Getting a wheelchair w/o offending anyone, very long

[mamajoan]

Chris, Thanks!!
Teri was kind enought to pm me with the info. and yes you are quite right in your assumption.

and dearie.. you found one.. the doc has me on all sorts of stuff to perk up my metabolism.. I never thought I would say this but... I miss doing my stair climber and treadmill.
Joan

 

[mhopset]

You go Joanie!!!!!!!

I agree with you 100%. Maybe the reason people have weight problems is because there is something else wrong preventing them from exercising.

AnimalCrackers I think you should cover all your bases before you make a comment like that.

Sorry, just my "opinion"

 

[Talking Hands]

Amen Teri.

 

[WLDDCD]

I am SO glad I found this thread!! I am going in June, with the following circumstances:
a) I am 41 yo overweight, but have lost ALOT of weight in the past year, which has enabled me to walk around the mall, etc. BUT, not enough to do 4 days in the parks on my own power, and still enjoy it, and the cruise after. I've had both knees replaced, I have arthritis in every joint of my body, and I dont' do well with the heat.

b) a 5yo DS and a 6yo DD who can and do walk alot, but will need a break at some points too

c) my friend who is traveling with me has hip problems when she walks long distances.


So, I will rent an ECV, use it most of the time, but if Debbie's hips hurt and/or I need a break to walk around, she will drive the ECV. Does this sound reasobable? I do have a handicapped parking tag which i hate to use, but on bad days no choice, or when it's that or park in the boonies and be too pooped to shop, i use it.

Thanks for the input. I really do want to do what's right, but still have fun.

 

[teri]

WLDDCD, do what you have to do to make your vacation good and special for you and your kids. If that means using the ECV and switching off when you need it, fine. If it means getting 2 ECVs, do that. If you have an ECV along, then parking lot trams are out of the question, so you will use the handicapped parking lot. That is fine.

What is right is doing what you need to do to have a good vacation. What would not be right is to have to stay behind or miss out because you are in pain. Do what you have to do to make things right. You will be fine.

 

[chris1gill]

Hi Mamajoan,

I wanted to ask you, could you email me & let me know what your doc has recommended to increase your metabolism? My doctors are more interested in dealing with my other problems, whereas to me my weight IS a problem... just curious how others are dealing with this!

Thanks!

 

[SueM in MN]

Anyone who has a mobility disability is at risk of weight gain (at least it comes as a probelm in all the preprinted nursing care plans), so someone should be interested in it besides that patient.
WLDDCD, a lot of people do just what you and your friend are thinking of doing -sharing an ecv. They are expensive and it makes your legs stiff to sit in the same position riding it all day. So switching off makes good sense from a lot of standpoints.
Like teri said, if you have an ecv, you will need to use the handicapped parking because if you park in the regular lot, your parking spot will be too far to walk and the ecv can't go on the tram. When you get to the first parking lot attendant, let them know that you have an ecv, and they will direct you to an appropriate parking spot. In Epcot, the handicapped parking fills up fast right now because they are using some of the lot for a technology competition (I'm not sure when they are done, but the tents were up for March and April). When that happens, they save a couple of rows at the front of the regular lot for people who need close parking.

 

[ducklite]

I had back surgery to remove a tumor from my spine in 1998. I also suffer from arthritis in my back, hips, and knees, however with a new drug have been pretty much pain free for over a year now

For our trips in 1999 and 2000 I used a wheelchair. I just couldn't handle the walking. In 1999 I was pretty much in the chair the entire trip. But in 2000 I started the trip in it and was feeling so well that I ditched it before the trip was over

I stood up and walked, stretched now and then, and even stood on line. Yes, I got some looks, until I asked people if they'd like to see the surgical scar on my back.

Anne

 

[doombuggy]

Cheshire Figment: Thanks for the info on the ECV's. I would like to take my grama down to WDW some time in the future, hopefully within the next year. She found out she had breast cancer late in 1999, beat it, then discovered that she had Parkinson's. She finally had the hip replacement surgery last labor day, and is back to being mobile, but walking around the parks would never do for her. She will be 78 this Christmas, and hasn't really had a vacation since the last time she went to WDW in 1973. Since getting over the cancer, she has given up her fear of flying and is willing to get on a plane. When the time comes, I will definately look in to renting an ECV from one of those companies. Thanks again!

 

[poohiscool]

I know how you feel. I was at the park last week. I have several medical problums which limit my mobililty for long amounts of time. I got the ECV so that my mom would not have to push me the whole time ( I am 17) I knew people were always looking at that kid in the chair saying that she does not need it. But youy just have ignore them. I parked the chair and stood on the short lines the others I got fast pass for. Plus there are some that you can skip the line if you are in a chair. Your son will like that. I did not abuse it and I know that I would have only lasted an hour with out it. and was my vacation and I wanted to get the most out of it as should you.

 

[chris1gill]

Ducklite (Anne)

Congratulations on being (almost) pain free!!! I swear it's the best thing I've heard all day!!

As for everyone else, if you need the chair, use it, that's what it's for & if you do by chance get a stair or two ignore it... I was thinking to myself that early on I never got any stairs, then I realized I probably did, but how would I know, I never make eye contact... Call me odd I guess... But use the chair (or ECV) if you need it!

 

[SueM in MN]

poohiscool, I' glad to hear you had a good time. It's too bad that some people think they can judge whether someone "really" needs a wheelchair or ecv. The person using it is really the only one who is able to judge.
I'm curious about one thing though. You posted that you are 17. People have posted before that the parks and the outside rental places wouldn't rent an ecv for someone to use unless they are over 18. Were you asked how old you were, and where did you rent from?

 

[ebhurleys]

We are use to being the family getting the stares. My husband is 40 and needs a total knee replacement. The doctors tell him he is just to young for the procedure and has to wait. In the meantime he needs to stay off the leg as much as possible. He always rents an ECV (I cannot push a carraige and a wheelchair). He never tries to get to the front of the line. He just parks it and waits with us however if there is a long preshow he has to either bring it in or find a seat somewhere he can wait on. I have begun to stare back. Nobody has the right to judge him, they have no idea the amount of pain he lives with every day of his life. I say go for it and don't let anybody intimidate you.

 

[msr709]

I'm so glad I found this thread! I am now using a cane because of my knees, I had two car accidents within 2 years and an operation in one knee. The other leg goes when my back starts acting up. I hadn't had an episode for about six months but it just started to act up again. I have a trip scheduled and was actually thinking of cancelling (after looking forward to it for the past 6 months). Anyway I was thinking that, I can walk for a while but not the time it requires to do the parks, and I just LOVE the rides! I was concerned since I can do some walking that I would be thought of as trying to "get over" but thanks to this thread I feel much better and I'm going to get an ECV and forget what others think! Thanks for the encouragement! I LOVE THE DIS!

 

[SueM in MN]

We have been trying to convince my father in law to rent an ecv for about 10 years. You will enjoy yourself so mcuh more when you can save your energy for the rides instaed of fighting pain.
Have fun.

 

[JudithM]

MSR709, getting an ECV will make your life & your vacation so much easier! Protect those knees & your back & HAVE FUN!

 

[msr709]

Thanks for the encouragement Sue and Judith, now my only dilema is choosing the right place! LOL! I thank God we have so many choices! Thanks again.

 

[tink2dw]

I have Diabetes and Addison's Disease. Most people know about Diabetes. But Addison's Disease is more rare. Addison's is a auto-a-mune disease,I get sick very easy,but the worst part is the tiredness. When I go grocery shopping,it takes 2 days to recover any energy.

Then there's the medications. I have to take cortizone for the Addison's for life. It acts like diabetes in that if you don't take your meds,you can go into a coma. Only its much much harder to recover,you can die,I almost went in to a coma once.
You don't lose weight when you are taking Cortizone,it causes wieght gain and puffyness.

And it fights the Diabetes. A emerigcenter doctor wondered how in the world I get along as well as I do. I wondered why I had so many low bloodsugar episodes??

Well,right before we went to WDW I really hurt my knee badly. Dh refused to spend the extra for an ECV. Said he could push me. I wondered how that would work with the nerve pain he gets up the back of his leg. He did pretty well until......my Dd went to 2 hospitals in Orlando to be treated for Acute Swimmers Ear,we lost 3 days of vacation while we nursed her back to health the 4 day she want to go to the parks,but she was so weak,I decided I would walk and let her have the wheel chair,well everything went wrong at once, late in the afternoon Dh's leg started hurting badly, so Dd gave the wheelchair to Dh,and I pushed Dh. I never knew the parks are so up hill till that day!! The pushing started my knee to fail. At that moment Dh would have gladly gived $100. for EVC's but we were still along way from the front of the park. Dh got up and painfully push me with and our 14 yr old on my lap out to the tram waiting area.

But Boy did we ever hear rude comments about all of us being "cheaters and line jumpers" and taking wheel chairs away from those who truely needed them!! I would gladly have traded our ills for their good health!! Thank goodness the next day we flew home!

 

[teri]

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}}}}} to tink2dw. What a traumatic experience.

I wish you had asked a CM for help, they probably would have called a van for you. Next time... but hopefully that will not happen again.

 

[SueM in MN]

Sorry to hear about your hard time.
That's a good suggestion to tlak to a CM. Many of them are connected by 2 way radios, so even if the one you approached couldn't help, someone could have been alerted to your need for assistance. Hopefully you won't need to test it out in the future.
Here's some "feel better pixied dust" for your whole group.