Don't let a nebulizer get you down!

[somebody]

I just got back from a great (if exhausting) trip to WDW. Right before we left my 8-month-old dd developed some respiratory problems and we were told she would have to use a nebulizer every four hours. We were worried that we would have to take turns staying with her in the hotel room, but as it turns out that wasn't the case. In addition to the terrific baby care stations in all the parks, we were able to find outdoor electrical sockets near a bench in the shade almost everywhere we happened to be at the time. The exception was in Mickey's Toontown Fair in MK...we had to hang out in the ladies room for that treatment. Not the most comfortable spot, but everyone was understanding about me being a bit in the way.

So, if you have a child that needs a nebulizer, it doesn't have to cramp your style.

 

[SueM in MN]

Welcome, and thanks for posting your tip here. I hope the little one enjoyed WDW and is doing well now.

SueM in MN
Co-Moderator of disABILITIES

 

[pugdog]

As a respiratory therapist I also know of several small battery powered units you could also use. If you need more info let me know

 

[somebody]

I was really amazed by how engaged she was the whole time. She really loved "It's a Small World". The whole time we were in there she was giggling and bouncing up and down in our lap and clapping/flapping her arms. She was more entertaining for me than all the dancing dolls. She was also enthralled by the Electric Light Parade at MK (all the parades, really). We also had our 4yo dd with us as well as some grandparents. Fun was had by all, but I think the littlest one had the most!

Regarding her health, she improved a lot while we were there. When we got back, her doctor approved the lengthening of time between treatments to six hours and then to eight hours after another couple days (if all goes well). We hope to continue to decrease dosages in the near future. If it doesn't look like that is what our pediatrician has in mind, we intend to check her out with a specialist (which we may do anyway just for peace of mind). Your prayers and good thoughts would be appreciated!

Thanks.

 

[somebody]

Pugdog,

Thanks. We may be in touch if this turns out to be a long term thing.

 

[pugdog]

Since I work in the kids hospital up here I'm always looking for ways to make things easier for the famileys. No reason for bulky equipment to slow things down with all of the new stuff that comes out all of the time.

 

[LUVUTIGGER2]

I glad to hear you had a good trip and the nebulizer did not slow you down. I have been very concerned about our upcoming trip in May. My DS has to use the nebulizer every 4 hours also. I was just wondering (and have been inquiring) where we could stop to give him his treatment when we were at the parks. Thanks for the informational post.

Pugdog: Will you please send me some information on the portable nebulizer at jmp31@ivillage.com. We travel often and find it sometimes difficult to locate power outlets if we are not in a major city when our DS is scheduled for a treatment. Thanks.

[This message was edited by LUVUTIGGER2 on 02-16-01 at 11:56 AM.

[This message was edited by LUVUTIGGER2 on 02-16-01 at 11:56 AM.]

 

[somebody]

Just in case you don't end up finding a battery-powered nebulizer that works for you, I thought you might like some ideas for nebulizer stops on the road. We split our drive to WDW into 2 days each way, so we had to be creative. Some of the places we stopped for power include: a hospital waiting room, lobbies of Motels and a Red Lobster waiting area (it wasn't busy at the time). We found that if you just walk right in like you own the place, nobody gives you a hard time. Most people are very willing to help. At the Red Lobster, I asked if there was a socket we could use and they were very accomodating.

Nebulizing in public was actually nice because you find out just how many people are in the same boat. Lots of folks start sharing thier experiences with you. I thought it was kind of nice -- almost like a support group feeling.

Good Luck! I hope you have a great time.

 

[pugdog]

when I head back to work tomorrow I'll look for the info.

 

[HoolyM]

Another thing you can try when traveling is getting a power invertor for your car. It plugs into your cigarette lighter and the unit itself has a regular household type outlet that you can plug anything in to. We just got one for $30ish at BJ's and we used it to plug in our laptop computer on our drive down to FL.

Holly

 

[MosMom]

Are there plenty of extra outlets in rooms? My sister uses a cpap machine at night as well as a nebulizer throughout the day & we weren't sure if there would be convenient/accessible outlets. Do the handicapped rooms have more or do regular rooms have enough? Has anyone had to deal with multiple pluggable machines? I probably should have put this in it's own category. =P

"Yeah, they're going to Disney AGAIN...they go like every other day" -- My Teenage Brother

January 00' - Beach Club
September 00' - All Star Movies
March 01' - All Star Movies

MoseysMom

 

[pugdog]

There are not more outlets but you do have one on each side of the bed and on every wall and by the sink. So you shouldn't have a problem with your CPAP machine our your compresser.

 

[somebody]

Since we had to use the nebulizer at all hours of the day and night, we usually set up in the bathroom area so others could sleep. But I can think of at least four outlets in our room at WL.

Good luck and have a great time!

 

[going2wdw]

somebody - just wanted to let you know that often small children do outgrow the respiratory problems. My 6yo DD suffered from about 6mths to 2 years after she had RSV. We did the treatments, steroids etc for that time.

I had really hoped that was it but she has had a very recent relapse and now we get to relearn everything but for a different age. It is nice that she can tell me when she needs a treatment but I hate having to do this again. Just finished dealing with insurance today to get an aero-chamber (?) that helps with inhalers. Had to call Dr and get a referral so it could be shipped from Medical supply place instead of just picking it up at the pharmacy. She is up to 4 different daily meds. Hate dealing with this stuff!

When my DD was a baby and had to do treatments she hated it. Keeping still for that long was torture and she usually screamed the entire time. Travel was interesting. The worst was when I was going from KY to TX and had to give her a treatment at a gas station rest room. She was screaming so loud that I know everyone was wondering what I was doing to that child. I quess for her one of the battery powered would have worked better - just strap it on

Janette
WDW

Offsite ? - 1976, Vistana - 1988
Vistana/Contemp - June 2000, OKW - Feb 2001
BWV - DIS Convention Nov 2001
Disneyland - 1998

 

[somebody]

Thanks for your reply! It's really nice to know that people have been dealing with this long before I ever knew it was a possibility.

We're currently in a lull from the nebulizer. The doctor gave us a week and a half's supply of meds and said to call if she had problems when it ran out (so far so good), otherwise let her go without until the next check-up in about three weeks(?). If she looks good then, maybe we'll be home free (I always try to be optimistic, I just hope I'm not crossing over into denial).

My dh had asthma growing up, but I always thought it was because his mother smoked during pregnancy and the thick second-hand smoke of his early months and years. I didn't think our children were at risk genetically. Oh well... At least there's more research and more modern treatments these days. There is a little boy in my 5 yo dd's daycare class that is in the process of growing out of his asthma (hopefully). He always had to take his "puffs" before nap. His mom told me that now he keeps his breathing under control with a once-a-day oral medicine (I can't remember the name). One pill a day sure sounds easy...

 

[icelady]

I have a severe allergy to latex and never know when I can have a severe attack, ie latex balloons ect. We visited WDW last Sept. and I had a regular compressor nebulizer which was unhandy to carry around parks, now I have a portable ultrasonic nebulizer which is ideal and runs on a battery pack, no noise and I would recommed it for anynone, very handy and portable.