Boarding a Ship With a Sick Kid

[mom2brooke76]

Hi everyone! Odd question, but will a letter from the doctor suffice for a child to board the ship, should she be vomiting? This is our ninth cruise, so we're very familiar with the forms you fill out, etc, and would never bring a contagious person on board.

My 11 year old has been doing random vomiting for the last 6 months or so, with episodes occurring probably twice monthly, maybe more. Initially we just passed it off as a stomach bug with no other symptoms, until it started happening regularly and she was missing school. Then we knew something wasn't right. Her doctor referred her to a neurologist who suspects abdominal migraines, but they're waiting on results from an opthamologist and an MRI to rule out other possibilities so that they can make their diagnosis. We're still waiting to have the MRI done. In the meantime, we're just having to deal with her occasionally not feeling good.

Any advice would be great!

 

[mmouse37]

Yes, if it is a known issue and not a stomach bug which is causing the vomiting and she is not contagious to others it should not be a problem to board. Definitely have a note from your doctor stating that she is not contagious and it is not a stomach bug but a chronic issue.

Of course the final decision would be DCL's. The odds of her vomiting right when you are checking in are how likely?

MJ

 

[mom2brooke76]

Yes, if it is a known issue and not a stomach bug which is causing the vomiting and she is not contagious to others it should not be a problem to board. Definitely have a note from your doctor stating that she is not contagious and it is not a stomach bug but a chronic issue.

MJ

Thanks MJ! We booked this onboard last January, so this is a relatively new issue. Her doctor has already written a letter. I'm hoping she won't have any issues on the cruise because I know how bad she feels when she does, but we're now keeping a food log and avoiding potential triggers (chocolate and Chinese), which she acts like is the end of the world

 

[Sir William]

Cruise lines take illnesses, especially gastrointestinal illnesses, real or perceived, very seriously. I found out first hand by being subjected to a "physical" at the terminal before being allowed to board a cruise to Alaska. Fortunately, I had a short note from my doctor explaining my persistent cough was not connected to anything contagious and I was allowed to board since I didn't have a fever and wasn't vomiting. Ironically, my cough was completely gone within 48 hours after we sailed.

I would contact DCL, explain your doctor's diagnosis, and find out what documentation they require from him that will allow your daughter to board.

BTW, I have a niece who has abdominal migraines.

 

[lanejudy]

I agree with others... bring the note from her doctor. When is the cruise and what is the date of the doctor's note? You'll want those pretty close together so as to indicate it truly is not a stomach bug that she caught last week. If at all possible, I'd try to have the note dated within the week prior to your cruise.

One other suggestion... I would not refer to her as a "sick kid" even if she isn't feeling 100% that morning (stress may be another trigger); that phrase automatically makes everyone think stomach bug. She has a diagnosis condition that manifests as vomiting but is not contagious. Stick with that descriptor (or whatever the doctor's note indicates) with the documentation backing it up. She may still need to be examined at the port, but the letter should explain the situation.

DD had the abdominal migraines for a while. Fortunately, she seems to have mostly outgrown them now. Hopefully your daughter will too.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[mom2brooke76]

I agree with others... bring the note from her doctor. When is the cruise and what is the date of the doctor's note? You'll want those pretty close together so as to indicate it truly is not a stomach bug that she caught last week. If at all possible, I'd try to have the note dated within the week prior to your cruise.

One other suggestion... I would not refer to her as a "sick kid" even if she isn't feeling 100% that morning (stress may be another trigger); that phrase automatically makes everyone think stomach bug. She has a diagnosis condition that manifests as vomiting but is not contagious. Stick with that descriptor (or whatever the doctor's note indicates) with the documentation backing it up. She may still need to be examined at the port, but the letter should explain the situation.

DD had the abdominal migraines for a while. Fortunately, she seems to have mostly outgrown them now. Hopefully your daughter will too.

Enjoy your cruise!

Thanks! It's interesting to see others who kids or relatives have also suffered from abdominal migraines. That makes me feel better, but it's still awful to see your child feel bad I used the term "sick kid" on here just to draw attention to my post Saying sick in the terminal is like saying terrorist in an airport........two things you DON'T do

And yes, the doctor has just written a note for our cruise on Friday Hopefully it's not even needed

 

[cruisehopeful]

but we're now keeping a food log and avoiding potential triggers (chocolate and Chinese), which she acts like is the end of the world

Aww, I feel her pain! I loved chocolate when I was a child and wasn't allowed to eat it because anytime I did, I would vomit all night. I did grow out of it. However, recently started having migraines and chocolate is off the menu again. I had a few decades of lots of yummy chocolate, though, so I am fine with not eating it anymore.

I just want to point out that rather than describe her as a "sick kid," it sounds like a better description would be "having food sensitivities." If people hear the word "sick" they will get paranoid that they will catch something. The doctor's note will be fine. Good luck with the diagnosis and treatment. At some point, she will be happy to not eat triggers when she realizes that she can prevent her symptoms.

EDIT: I just realized I missed a similar post about the word "sick." My apologies.

 

[bethy]

I would pull out the doctors note only if necessary - like if she is looking or feeling ill at the terminal or later on during the cruise (to avoid quarantine). Otherwise I'd just keep it with me.

 

[mom2brooke76]

Thanks all! I've spoken to DCL and Special Services, and they both advised me not to mention it upon boarding unless she's actually sick since it isn't contagious and we never know when she'll have an episode. They did say to bring a note from the doctor just in case, which I do have. Here's hoping for a symptom free cruise this weekend!

 

[mjfisherdc]

My niece has had similar issues and it is actually an allergy to a food preservative - potassium sorbate or any variation of it. She is ok with a little, but too much and she gets a headache, and then can vomit.
Hope you find out what is causing them for your daughter.

 

[Tay N Evie's Mom]

My DD suffered from bouts of vomiting that caused her to be hospitalized 4 times from age 2 1/2 to 5 years old. She would be so dehydrated that they would have to start her IV in her foot. She was later diagnosed with cyclic vomiting syndrome. She is now 17 and it has manifested into migraines, in which she will end up vomiting to relieve the migraine. At least now the episodes are sporadic and since she's older she knows when they are coming and what to do to manage them.

I also worried that we would have problems boarding the ship if she was having an episode, but luckily we never had a problem. I always carried phenegran suppositories in case she had an episode on vacation. Only once, at US, did we have to use them out of 20+ vacations.

 

[Currahee]

Ask you Doctor to prescribe her anti-nausea medications like Zofran. Phenergan will also be a good choice but it is quite sedating. There is a full chapter in the book of Pediatric Gastroenterology that pertains to only vomiting and the differential diagnosis. I agree that it should be not be mentioned at the cruise when the questionnaires are provided. Her episodes is unlike infectious in origin.

 

[mom2brooke76]

My DD suffered from bouts of vomiting that caused her to be hospitalized 4 times from age 2 1/2 to 5 years old. She would be so dehydrated that they would have to start her IV in her foot. She was later diagnosed with cyclic vomiting syndrome. She is now 17 and it has manifested into migraines, in which she will end up vomiting to relieve the migraine. At least now the episodes are sporadic and since she's older she knows when they are coming and what to do to manage them.

I also worried that we would have problems boarding the ship if she was having an episode, but luckily we never had a problem. I always carried phenegran suppositories in case she had an episode on vacation. Only once, at US, did we have to use them out of 20+ vacations.

We are carrying Zofran for nausea/vomiting episodes. It seems that cyclic vomiting syndrome and abdominal migraines all sort of fall under the same umbrella from what I've been told. We're keeping a food log to see if there are any triggers causing the episodes. Now I feel bad because I've been on Castaway Cay before and had a child vomit close to me and thought to myself why would they have a sick child out here, when in reality, their child could have something like mine. Nobody knows what it's like until you live with it unfortunately.

 

[mom2brooke76]

Ask you Doctor to prescribe her anti-nausea medications like Zofran. Phenergan will also be a good choice but it is quite sedating. There is a full chapter in the book of Pediatric Gastroenterology that pertains to only vomiting and the differential diagnosis. I agree that it should be not be mentioned at the cruise when the questionnaires are provided. Her episodes is unlike infectious in origin.

Thanks! We currently do have Zofran for her which does help during her episodes. Her pediatrician also said not to mention it unless she gets sick. We've been dealing with this for the last 6 months and initially thought it was a stomach bug......until it continued to happen with no other real symptoms. Sometimes it can pass in an hour, others she's been down for days. She's missed school due to being nauseous enough that she couldn't pay attention and we've been to the pediatrician countless times only to be sent to specialists.

 

[wombat_5606]

Just want to weigh in....a friend's daughter had the same symptoms. Eventually she did allergy testing and she can't eat anything orange. Once that was eliminated, as strange as it sounds, no more issues. So, if you're still trying to get a diagnosis, it might be worth it to ask for allergy testing to be included.

 

[wilkeliza]

Thanks! We currently do have Zofran for her which does help during her episodes. Her pediatrician also said not to mention it unless she gets sick. We've been dealing with this for the last 6 months and initially thought it was a stomach bug......until it continued to happen with no other real symptoms. Sometimes it can pass in an hour, others she's been down for days. She's missed school due to being nauseous enough that she couldn't pay attention and we've been to the pediatrician countless times only to be sent to specialists.

Is she doing well in school? Not being picked on or have any issues there? Just wondering because sometimes stomach issues are anxiety based.

 

[party-of-five]

No advice - just want to send good vibes for a great cruise and that your DD feels better!

 

[Tay N Evie's Mom]

Thanks! We currently do have Zofran for her which does help during her episodes. Her pediatrician also said not to mention it unless she gets sick. We've been dealing with this for the last 6 months and initially thought it was a stomach bug......until it continued to happen with no other real symptoms. Sometimes it can pass in an hour, others she's been down for days. She's missed school due to being nauseous enough that she couldn't pay attention and we've been to the pediatrician countless times only to be sent to specialists.

DD has also missed school and other activities because of it. We found out one of her triggers the hard way. We liked to fly out on vacation early in the morning and DD would always vomit in the car on the way to the airport and at the airport. She didn't have car sickness at any other time. We finally had to start flying in the evenings, and she never vomited on those trips.

 

[Phelpsie70]

I also wanted to send good vibes to you. My son has both cyclic vomiting syndrome, migraine headaches and reflux. We always have a doctors note while traveling for that very reason. He has had episodes on the ship and the crew has been so nice about it. We carry both Zofran to stop the vomiting and something called Levsin for stomach cramps. He is also on a migraine preventative. I know what you are going through, having dealt with this since my son (now 13) was a baby. I hope you get a definite diagnosis and a plan that works for your child.

 

[Jennifer777]

Glad you got some reassurance from DCL and Special Services. Perhaps a preventative Zofran an hour before you head to the cruise terminal? Hopefully they figure what's going on with your daughter. Our son had vomiting issues until around age 5, which they never really figured out. It's hard to see them struggling like that.