kids with asthma

[dana1003]

hello posted this on another board but no one knew the answer..do the first aid stations carry the compressor to administer albuetrol via a mask..both my girls are asthmatic and need to do treatments every 4 hrs when its bad. we would like to not have to carry the compressor into all 4 parks..its bulky and heavy..thanks.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I just checked with one of the Park First Aid stations. They do not have any compressors there. However, they would be willing to store it while you are in the park and also provide a place where you could do the administration. The only servces they are able to provide would be actual emergency situations. That way you would not have to lug it around and it would be in a safe (and cool) location when you went into attractions.

Also, if an actual attack took place while in a park there is a paramedic team backstage at each park who could come out to assist.

 

[dana1003]

my gosh..thank u so much..cant believe you called in that question for me..im stunned! cant imagine how much u just helped me..

 

[SBubba18]

I also have asthma.I bring my machine with my down to Disney but I don't bring it to the parks. Instead I just use an inhaler. I don't know if that is an option you can do or try. I remember when I was little we stored my machine at the first aid stations.

 

[disfan07]

I would suggest to leave it in the room UNLESS it gets so bad that she relaly needs it every 4 hours. Believe me, i have asthma as well adn i understand the logic behind having it with you at all times.

That said, If he starts havign problems, a rescue inhaler should work well enough until you can get back to the room and if that happens, i would defintileiy take it to the parks with you the next time you go and leave it in first aid. We had to do that once and it worked out fine....just dont forget the neb when you leave the park...we almost did that once...lol

Have you guys looked at getting portable nebs for the girls? I got one last year specifically for travel and it is amazing. I wasnt going to get one because my regular neb. is not covered by insurance so i figure dthis wouldnt be but my doctor called our insurance company and they approved teh protable neb. so we got it covered. I would suggest looking into those....teh worst that could happen is that your insurance wont cover it. I think retail price for the one i have is $250. I still use my regular neb. at home but the prtable one is a lifesaver when i travel.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

my gosh..thank u so much..cant believe you called in that question for me..im stunned! cant imagine how much u just helped me..

It is nothing special. I have a hot button on the phone on my desk that dials the WDW main switchboard; I identify myself as a CM who is trying to resolve a Guest questions. I ask they connect me to one of the Park First Aid Stations. Again I identify myself as a CM with Guest issue questions. I know the questions that need to be asked. It just takes me a minute or so and I know I am getting (and posting) the correct information.

 

[Mary976]

I recommend the portable neb as well, if that is something that would work for you. DD has an AeroNeb Go. It has a compressor the size of a deck of cards that can be plugged in or can run on AA batteries. The compressor connects to the little handheld mouthpiece. Depending on the age of your girls, though, you might need one that attaches to a mask. We carry the neb with us, although most of the time we go to first aid for her to use it. Being a teenager, she thinks it's way uncool to be using it where people can see! Also, when she was younger she would use her inhaler with a spacer that had a mask on the end, so that might be an option for you as well.

Mary

 

[wdwaholic]

OP we have been in the same situation as both my sons have asthma -at some point in their lives we have lugged 2 nebs wherever we went-one wasthe big bulky "old-faithful" and the other was a portable one that ran on a battery back-up, plug in , and also plugged into the car adapter. It worked for us but it was a pain traveling with it. As my sons got older and into more activities (sports, camping, Boyscouts) I looked around for a lighter unit and finally decided on the Aeroneb Go also. It has been a lifesaver!! my Ds takes it everywhere with him and has never had a problem using it. we took it to WDW last week and next week it will be with him @ Boy Scout camp. I just send him with xtra AA batteries and it fits in a backpack. My insurance paid for it also but I was willing to pay for it myself if they didn't. I even introduced my sons Pulm. MD to it and he uses it for his kids!! Just Google it

Trish

 

[Nicoleclaw]

I had no idea they had portable nebs! We dragged ours on our last trip just incase! I will have to ask. It is good to know they will hold it in the park for you!

 

[erinch]

When my DS was little, they hadn't invented battery operated Nebs yet, and was that horrific! We always had to know where the next electrical plug in range was. Discovered that McDonald's have a policy to let families use their plugs -- many places do not because of liability.

We checked our son's neb into First Aid many, many times. The nurses are all fabulous, and would give him stickers after breathing treatments.

 

[tinkslite]

I don't know if it was just our luck or what, but when my little boy (now 11) was small his breathing problems always worsened on vacation!!!!! Disney World was our favorite place because they could handle the extensive list of food allergies from our immune system wacky kiddo. Anyway, by day 2 the kid was always on neb treatments every 2-4 hrs. We took the regular nebulizer, stored them at 1st Aid, and he stopped for a rest and a treatment every couple of hours (and that was our Family Meeting Spot for the day, LOL). The nurses got to know us pretty well!
We also insisted that our severely asthmatic kiddo ride in a wheelchair (doctor originally insisted, as that 1st trip was right after a bout of pneumonia). All the extra walking in a climate that he was not used to would just do him in, so we kept him in the chair and that helped. When he was 9 we decided he was healthy enough, pre trip, to skip the chair thing.........The 2nd night he woke up wheezing, chest heaving and I got to find out that there is an on call Docs service for the World! Back in the chair for the rest of the trip!
This year......He has been so healthy the last 2 years! No hospital stays, he has gained weight and our respiratory issues are VERY controlled. He has even started taking part in competitive gymnastics! No chair this year! We might make him carry MOM!
What we've learned from all this:
1. Never hesitate to ask/tell a CM about the problem/challenge you are anticipating/having. They will do all they can to solve your issues and make your vacation worry free. The year of the in room Doc, the desk mnger that night who called the doc for me also sent a complimentary resort wheelchair to our room in the am and a note saying that the wheelchair was comped to our family for the lenghth of our stay! This way we not only never paid for a wheelchair rental, but he was able to stay in chair all the way back to resort at night!
2. STOP AND REST!!! You and the family are not used to this level of activity and probably also not used to Florida weather/climate. Give those bodies a break!!!!!!
3. Sleep helps keep asthma from worsening. Don't let the kids get too sleep deprived.
HAVE FUN!

 

[erinch]

When our DS was 3 (he's now 21) we flew from Michigan to Florida. We were supposed to have a flight where the nebulizer could be plugged in (this was in the days before portable nebs), but it wasn't. The flight was only an hour long, and he had a treatment right before we left. But in flight he was sure he was having an asthma attack (it was actually a panic attack). His breathing was actually fine, but during that trip, every time we sat down to eat, and he swallowed his first bite, he thought he was having an asthma attack. The nurses got to know us REAlly well.

He got sick EVERY time we went on vacation, up till age 15. When he got a viral infection, we had about a 3 hour window before it turned bacterial, and then he'd end up in the hospital with pneumonia. Our doctor finally agreed to send a z-pak along with us, so that we would have antibiotics, if needed, plus I brought the whole other arsenal of meds.

But we learned to take it easy, and to love what we could do, rather than fretting about what we couldn't do. Now that DS is 21 (and SMOKING!!!!!!!!), I'd happily go back to the grade school days when we had more say on the care issues.

 

[LuvsEeyore]

We are taking our 2 1/2 year old DD to Disney World in October and her nebulizer has been one of my biggest concerns. We took her to Busch Gardens about a month ago and lugged her neb around all day. Thank goodness we did because she had an attack while we were there. I am so glad to know we can leave it at the first aid station. I may look into the portable too. I can't believe my pediatrician (who is also my big sis) didn't tell me about those.

Thanks again for the wonderful information. I feel much better now.

 

[erinch]

While talking to your sis about the portable neb (check out the Omron Microair), you might also want to ask her about when it would be time to move up to an inhaler with a spacer. DS was about 3 when we made the switch when out and about, and we needed rescue albuterol.

With no disrespect to your pediatrician, do you also have an allergy/asthma specialist? Our family docs are great, but we've needed the specialist to stay on top of things.

 

[LuvsEeyore]

Thanks erinch. We do have an allergist. I just can't call him constantly like I can my sister. We've been through all of the testing. Poor kid has the nut allergy and also eggs. I will definitely ask about the inhaler.

 

[Nicoleclaw]

Thanks erinch. We do have an allergist. I just can't call him constantly like I can my sister. We've been through all of the testing. Poor kid has the nut allergy and also eggs. I will definitely ask about the inhaler.

Sounds just like my Aiden! He is about 2 1/2, and has peanut, almond, hazelnut, and egg allergy, and of course the asthma.

 

[disfan07]

Thanks erinch. We do have an allergist. I just can't call him constantly like I can my sister. We've been through all of the testing. Poor kid has the nut allergy and also eggs. I will definitely ask about the inhaler.

Same with me. I also have the nut and egg allergy. As well as chemical allergies, asthma and eczema.

I'm assuming in addition to the allergist, you do have a pulmonologist? Thats who i would take to about gettign the protable neb.