Diabetic Neuropathy and WDW,anyone have advice?

[CJS~MOMMY]

This will be our first trip to WDW.I have diabetic neuropathy and have alot of problems with my feet. I do have feeling loss and pain but dh thinks I will make it ok without an ECV. He says we can go at my pace and take breaks.He will be strolling our 2 year old. Anyone else have diabetic neuropathy and have any advice for me on my trip to WDW?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILITIES!

I would start of explaining some things to your husband, especially about your feet and that he does not really understand the situation.

Basically a person has a certain amount of energy available to them daily. If they relax during the day the amount of energy available wil increase; when they sleep at night they recharge their system,

However, when in pain energy is used up much faster than in normal conditions. If you become exhausted, with by what you have done or, more importantly, what you have done while in pain your system will not recharge to the original energy level overnight and you are starting the next day with a lower amount of energy available.

Please ask yourself the following questions. Here are the suggested answers to go with them.

1. Are you disabled (even temporarily)? Yes.

2. Do the people you are traveling with, such as your family, know you are disabled? Yes.

3. Do you expect to meet anyone you know during this trip who may not know you are disabled. Probably No!

4. Do you expect to meet a bunch of people who you will probably never meet again in your life? Probably yes!

5. Is there any reason at all that you should care what these people think about you? Absolutely No!!

6. Will using a wheelchair or ECV make for a better vacation for you and your family? Absolutely YES!

 

[mgilmer]

I have neuropathy in my right foot due to diabetes. Tell your husband to can it and get the scooter. You will really enjoy WDW so much more without the pain.

 

[mechurchlady]

My mother's sister Mary has had diabetes many years and is in a rest home. Aunt Mary almost lost her foot to diabetes and has had to have surgery. She is now unable to walk. Mom has good feeling in her feet but the skin on her leg is yucky. Two fathers and the 3 girls and boy all had/have diabetes.

Normally a diabetic person has to watch for any damage to the skin as they can more easily get an infection and heal slower. That is what happened to mom's legs. A person with reduced or no feeling cannot immediately sense damage to the skin. They cannot feel the bllisters or a stone bruise. In the parks you can get your feet wet from sweat, water rides, and puddles. The wet foot can get blisters and wear spots that a diabetic cannot feel which can lead to infections.

GET AN ECV. It is not worth the risk of infection as well and tripping and falling because you are tired. When you are tired you are more apt to not feel things and stumble which is not good.

 

[tink2dw]

I can tell you there is more walking at WDW than you will be use too.

Every time I go, my blood sugar takes a bad dive! Down to 40, 35. Eat more, use an ecv, it will make your trip better and othes will have fun, too.

But to not be in pain is very worth the money to get an ECV. 2 trips I bore with it, while having Back pain, and foot pain, frankly I was such a Bi**ch, no one had any fun, I was yelling at everyone.

The year I broke down and rented a ecv scooter the whole family had the best trip! Mom wasn't yelling she was laughing!! What a lesson.

And talking about a Dh who don't understand, he just doesn't get it when I tell him I Must Eat Now! My blood sugar crashes. A simple frozen Lemonade will turn things around!!!

 

[tink2dw]

PS With an ECV you don't get Blisters on you feet!!!!!

 

[Belle & Ariel]

And remember your Glucagon. My son passed out at MGM a few years ago. He said he felt low, sat down to check blood sugar, and went into a seizure. He was so "into" the day's adventures he did not pay attention to his body.

 

[tink2dw]

Oh Yes you can buy the Glucose tablets at Walgreen's. They come in a plastic tube good for your pocket or purse. They also sell a large bottle for refilling the tube. Adults need 3 to 5 depending on weight. Not prescribing, not a doctor. ASK your Dr.

 

[minkydog]

I agree, get the ECV. Your DH is not thinking clearly about how hard a Disney trip will be on you. An ECV could make or break your vacation.

My DH has a chronic lung disease, but he looks completely normal (unless he needs his oxygen that day.) His stamina is very limited, but often he thinks he can just *power through*--not Our last trip I *insisted* that he get an ECV--I just knew he wouldn't have the stamina to keep up and frankly I didn't want to spend our vacation sitting on benches waiting for him to recover(totally selfish of me, I know.) I guess we were less than an hour into our WDW visit when DH looked around and remarked, "I'm so glad you made me do this. I could have never walked this far". The ECV saved our vacation! DH was able to use his limited energy to enjoy a relaxed day with the kids in a place we all love.

 

[smarsha4455]

Thanks for all of the comments! We are going to WDW with my mother (67) she has pretty severe Neurophathy and her balance is affected by it. She was on the fence about ECV's due to the cost, we will be there 10 days. Reading these post I think we will do it for sure. Want everyone to have a good time.

 

[bopper]

Here are top 5 Reasons that people think they shouldn't get one when they should.

I can't drive one. Go to your local Costco/Walmart/Target or other large store. They probably have an electric cart type thing that you could use while shopping. Try it out. I bet you can drive it.

People might think I don't really need it because I can walk. Are these people going to share the pain with you at the end of the day? Do you care what they think? Save your walking energy between rides and use it for lines or getting on the rides. Enjoy your family and your vacation.

It will slow my family down. No, actually it will speed your family up. No more rests because grandma is tired. No more going back to the hotel because grandpa is in pain. No more cranky mommy because she tried to walk miles and miles in Disney instead of renting an ECV. You are completely mobile on your own (nobody pushing you in a wheelchair). What's the slow down here?

It's expensive. Um, how much are you spending on this vacation? Don't you want to enjoy it? If money is that tight, take a day off of your trip and spend that money on the ECV so you can enjoy it!

I don't want my kids/family to think I am disabled...or in your case your DH doesn't want to or doesn't think it is "that bad". You are either temporarily or permanently disabled in some way if you are even asking about this issue...once again, why not make it a better vacation by saving yourself from pain? Nobody is saying you have to confine yourself to a wheelchair permanently or you should not stop trying to get better. If somebody told you to go walk 4 miles, you would think they are crazy. But you are paying for the privilige when you go to Disney to do just that...why not use an ECV to make your family's vacation better?

 

[CJS~MOMMY]

Ok lesson learned.It was actually more me than dh not wanting to get the ECV. I figured it would be good excersize and would be good for me.I walked 3 days and slowed us down.The 4th day my ankles were twice the size as normal and i was in severe pain.I got the ECV and omgosh what a difference! It was so much easier for all of us. I also learned it can be enough walking from the bus stops to the front of the park.
If you are like me, I wasn't embarassed ,I just felt like i was letting my family down and giving up by not trying to walk.I still need to work on that.Sometimes your stronger and smarter by taking care of yourself instead of being stubborn and trying to prove anything.

 

[mgilmer]

Ok lesson learned.It was actually more me than dh not wanting to get the ECV. I figured it would be good excersize and would be good for me.I walked 3 days and slowed us down.The 4th day my ankles were twice the size as normal and i was in severe pain.I got the ECV and omgosh what a difference! It was so much easier for all of us. I also learned it can be enough walking from the bus stops to the front of the park.
If you are like me, I wasn't embarassed ,I just felt like i was letting my family down and giving up by not trying to walk.I still need to work on that.Sometimes your stronger and smarter by taking care of yourself instead of being stubborn and trying to prove anything.

Been there, been that way (DW says I mostly still am), and AMEN!

 

[CJS~MOMMY]

mgilmer, your just a jump and skip from my house practically.Howdy neighbor.

 

[Daydreamer64]

Get a ECV- I didn't and had such blisters that my toes turned purple and bleed. Through good medical care and the grace of God, I didn't lose my toes.

Please, get the ECV. AND, trust me- the ECV won't be any slower then you, if you can't walk.

 

[mgilmer]

mgilmer, your just a jump and skip from my house practically.Howdy neighbor.

Back at ya! It is always better to be comfortable at WDW.