Mobility problems and waiting in line

[WDWFOREVER]

I suffer with Osteo Arthritis. In addition, I have high blood pressure for which I take water tablets. My problem is this. Waiting in line can sometimes cause me problems. I use a walking stick if I am in pain but I admit to being very vain and only use it when I ABSOLUTELY have to! The arthritis is sometimes aggravated by the heat and I have to dose up on painkillers to get round the parks. The high blood pressure frequently causes swelling around my ankles.

Now, I am not registered disabled. Neither do I want to make a big thing of this as I have lived with the arthritis since I was 19 (I am now 43) and suffered with high blood pressure for the last 3 years. However, occasionally, either or both conditions are bad and I find waiting in line (particularly if it is really slow) a real pain (quite literally!). Do WDW have anything in place which could help me? Do other people here have problems like this and if so, how do they cope? We leave in just over 2 weeks and this is my 10th visit. However, I have to accept that my medical problems are slightly worse this year and I want to be prepared so that I don't make life too miserable for DH and DS (8)!

Any help/ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Jackie

 

[Cheshire Figment]

My physical problems have not been around as long as yours, as well as I am older. However, a few years ago I decided that it was NECESSARY for me to rent an ECV so I could enjoy WDW and not be in constant paun when standing on lines. The first couple of times it was day rentals from WDW for only a few days during a trip. Now it is routine to rent from an off-site company for the entire trip and I both enjoy meyself and the people with me enjoy themselves more as I am not complaining. The big thing is don't worry about what stangers think of you, they don't know you or your condition.

 

[SueM in MN]

This was a duplicate posting of a thread. Here's a link the the other copy of the thread (which has more responses than this copy).

 

[WDWFOREVER]

Cheshire, thanks for that. As you will probably see from the other thread I have been nagged by all and sundry into putting aside the vanity and facing up to the fact that to have fun I have to accept some limitations otherwise not only will I have no fun, my DH and DS won't either. I have been so heartened by everyone like you telling me that it isn't "giving in" to accept you have to use a w/chair or EVC but just plain, old common sense.

Thanks for the encouragement.

Jackie