MIL Dietary Concerns....HELP!

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

Corey's mom, has CHF, diabetes, & emphysema. She isn't in the best shape, but we are planning a trip to WDW with her in December. The concern of the moment is dietary.

Since DMIL takes Insulin, we already know that her diet has to have a certain balance to it, but the newest twist is a NO to EXTREMELY LOW Sodium diet. This is going to be a "budget" trip for her more than us, so there will be lots of CS meals. I am concerned that it's going to be very difficult to keep DMIL feed without causing her to retain more fluid and causing her condition to worsen.

Can anyone offer suggestions as to CS locations that are more likely to offer items that will be more in line with the dietary guidelines we are going to need to work with? I know that I am going to be making lots of notations on the ADR's for our TS meals, but the CS meals are a source of stress at the moment.

I appreciate your advice in this matter. I know about everything else that we will need to deal with to keep her happy and comfortable, but the meal thing..... TIA

 

[Selket]

I'll take a stab at this - my younger son is a type 1 diabetic and has a food allergy. Not quite like your MIL but still the food issues....

I think the hardest part here is the low sodium issue. I'm sure she could find choices at CS that would work with her meal plan but I'm not sure they are low or no sodium.

I have read that you can arrange to have a special meal waiting for you that would be similar to the cost of a CS meal. Folks pick them up from a specified location and take her meal to a CS place where the rest of the family is dining.

I would suggest that you contact Brenda Bennett now and talk to them about the diabetes/low sodium combination for CS and see what works. Ask them about preparing a special CS meal for her if needed.

brenda.bennett@disney.com
ph. 407-824-5967

Disney is very good with special diets but sometimes when it involves multiple allergies, issues etc. I don't think the CS places can handle that nearly as well as sit-down.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILITIES!

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information, including dietary restrictions. You might wast to especially look at page 3 in the sections on diabetes and diets.

Or, if you want an easier route, click on the link in my signature.

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

Thank you! I really appreciate the contact info. I will indeed get in contact with them soon.

I am super worried about details like this right now. I am concerned about taking her on a trip to WDW but she is so excited about going. She loves Epcot, so we have three days planned for there. I just would hate to have anything bad happen while we are at WDW. She lives in Volusia county, so she won't be too far from home and her doctors, but I want her to have the chance to enjoy a great trip with her daughter.

My partner is so upset over the most recent news. Monday, MIL's echocardiogram showed that her heart function is at 35%. She had 6 bypasses done in early 2001. They told us then that if she behaved and lived a better lifestyle, she would get 6 to 7 years out of the procedure, but if she continued to smoke, that she would be lucky to have 2 or 3 years, well, she still smokes and it's been 6 years. She has a stress test tomorrow and we will know more after the results come in next week.

Thanks again for the help!

 

[OneLittleSpark]

I know this isn't about the dietary issues, but I just wanted to mention her possible stamina concerns. If she doesn't have one of her own, I would strongly urge you to rent a wheelchair or ECV for her to use. It doesn't sound like she'll have a very fun trip without it, and may even put her health at risk. It might be a good idea to rent from an off-site company, so she will have it 24/7, and can use it at the resort, to and from the buses and at DTD. Also, they often work out cheaper than renting each day at the parks. The FAQ has details of off site rental companies.

You may already have all this planned out, I just wanted to make sure you knew the options available.

Sorry for going , now back to your previously scheduled programming

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

Oh, don't worry, she has a scooter! She bought one last year. She has major stamina issues. The good part about our long trip is that we get to take our time and enjoy without feeling the need to stay in a park all day or to feel that we need to rush.

She gave us her "wish list" of stuff to see and do at WDW last night. We have guided her away from things like TT, BTMRR, and ST, because she didn't realize that they were rides that she won't be able to handle. Also, Corey and I have opened ourselves up to seeing all of the shows that we have not seen before like Beauty & the Beast, Finding Nemo, Dream Along with Mickey, and such. It's not going to be our usual trip to WDW, but I see it as a chance to experience new things and for Corey and her mom to bond.

We have already purchased some special blankets to take along for her mom to make sure that she stays warm on the scooter. If it gets below 50 degrees outside, we are calling it a day because we don't want to stress her body any more than necessary. Corey and I have seen older/medically fragile folks outside at WDW when it's under 50 degrees and it just seems like we see a lot of those folks end up having to call for medical help. We know where the first aid stations are. We will have her meds with us.

Overall, I think this trip will end up being one of our best. I know that there are lots of things that she won't get to do, but she has never been to AK and the last time she did DHS, it was brand new and very incomplete. We are trying to keep the focus on the new stuff and the old, but always entertaining stuff.

Thanks again.