Former heart attack patients-do you do thrill rides?

[luvthemouse71]

OK, I'm not asking for medical advice or anything. My dad wants to go on certain thrill rides- EE, TT, space mountain...He'll be 63 when we go- and he had a heart attack in his early 40's. He's been ok since then although he's on meds. He's going to ask his doc what he thinks will be the best, but anyone out there have a cardiac history and went on the above mentioned thrill rides? On the one hand, I think it's cool that he wants to go on these rides(once he saw the ride video for EE-he was intrigued!) but I don't want him to have another MI. Thanks.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Your dads primary care physician is the ultimate word on this..

But there were some posts from a number of folks recently who had a similar history and rode without incident.

Personally, I'd put this one under 'better safe than sorry' -- for sure.

Knox

 

[Laren]

I would definitely talk to the doctor very clearly and frankly about it.

Personally I don't think any thrill ride is worth risking a person's life over- and I can sympathize what you're going through because not only am I a stroke survivor but so is my dad and he wanted to do a lot more thrill rides than I would let him- not with an aneurysm clip in his head!!!

We had an agreement before we left town- no thrill rides. I just wouldn't personally want to risk it. I wish you luck in talking to the doc and in dealing with Dad sometimes the older folks can be very stubborn!!!

Laren

 

[luvthemouse71]

I would definitely talk to the doctor very clearly and frankly about it.

Personally I don't think any thrill ride is worth risking a person's life over- and I can sympathize what you're going through because not only am I a stroke survivor but so is my dad and he wanted to do a lot more thrill rides than I would let him- not with an aneurysm clip in his head!!!

We had an agreement before we left town- no thrill rides. I just wouldn't personally want to risk it. I wish you luck in talking to the doc and in dealing with Dad sometimes the older folks can be very stubborn!!!

Laren

Yes, they can be. My dad kept saying "I'm not an invalid". But I just don't think he gets how intense the backwards part of EE can be. I'm very healthy and I get a little headrush from it. He's a retired fireman so he likes the adreneline rush I guess. We'll be discussing this with the doc, you can be sure!

 

[CanadianGuy]

"Dad, I checked and the ENTIRE INTERNET says no, you can't ride. You can't argue with EVERYONE on the INTERNET.. sorry.."



Knox

 

[luvthemouse71]

LOL! Internet? That there is one of those newfangled contraptions, dagnabbit. This is probably what my dad would say...worse comes to worse, I'll sic my Mom on him, that'll work!

 

[GC&S]

Only it's not just older folks who can be stubborn My DH had emergency open heart surgery last June at the age of 41 due to a dilated aortic root (what John Ritter died from). We went to WDW in Sept and I was on the phone with his cardiologist several times before we went as DH said he had no restrictions. His doc said just to take lots of breaks during the day because DH would tire more easily. Yeah, right. I had to force him to take those breaks - mainly for me!! I was exhausted worrying about him doing too much . DH did some of the thrill rides (against my nagging). He did not ride EE or Tower of Terror. Mainly because I would have killed him myself if he did. Those, IMO, can wait until he has a full year of recovery.

 

[silverarrowknits]

When your Dad talks with his doc, make sure he is very clear about the types of rides he wants to go on. For example, talk about the spinning on Mission Space, the backwards bit on EE, etc. Not everyone is as familiar with Disney rides as we are, so giving the doctor a heads up about the rides will definitely be helpful. Also, this is important because I am sure that there are people out there who believe everything at WDW is tame, which is not necessarily the case anymore.

Also, WDW does have all sorts of warnings about their rides. I think you can check it out on their website or get info at the customer relations desk at the parks. Sure, its Disney's way of covering themselves, but there are other reasons (like safety) that they suggest that certain people don't ride attractions like EE or MS.

 

[jliebik]

I had brain/neck surgery for a Chiari Malformation in 2005 and even though it saddens me to avoid all of the rides I have ridden before, I really don't want to have the surgery again. I still can't wait to go in Sept. to experience it all again with my kids this time.

 

[Quicklabs]

My hubby. age 56, has had a heart attack and a quintuple bypass. Mission Space (the original, not the mild one) caused him a LOT of trouble. I was scared for him (and he was scared too) Rode the mild MS without difficulty. No more Space Mountain. He doesn't have any difficulty on TofT. No trouble on BTMRR, but I suspect that EE bothered him some (even though he denied it), since he declined to ride again.

 

[luvthemouse71]

I've already told my dad about Mission: Space and he's fine about going on the green side(non-spinning). I'm glad they made the more tame version because he loves anything to do with space/astronomy so if he couldn't ride at all, I think he'd be real disappointed.

 

[smphbear]

FWIW - My dad had a heart attack at 44 followed by triple bypass. He is still on meds for blood pressure and cholesterol. He rides Space Mountain, BTM, and Tower of Terror and pretty much anything else. The only exception - he did stay off of Mission Space (it was only the original when he was last there). He has not been since EE opened, but he would probably ride it. 4 summers ago, we rode Kraken as a family at SeaWorld. My advice is definitely to have a serious chat with the Dr. No one knows him like the Dr. Dad is 56 now.

 

[Linda Farrell]

My DH had a heart attack in June 2004 and another one in February 2007. He went once on Rock n Rollercoaster after #1, and told me he was short of breath after it. So no more thrill rides for him (and me when it's just us) anymore. We find there is PLENTY to do without the thrill rides. We actually have more fun, because we do more of the stuff like looking through the countries, seeing shows and attractions we never had seen before.

It comes down to doing the right thing for his health issues.