Feedback Please?

[Amunet]

I hope this is the right place ...

So, I've had a lot going on this year and DH agreed a Disney vacation is due for both of us. Our main trip is a disney cruise (hopefully!) and then a few days in WDW.

In March, I was diagnosed with severe depression and I developed anxiety. The anxiety is particularly bad due to that it causes my throat to close and I can't breathe (and lots of muscle seizing in my throat and chest).
I'm hoping to see more docs to get it under control or fix it, but so far docs don't know why the lack of breathing occurs.

I don't want a special pass or treatment or anything, but this thing triggers mostly with stress, overheating and any over the top emotion (yes, even excited) ... and sometimes for no reason at all.
When this happens, I'm down on the ground and hubs usually needs to help through massage therapy and I try to control it before it gets too bad ... but not all the time.
I do have "emergency meds" that calms me in about 20-30 min.

My question is, is there any way to just notify WDW that this may happen? Just in case I happen to be away from DH or if it happens and freaks out cast members or something?

Sorry for the word block ^^;

And btw: we are only thinking of doing the park(s) for a day or two after the cruise due to this issue.

 

[wilkeliza]

I hope this is the right place ... So, I've had a lot going on this year and DH agreed a Disney vacation is due for both of us. Our main trip is a disney cruise (hopefully!) and then a few days in WDW. In March, I was diagnosed with severe depression and I developed anxiety. The anxiety is particularly bad due to that it causes my throat to close and I can't breathe (and lots of muscle seizing in my throat and chest). I'm hoping to see more docs to get it under control or fix it, but so far docs don't know why the lack of breathing occurs. I don't want a special pass or treatment or anything, but this thing triggers mostly with stress, overheating and any over the top emotion (yes, even excited) ... and sometimes for no reason at all. When this happens, I'm down on the ground and hubs usually needs to help through massage therapy and I try to control it before it gets too bad ... but not all the time. I do have "emergency meds" that calms me in about 20-30 min. My question is, is there any way to just notify WDW that this may happen? Just in case I happen to be away from DH or if it happens and freaks out cast members or something? Sorry for the word block ^^; And btw: we are only thinking of doing the park(s) for a day or two after the cruise due to this issue.

Not to discourage you but a cruise may not be the best situation until you get a little more control over this. In the event you throat closes and DH isn't around they may not have what is medically necessary to save you.

If you still choose to go get a medical ID bracelet and make a card to go in your wallet. There is no 100% sure fire way to let Disney know this may happen and what to do if your husband isn't around. In the event it gets as bad as you describe they would call 911 especially if you are unable to talk.

I'm trying to think of anything else as a ex-cm but we were never really made aware that a guest with a specific disability would be in the parks that day.

 

[Amunet]

This has been happening since March and I've since moved over 2k miles with less panic attacks then previously, so I agree that emergency services are 100% needed, but with my meds, I haven't had to get to that point thus far.

It does get that bad though. It's no picnic.

What kind of ID bracelet and card? Can we make custom ones?
I thought maybe there would be able to put a note on our reservation that would be linked to the magic bands or something?

 

[wilkeliza]

This has been happening since March and I've since moved over 2k miles with less panic attacks then previously, so I agree that emergency services are 100% needed, but with my meds, I haven't had to get to that point thus far. It does get that bad though. It's no picnic. What kind of ID bracelet and card? Can we make custom ones? I thought maybe there would be able to put a note on our reservation that would be linked to the magic bands or something?

Any Id bracelet would do. It is more for emergency personal and less CMs though.

Noted on guest files are not accessible by CMs only to guest relations and concierge and certain notes are put on dinning reservations.

Honestly if it gets as bad as you described and you travel group is not with you the default will be to call 911 as they couldn't give you a massage anyways. If you can talk during these attacks then you can tell them not to call but I imagine if proper protocol is followed (asking 3 times and receiving 3 clear nos) could make your anxiety even worse.

Both DBF and I have anxiety his is far worse than mine so I understand the battle. As someone who deals with it themselves and was a cm if you are concerned the worse could happen I would plan a short land only trip and then possibly work up to a cruise.

Is there somewhere local you could go like a six flags or sea world where you could test your anxiety on rides and in crowds?

 

[Amunet]

I see what what you mean

I have been gradually working with crowds, though. Did a Renaissance Faire on Mother's Day, a convention in mid August and went to Medieval Times in late August.
Those were okay, had a really bad attack after the ren faire but that was early on.
We are planning on going to utah for xmas (family), via train. I also have to get used to commuting to downtown Chicago twice weekly for classes (I'm in the west burbs).

So by the time (2015) we plan to go, I'm hoping that I'll have it better controlled. But the medical bracelet and card is a VERY good idea in general!

 

[ttintagel]

Seconding the medical ID bracelet. Even if all the staff could be notified, you might have an attack when there are no staff around, and other guests would need to know that you needed help.

 

[SueM in MN]

As th other posters mentioned, there is no way to share information ahead of time about guests in any way that CMs could have access to it in an emergency.

The symptoms you are describing would look like something that requires EMS, so if you alone and it happens, that is what is likely to happen.

I suggest medical IDs from www.medicalert.org because they are the best known and actually have a 24 hour 800 number for first responders/medical personnel to call. You put the information into the computer database that they will use to give information to medical personnel. You can put an emergency phone number for your husband plus someone else, as well your physician's contact information.
Because you have specific information that is important, I think this would be much better than a generic ID.