Question about the rides...

[givemedisney]

I don't know if this is the right place to post this question, but seeing as it has to do with a medical problem I have, I'm hoping it goes here.

Ok, first some background...

Last year I had to have brain surgery for a disease I have called pseudotumor cerebri. Its basically a condition where there is excess fluid in my brain so the pressure inside my skull would increase to a really high level. The pressure was so high that it was actually causing me to loose some of my vision and if I hadn't gotten the surgery I would have gone blind. I had to get a shunt put into my brain which alleviates the pressure.

I had my surgery in July and my mom decided that to cheer me up she was going to take me to Disneyland for my 19th birthday in January(we've been going for my bday for 2 years, but weren't sure if we would be able to this year because of money, but she made it happen ). I contacted my doctor to make sure that going on the rides would be alright, she said that I shouldn't go on any rides that would "subject you to tremendous speeds and rotational forces" .

Now on to the question...

I'm going to Disney World for the first time in August , so I was just wondering if anyone knew how fast some of the rides go, like Big Thunder Mountain, and Space Mountain(two of my favorite rides). Or if anyone knows what number I should call to find this out, or a website that might have this information? I've looked around and haven't been able to find anything.

Once again, sorry if this is in the wrong place, I just didn't know where else would be appropriate to put it!

Thanks for any help in advance

P.S. sorry that this is a super long post .

 

[peemagg]

I'm not sure that it would be advisable to try either of those. Sorry! With Space Mountain, you will be going 27.5 mph and going in tight circles. It may not be safe for you.

With Big Thunder Mountain, in "Open Mouse", the ride is listed as going 35mph, and it is considered high speed.

I hate to say it, but I don't think you will be able to ride those, unless you can get more clarification as to what high speeds are. You might want to get the book "Open Mouse" by Passporters for more information and take it to your doctor and see what he/she has to say about those rides. They would be able to give you the best idea of what you can or can't ride. Take the book with you and let them read the description of the rides you really want to go on and see what they say.

 

[givemedisney]

Thank you for your advice, I will definitely check that book out

I figured I wouldn't be able to ride them, but its always good to double check. I'm just lucky because my all time favorite rides are Pirates and HM, and I know I can ride those without a problem.

 

[dis-happy]

Skip Test Track too. It's one of the faster (fastest?) rides.

 

[acc82]

sorry for the late reply.........I just found this post. So, I have pseudotumor too!! (it feels good to not be alone, right? -> pseudotumor is a rare disease afterall)

So, I can ride all the stuff you named, but I have not had a shunt. I'm controlled with Diamox three times daily. I didn't ask my neuro for permission to ride, which I know is advised, but I've never had any trouble with rides except for motion sickness and I'm pretty sure I've had PTC for a couple of years, undiagnosed.

I was diagnosed two years ago in 2008. Since then, I've been to disney and six flags and have done coasters. I try to avoid riding ones that jerk too badly and I get motion sick more easily now so I don't do anything that goes upside down. If I ride something that's too jerky, I'll have a headache.

I'd reccomend you ask your neurosurgeon about the rides since you have a shunt and that is of critical importance to your pseudotumor. I don't know how any of the rides will affect the shut. Who knows....they could say okay to ride, right?

Good luck - hope your neuro says okay!!!

 

[cm8]

sorry for the late reply.........I just found this post. So, I have pseudotumor too!! (it feels good to not be alone, right? -> pseudotumor is a rare disease afterall)

So, I can ride all the stuff you named, but I have not had a shunt. I'm controlled with Diamox three times daily. I didn't ask my neuro for permission to ride, which I know is advised, but I've never had any trouble with rides except for motion sickness and I'm pretty sure I've had PTC for a couple of years, undiagnosed.

I was diagnosed two years ago in 2008. Since then, I've been to disney and six flags and have done coasters. I try to avoid riding ones that jerk too badly and I get motion sick more easily now so I don't do anything that goes upside down. If I ride something that's too jerky, I'll have a headache.

I'd reccomend you ask your neurosurgeon about the rides since you have a shunt and that is of critical importance to your pseudotumor. I don't know how any of the rides will affect the shut. Who knows....they could say okay to ride, right?

Good luck - hope your neuro says okay!!!

I as well know 1 person with PTC or BIH! She has tried Diamox sequels with no help and now has to choose between getting the shunt or having the slits in her eye/optic nerve to relieve the pressure. She gets severe headaches and she is also a ride enthusiast. It is going to break her heart if she finds out she would no longer be able to ride certain things. I guess every DR. tailors things to fit each person. Her neurologist told her that she would be able to do everything she did prior to the surgery and that included riding rides in the amusement. OP I hope that you were able to get your DR to say and in writing what would be okay for you.

What kind of side effects have your experienced on the Diamox Sequels? She has the funny tasting thingamajig when she drinks soda and some other weird reaction. She hates being on it. I really hope she gets better with out needed the surgery as she has other things going on. Good luck to both of you!

 

[Bete]

Maybe with more time and more healing you could do more in the future (up to your doc), but I wouldn't chance it at this stage. Your doc told you not to do it; so, this should be enough said. I have a neighbor and their kid needed brain surgery, but not what you have. Any way, it took three years to get a good bill of health. Your surgery sounds very evasive and it needs time to heal.

There's plenty to do at either Disney without coasters and such. Enjoy the parks from a different perspective this time.

 

[acc82]

I as well know 1 person with PTC or BIH! She has tried Diamox sequels with no help and now has to choose between getting the shunt or having the slits in her eye/optic nerve to relieve the pressure. She gets severe headaches and she is also a ride enthusiast. It is going to break her heart if she finds out she would no longer be able to ride certain things. I guess every DR. tailors things to fit each person. Her neurologist told her that she would be able to do everything she did prior to the surgery and that included riding rides in the amusement. OP I hope that you were able to get your DR to say and in writing what would be okay for you.

What kind of side effects have your experienced on the Diamox Sequels? She has the funny tasting thingamajig when she drinks soda and some other weird reaction. She hates being on it. I really hope she gets better with out needed the surgery as she has other things going on. Good luck to both of you!

As far as the sequels - I've been on them three times daily for the last two years. I haven't had much problem with them whatsoever. The metallic taste is common but I never experienced that side effect. I do get paresthesia's (tingling in my hands and feet) which is also a normal side effect of the medicaiton. It's bothersome sometimes, but not such a big deal considering I don't see flashes of light anymore of have the headaches I used to. There are other drugs to try, tell your friend to explain her side effects to her doctor. Diamox is the first line of treatment but not the last for sure. Topamax is another common option - I was on this before I was diagnosed due to my migraines (which is why I think this went undiagnosed for a while).

Maybe with more time and more healing you could do more in the future (up to your doc), but I wouldn't chance it at this stage. Your doc told you not to do it; so, this should be enough said. I have a neighbor and their kid needed brain surgery, but not what you have. Any way, it took three years to get a good bill of health. Your surgery sounds very evasive and it needs time to heal.

There's plenty to do at either Disney without coasters and such. Enjoy the parks from a different perspective this time.

I am by all means not advising going against doctors orders (i'm an RN, in fact). The OP said that she couldn't do rides with 'rotational forces or tremendous speeds'. What I would do is furthur clarify with her/him. I would say, "there are two rollercoasters I'd like to do that only reach X speed....is this okay?" I would def. not do mission space, anything upside down, etc... But, i think furthur clarification on mild coasters may be beneficial. Then her doc can give more specific guidelines. I said in my previous post that is off all importance to make sure that her shunt keeps working properly and this includes following doctor's orders. AND, I also agree that even without space mountain, and BTMR, there are plenty of really great rides at disney for her to do.

 

[pbrim]

Not much to add, but just wanted to mention another Disney fan with pseudo-tumor. I went last October with my best friend who has it. She has a shunt, but doesn't take meds for it. She didn't have any problems, but we don't do much of any roller-coasters.