Chemo patient and wheel chair use?

[joybeth]

Hi everyone.

I am a veteran of many WDW trips. Last fall while staying at AKL I discovered symptoms that led to a cancer diagnosis a couple weeks after I returned home. I have been receiving chemotherapy since November 2014 and will finish the end of April 2015. I am facing surgery at the end of May 2015. Working with my oncologist I planned a trip to WDW mid-May. This is a trip to celebrate finishing chemo and to have some fun prior to surgery. The trip will be with my DD 22, my 2 sisters and 2 friends. We have booked flights, 2 rooms at the Beach Club, but now I am starting to have regrets. The chemo has been hard on my body. I am currently unable to walk more than a short distance without extreme fatigue. I am also developing neuropathy in my hands and feet. I no longer feel confident about my ability to get around WDW. I am not sure what to do since everyone has bought their flights.

What I am wondering is if I should consider taking or renting a wheel chair?
How difficult is it to push an adult in a wheel chair? (I don't want to be a burden)

I am just so uncertain about everything now given my current health condition. Any advice would be helpful.

jb

 

[NJlauren]

I'm so sorry about your diagnoses and I wish you nothing but the best in your treatments and surgery.

May I suggest a ecv, my mom visited WDW three times during her treatments and having one was well worth it. We rented from an offsite company and it made everything easier and extremly enjoyable. Have an amazing trip and be well.

 

[Gracie09]

an ecv may sound nice but it can be very mentally taxing as you have to be aware of your surroundings at all times and people jump out in front of you etc.

I would opt for a wheelchair rented from a third party. With 3 other people going with you, it shouldn't be too difficult for them to take turns and you can even walk, using it as a walker.

 

[minnie mum]

I'm going to agree with Gracie. An ECV can be mentally and physically draining just trying to navigate through the crowds and avoiding hitting the people who seem to have no situational awareness and walk directly into your path or stop in front of you with no warning.

I have chosen to stay with a wheelchair. DH doesn't mind pushing me, and I think if the 3 others in your party take turns, it would be easy for them to manage. One tip I might offer: DH wears gloves. The kind with padded palms and no fingers that weight lifters use in the gym. Helps prevent blisters on the hands.

 

[spacecanada]

Another suggestion from a wheelchair user at work: if it's an option, get a sport wheelchair - it is significantly easier to push a wheelchair with sport wheels (and bearings) compared to a regular wheelchair.

 

[joybeth]

Thanks for the responses everyone! I was thinking a wheel chair because I thought I could walk and use it as a "walker" at times as well. I know if I had an ECV I would have to always be riding and I really want to walk as much as I can. You have all helped with my anxiety regarding not being able to get around as I normally do. I will definitely check into the sport wheel chair. Thanks for the advice!

 

[JennyDrake]

I'm going to echo the wheelchair and I had great customer service from Walker Mobility. April 2013 I went post op and while I fought renting the WC, it was the BEST thing to do by far!!! I would park it and walk as much as I could tolerate. NO WAY could I have handled a trip without it. You don't realize the exhausting distances from your room to the bus stop and from the bus stop to inside the park.

 

[joybeth]

Thanks for recommendation of Walker Mobility. I will check them out. I feel that the wheelchair option will be the best for me. It will let me walk when I can and ride when I need to. I don't think my trip will be the same if I try to go without. I just need to get used to the idea.

Thanks for the info and good wishes everyone!

jb

 

[ttintagel]

When a manual wheelchair proved impractical for my group and I, the rental company was able to replace it with an ECV by the next morning. So, if you keep the company's contact information handy, you can go with your Plan A, with the confidence that you have a Plan B to fall back on if needed.

 

[JennyDrake]

Thanks for recommendation of Walker Mobility. I will check them out. I feel that the wheelchair option will be the best for me. It will let me walk when I can and ride when I need to. I don't think my trip will be the same if I try to go without. I just need to get used to the idea.

Thanks for the info and good wishes everyone!

jb

Dear JoBeth,

It was for a completely different set of reasons, but I UNDERSTAND the need to get used to the idea of a wc. I fought it--hard. I was only 10 days out of a walking boot after 3 months casted w/ ZERO weight bearing, then a month in a boot, and I was to start "weaning" myself out of the boot. I wanted NO part of a wc; after all, the doc said to walk as much as I could. But my DH and my BFF (who was going with me) both said, "You WILL rent a wc." I waited until 5 days before the trip to do so--that is how much I fought it. But honestly, it was the absolutely best thing I could have done. I would ride from the room to the bus and from the bus to an interior point in a park, where we would park the chair and I would walk. I found I could (only) tolerate about 2 1/2 hours of walking/standing then my foot was both fatigued and very grouchy. The WC also gave me a seat to ice and elevate every 2 hours as ordered.

Hang in there and feel free to pm me ANYTIME!

(((hugs)))

 

[DCDisney]

Best wishes to you for a great trip! Your insurance company will probably even cover a wheelchair rental if you get a note from your Dr. Renting it at home to use in the airport makes a huge difference and/or arranging for one of those carts to take you to your gate. Airports are so huge and no use in wasting energy on the not fun stuff.

 

[joybeth]

Great advice DC and Jenny. Your suggestions sound spot on. I am going to check on renting one here and taking it with me. I know I need to do this in order to enjoy my trip. There will be other trips when I will be go without. I don't want to ruin the trip by being miserable.

Love to all for the great advice!

jb

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . What I am wondering is if I should consider taking or renting a wheel chair? . . . How difficult is it to push an adult in a wheel chair? (I don't want to be a burden) . . .

1) Yes, or an ECV.
2) MrsRustySCupper and I hit the parks after her surgery and Chemo, and IT WAS PRETTY TIRING FOR HER.
3) Especeially when the sun came out.
4) She got "zapped" quickly, and I went after a scooter for her.
5) Afterward, she was fine the balance of the day, as long as we ht air conditioning about every 20-30 minutes. *
6) Just beware of possible peripheral neuropathy which can make the feet sore and make it difficult to walk.

* If we couldn't get into a ride, it was a great excuse for me to duck into a store and browse.

 

[joybeth]

Thanks Rusty Scupper for the reply. I am going to rent a wheelchair for my stay. That way I can push it when I feel like walking and ride when I can't. The heat will be an issue for me as well as the sun. I am finishing chemo 2 weeks before my trip and will have surgery the week after I return. I really need this trip!

jb

 

[kim_d]

No advice, just do whatever works best for you and have fun!! I was diagnosed with stage 3 rectal cancer in May 2013. Did 6 weeks chemo/radiation then surgery, more chemo, and finally one more surgery. My family (me, DH and our 2 kids) took a disney vacation and cruise in September 2013-after chemo/radiation but before my initial surgery. It was heavenly. Just what I needed. We made sure we took it a little easier than normal but otherwise it was just a fun vacation.

 

[joybeth]

Thanks, Kim! This trip is exactly what I need too. I will finish chemo 2 weeks before the trip and am having surgery the week after. This trip has been my goal for getting through chemo! I can't believe it is now only 35 days away (and 3 chemo treatments!).

 

[dizprincess27]

I have had cancer for 4 years now and have gone to WDW 4 times since my diagnosis in 2011. The first time, I had finished having surgery and chemo and suffered from neuropathy in my feet. I was very lucky that prior to my trip, the neuropathy seemed to disappear. I walked and rested in the afternoons most days but I'm a hard head and looking back, it would have been much easier to rent a ECV oh well. One time, I had my friends to use which did turn out to be a good thing as I was on morphine for unplanned horrible pain. I personally however would recommend the ECV because it's so easy to drive and it may be hard for someone to push the wheelchair in the heat. If you have someone who is willing to do that however, the wheelchair option is good too. Above all, have fun and only do what you can you'll be back when you feel better!

 

[Rivermonster]

I would like to know how your trip goes. My mother was diagnosed with cancer last week and will begin 8 weeks of chemo and radiation this Monday. We already had a trip planned for September 20-30, and I'm very nervous about how taxing this trip might be on her, as we know nothing yet about how she will respond to the chemo. Her treatment should be completed approximately 2 months prior to our departure, but I'm still worried nonetheless. If you discover anything in particular that benefits you on this trip, please share.

I hope you have a wonderful time, and best wishes for a healthy, happy, and cancer-free future, as well as a fantastic and memorable vacation.

 

[Glittercat]

Just hope your trip is/was fantastic and surgery goes really well!

 

[xlxo]

What I am wondering is if I should consider taking or renting a wheel chair?
How difficult is it to push an adult in a wheel chair? (I don't want to be a burden)

Kinda late to this thread, but some thoughts...

• pushing an adult in a wheelchair will depend on the on pusher. I think it's easier to push someone in a chair compared to not having a wheelchair
• in addition to sport wheelchairs, consider "transport" wheelchair that may be easier to travel with. They are meant to be used indoors, but I use them outdoors too. They are lighter and more portable than a regular wheelchair. Transport chairs are great when the rider does not have the strength to push themselves, though the ride is a little rougher with the smaller wheels.
• the transport chair has been great for us as we can quickly race to a public bathroom and save the energy for those last steps inside the bathroom. Hopefully there is no lineup.