My DS has asthma

[racefanof88]

My question is about wheelchair rental for an apparently healthy looking 8yo. My DS has severe asthma and can't hold out to walk long distances. Do I need a doctor's note to rent a wheelchair for him? He is way to big for the strollers now and that is what we have done in the past.

Thank you :

 

[Schmeck]

No, no doctor's note needed at all! Would he be comfortable in an adult sized wheelchair? If not, you could either rent a child-sized one offsite, or rent a double stroller for him.

 

[ducklite]

Bottom line, with all the medications available now, there is no reason that your son shouldn't be able to handle walking (not running) between rides and attractions at WDW. It sounds like the first thing you should do is speak with his doctor.

I say this as someone who is severely asthmatic and uses a variety of medications to control the asthma.

The long walks aren't really in the parks from attraction to attraction, but rather from the bus/monorail/parking lot to where you would rent the wheelchair, something you should consider.

Also, depending on where you are staying, the walk from your room to the bust stop could be as far if not much farther than between rides/attractions at the parks.

Anne

 

[disneyandme]

Sorry, ducklite, but I have to disagree. My DD also has asthma and even with all the great meds out there so still has extra trouble when we go to WDW-- change of environment, allergens, humidity levels, etc-- and if using a chair will help avoid an attack, I say use one. We use a jogging stroller as it is still big enough for her.

 

[ducklite]

Sorry, ducklite, but I have to disagree. My DD also has asthma and even with all the great meds out there so still has extra trouble when we go to WDW-- change of environment, allergens, humidity levels, etc-- and if using a chair will help avoid an attack, I say use one. We use a jogging stroller as it is still big enough for her.

You're missing my point. There is a ton of walking just to get to where the chairs are located. And there's no guarantee that there will be one available for rent--they do sell out during busier seasons.

There are plenty of ways of working with your MD to add additional meds or up dosages to prevent asthmatic episodes when you know you are going into a situation with a lot of triggers.

Anne

 

[pugdog]

Ok as the local Peds respiratory therapist here I have to agree with ducklite. There is no excuss why your MD shouldn't have your kids asthma under better control with todays meds. Yes the increased humidity level will play as an increased trigger but with your MD's help you should be able to control that.
Are you seeing an asthma specialist or just your GP? That makes a big difference.
The hospital I work at is an inner city one and we have a HUGE asthmatic population. The only kids that have major problems with are the ones who don't follow what they are told. Compliance is a major factor in controling your asthma.
You really need to be a big advocate for your kid and demand your MD do something. If they say they are doing everything then change MD's because they are not.
Even kids with severe asthma should be able to walk aroung WDW without getting short of breath, unless you go when the humidity is 150%, but then everyone has problems when that happens.

 

[WantToGoNow]

I think I would ask my child's doctor to re-evaluate his/her medications. My pediatrician as well as my ds's allergist said if there is any wheezing, shortness of breath, etc. than his asthma is not under control. He takes 3 medications every day (Zrytec, Singular, Pulmicort) and unless he gets a virus (usually pneumonia), we have no issues.

 

[SueM in MN]

I think the asthma questions have been well answered, so I'm going to only answer the wheelchair part.

you don't need a doctor's order to rent a wheelchair and the wheelchairs at WDW are mostly adult sized. They have a few (very few) smaller ones, but there is no guarantee that they will have a wheelchair of any size when you get there and the chances of getting a small one are even less.
Unless you have a very large 8 year old, the wheelchairs will not be very comfortable. Since they are adult size, the seat is pretty wide compared to a child and the sling seats (sort of like director's chairs) mean that the child doesn't have much support to stay sitting in the middle of the chair. Also, the seat is too deep for most children. If they sit all the way back in the seat, the edge of the seat will fall on the calf (so the knees don't bend). If they sit forward so the knees bend, they will be too far forward to have any back support. The arms rests will also be too high.

Your child would probably be more comfortable in a stroller. WDW CMs have posted in the past that the strollers will fit up to a small 12 year old and I have seen many older kids riding in them. As was already suggested, renting a double stroller would give more room for a larger child (except at the Studio where they have jogging strollers).
Or, you can rent a wheelchair from one of the off-site vendors, who are more likely to have smaller wheelchairs.

 

[Selket]

My 8 year old still fit in the stroller (he is average height) although we didn't rent one for him this last trip (he doesn't have medical issues either). But as an FYI.

I guess there is no way of knowing whether that WDW stroller would be comfortable until you get there though.

 

[racefanof88]

Thank you all for your replys. And yes I have spoken with my Ped and the singular does a great job, and I bring his nebulizer in the park with me, but with all the walking I don't know that he can deal with it. I really don't want to put my son on more drugs just to take a vacation. We have rented a double stroller in the past but my son is 5' 1" (yes he is a big 8 yo) and I don't know that he would be comfortable in the stroller anymore.

He can walk for short distances he just has problems after a period of time. I just wanted to do the right thing and have a doctors note if I needed one.

Thanks

 

[SueM in MN]

but my son is 5' 1" (yes he is a big 8 yo) and I don't know that he would be comfortable in the stroller anymore.

He can walk for short distances he just has problems after a period of time. I just wanted to do the right thing and have a doctors note if I needed one.

Thanks

That is a very tall 8yr old.
He probably would fit in an adult wheelchair if he is that tall. My youngest DD is 5 feet tall. She has her own wheelchair, but because it doesn't fold, we have (once in a while) tried to convince her to use one of the park wheelchairs so she can ride Pirates. It's a little bit big, but not too bad.

 

[lovethattink]

My son is a severe asthmatic. Typically he is under control enough that we don't have to worry about a wheelchair at Disney. However, there was once where we had a room at All Star Music that was so far from everything, including the parking lot. Something was triggering his asthma (and we live close by so it wasn't any type of climate change or anything) and I remember him walking to the food court. Having to go find a booth, using his inhaler and laying across the bench for most of dinner. Ducklite is right, the walks to the bus or food court can be very long depending where your room is located. You might want to consider a wheel chair at the resort as well.

As for the asthma, it might take a while but with today's knowledge and using a (I can't think of the name of it. You blow into it and and arrow moves upward. It's done daily to measure how far you can blow. Then you keep track of the number. When the numbers begin to go down, you know that an attack is soon coming.) they should be able to get him under better control.

 

[ducklite]

As for the asthma, it might take a while but with today's knowledge and using a (I can't think of the name of it. You blow into it and and arrow moves upward. It's done daily to measure how far you can blow. Then you keep track of the number. When the numbers begin to go down, you know that an attack is soon coming.) they should be able to get him under better control.

Peak Flow Meter.

I want to add that STRESS can be an asthma trigger. Making a big deal about not having an attack can actually trigger one.

Anne

 

[Selket]

Wow! 5'1"!!! I hope he his asthma is better soon and that he likes to play basketball. I know my 8 year old is a good height but no where near that tall!

I would not do the stroller - he'd be bent up double in it!

 

[SheriN]

Peak Flow Meter.

I want to add that STRESS can be an asthma trigger. Making a big deal about not having an attack can actually trigger one.

Anne

I have to second this one! I have asthma that was brought on by pregnancy, never even had hay fever til I was 6ms preggo with the first child! Then WHAM! It's much better now, but I still have issues, and I *know* that if I'm looking for my inhaler as a "just to have it in case" type of thing and can't find it right off the bat then I can feel my lungs start tightening up. Just thinking about the "what ifs" almost guarentee I'm going to need it.

I don't know how Singular differs from Advair, but with that and my Albuterol I'm good to go.

Good luck with your son.

 

[pugdog]

Thank you all for your replys. And yes I have spoken with my Ped and the singular does a great job, and I bring his nebulizer in the park with me, but with all the walking I don't know that he can deal with it. I really don't want to put my son on more drugs just to take a vacation. We have rented a double stroller in the past but my son is 5' 1" (yes he is a big 8 yo) and I don't know that he would be comfortable in the stroller anymore.

He can walk for short distances he just has problems after a period of time. I just wanted to do the right thing and have a doctors note if I needed one.

Thanks

I really want to help you make sure his asthma is under control. What meds is he currently on? and do you use a peakflow daily?
Singular is a great preventitive med but shouldn't be the only one. And you should not have to reley on using your rescue inhaler all of the time.
And your not putting him on more meds just for vacation your doing it so he can have as close to a normal childhood as posible.

 

[racefanof88]

Sorry took so long to reply back. I had to have surgery on the 19th of Sep.(fell bowling and tore all the ligaments from my thumb on my right hand). As far as the meds, his Ped seems to think the Singular and inhaler are all he needs. We always take his nebulizer to the parks with us. He is basically under control except when he gets over exerted.

Thanks,
Dana

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Dana,

I'm sorry if this is out of line but I have to agree with the people telling you it doesn't sound like it's under control. Asthma that is under control does not interfere with a child's walking or running or playing sports and isn't triggered by exercise. Sometimes a child who has very severe asthma can't achieve that kind of control, but you don't want to stop trying after one mild preventative medication.

I don't mean to scare you but uncontrolled persistent asthma can cause permanent remodeling of a child's airways. My son has this because of frequent pneumonia as an infant and toddler and for the rest of his life he will have less lung power, less stamina than others his age, and will be more at risk of other lung related problems.

In my opinion, any child who is requiring daily asthma medication, or having symptoms daily needs to be seen by a specialist -- either a pediatric pulmonologist or a pediatric allergist. Pediatricians rarely know how to treat asthma the way it needs to be treated.

Again, I apologize if you feel this is out of line.

Emily

 

[pugdog]

Dana,

I'm sorry if this is out of line but I have to agree with the people telling you it doesn't sound like it's under control. Asthma that is under control does not interfere with a child's walking or running or playing sports and isn't triggered by exercise. Sometimes a child who has very severe asthma can't achieve that kind of control, but you don't want to stop trying after one mild preventative medication.

I don't mean to scare you but uncontrolled persistent asthma can cause permanent remodeling of a child's airways. My son has this because of frequent pneumonia as an infant and toddler and for the rest of his life he will have less lung power, less stamina than others his age, and will be more at risk of other lung related problems.

In my opinion, any child who is requiring daily asthma medication, or having symptoms daily needs to be seen by a specialist -- either a pediatric pulmonologist or a pediatric allergist. Pediatricians rarely know how to treat asthma the way it needs to be treated.

Again, I apologize if you feel this is out of line.

Emily

I second that.
Any kid that can not be a normal kid and run around with asthma is not under control. If it's under control there should be no daily symptoms. And as Emily said rarely do Peds understand how to control asthma. I work daily with our peds pulmonologist and we scratch our heads on why some of them order certain things and think that their asthma kids are under control and it's far from the truth.
I would hate to see your kid come into the ER with a severe asthma attack, It's not a site anyone wants to see.

 

[momof2inPA]

Sorry took so long to reply back. I had to have surgery on the 19th of Sep.(fell bowling and tore all the ligaments from my thumb on my right hand). As far as the meds, his Ped seems to think the Singular and inhaler are all he needs. We always take his nebulizer to the parks with us. He is basically under control except when he gets over exerted.

Thanks,
Dana

I think that First Aid either has oxygen that you can hook the air tube up to or will keep your nebulizer?? I remember reading something about that on here, but maybe it's something you could check on to make it easier on yourselves.