clinic for 12 to 24 hours a day for a week.

Let the man do what he wants and if he feels like coaster rides let him go for it.

 

[Olallamom]

I had mine out last July and it was caught in time. I lived on pain killers for the first few days after getting out of the hospital. I can't imagine doing all the walking and such but let the man make up his own mind.

 

[SueM in MN]

The GAC card will probably not be a big help for the lines - but fastpasses will work great.

That is correct. The GAC (Guest Assistance Card) is not meant to eliminate or shorten the wait in lines - it actually says that on the card. The card also mentions that if you do want to shorten your wait in line, you should use Fastpass. The GAC is meant to assist the CMs to know what needs someone with invisible disabilities might have. So, it is not going to help much with the lines, and in fect, if his problem is "stamina or endurance", the CMs will suggest renting a wheelchair or ECV. For someone using an ECV or wheelchair, a GAC is not usually necessary. Most of the lines/attractions are wheelchair accessible and, since the CMs can see that you need an accessible entrance, you will be directed to the correct place without a GAC.

You can get more information about GACs and renting wheelchairs/ECVs on the disABILITIES Board in the disABILITIES FAQs thread located near the top of the board.
There is also a link in that thread to the official WDW Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities, which lists all the rides that have warnings. No one will stop him from riding, but IMHO, I would not ride anything with a warning that soon after coming out of the hospital. I agree with Pixiedust34

I had my gall bladder removed 3 weeks before our WDW trip last year. My surgeon assured me that I'd be OK to travel in 3 weeks. He was right, though I would not have wanted to go any sooner than that. I was sore and tired, especially the week immediately following surgery.

I wasn't allowed to bend or lift anything for 2 weeks, and it's difficult not to do that while you're on vacation. If your dh went to WDW that soon after his surgery and expected to ride attractions, I'd wonder at how well he'd be able to get in and out of the seats.

Unless you stick to shows (where he would be able to just sit in the ECV) here is a lot of getting in and out of ride seats at WDW. Some are much easier than others. Even if it's not that hard, all the "in and out" is tiring.

Since he's still in the hospital, you don't really know what he's going to be like next Tues - which, after all, is only a week after his surgery. By the time you do know, it will be too late to cancel. Because his appendix ruptured, he may not come back to normal as quickly as someone who had a more simple appendectomy.

Pixie dust to you, what ever you do.

 

[jann1033]

not Disney but if he is a relatively healthy guy my daughter had lap. surgery and hiked the Inca trail 2 weeks later which is much more strenuous than wdw..however, i think it depends on his age, general health etc.

if it's too much walking, you have the ecv option to fall back on, so if he feels up to it go for it. but imo if he is trying to be kind to the rest of the family it might not work out that way is he gets there and crashes.