Quiet room for medication anywhere?

[EllaRoosmummy]

I'm coming to WDW next week but suffer from something called chronic cluster headache that is delightfully unpredictable. I usually take Oxygen via big canisters but coming from Scotland and health insurance don't cover. I have medication that aborts the attacks if taken quickly enough. It's kind of like an epi pen. Does anyone know if Disney have medical type rooms or similar where guests can go take a seat to administer such meds. I just need 15-20 mins then I'm fine. I can do it in car but by time I get back to car (esp MK) I'll possibly miss my window. Is this something I need to alert Disney to in advance or are they pretty accommodating?

Any advice greatly appreciated!
Thank you!

 

[bidnow5]

They have first aid in each park that you can use

 

[lanejudy]

Every park has a First Aid center, where you can rest and administer medication as needed. These locations are indoors, air-conditioned, and you have access to a private room with a cot/bed. I'm not sure how much warning time you have to take this medication, but it could be a 10-15 minute walk through the crowds depending on where you are in each park.

Page 36 in this guide lists some quieter areas in each park that might be quicker for you to access. It won't necessarily be private, but I don't think most people would even notice if you sat on a bench or a wall to administer something like an Epi-Pen.

I was diagnosed with cluster headaches back in my teens. I don't treat with anything more than Excedrin and a nap, sometimes an icepack. Do you mind if I ask what medication you take? I usually lose 2-6 hours when one hits, but fortunately they aren't as frequent now as I used to experience. Being functional again in 15-20 minutes is great!

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[EllaRoosmummy]

Not at all! Happy to share any info that helps anyone although being UK may be different names/treatment. Even between Scotland and England there are discrepancies as in Scotland we have control over our own health boards with devolution. I guess it might be the same if you are US - with different states? I was diagnosed when I was 12 I'm now 34. No control for 20 years. Background pain plus 3-5 attacks per day lasting 30 mins up to 3/4 hours plus. Having had 2 children I can safely say labour was less sore than the bad attacks. I'm at the severe end and went through all the preventatives with nothing working. March 2011 I got an Occipital Nerve Stimulator implant which took 18 months to work and gives me about 60 mins pain free a day. Neurologists then went back to preventatives and I'm now on high dose Verapamil. It's the combination of that plus the ONS that has things under control. If an attack comes on I hook up to high flow oxygen which abortive the attack 90% of the time. If that doesn't work I use Immigran which is what I'll be bringing over with me and just miss out my oxygen as they both do the same job. I just always try oxygen first as it's not a drug. My life has totally changed. It's taken a long time to get here but I can say I've got my life back. Like I say I've no idea how much of this is available to you guys. I know they've had huge success with the ONS here. I was one of the early ones to get it here and they are now even doing rechargeable batteries!
I hope some of this helps!

 

[EllaRoosmummy]

Every park has a First Aid center, where you can rest and administer medication as needed. These locations are indoors, air-conditioned, and you have access to a private room with a cot/bed. I'm not sure how much warning time you have to take this medication, but it could be a 10-15 minute walk through the crowds depending on where you are in each park. Page 36 in this guide lists some quieter areas in each park that might be quicker for you to access. It won't necessarily be private, but I don't think most people would even notice if you sat on a bench or a wall to administer something like an Epi-Pen. I was diagnosed with cluster headaches back in my teens. I don't treat with anything more than Excedrin and a nap, sometimes an icepack. Do you mind if I ask what medication you take? I usually lose 2-6 hours when one hits, but fortunately they aren't as frequent now as I used to experience. Being functional again in 15-20 minutes is great! Enjoy your vacation!

The Imigran I spoke about - the active ingredient is called Sumatriptan. You get it in nasal spray too but works best for CH in injection I think

 

[SueM in MN]

This is a picture of one of the First Aid private rooms. Some are more dim than this one, do when you check in, let them know what kind of room you need.

 

[lanejudy]

Thanks for sharing! Sounds like you suffer much more than I do. My headaches actually got better during pregnancy and remained better after my daughter was born, so my attacks are much less frequent now. Sumatriptan here in the U.S. is brand name Imitrex, but also available generically; unfortunately, I am one of the few who are unable to use triptans due to side-effects. I'm glad you are finding success with your treatments.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[EllaRoosmummy]

This is a picture of one of the First Aid private rooms. Some are more dim than this one, do when you check in, let them know what kind of room you need.

Thanks for picture. Room looks ideal for my needs.

 

[EllaRoosmummy]

Thanks for sharing! Sounds like you suffer much more than I do. My headaches actually got better during pregnancy and remained better after my daughter was born. Sumatriptan here in the U.S. is brand name Imitrex, but also available generically; unfortunately, I am one of the few who are unable to use triptans due to side-effects. I'm glad you are finding success with your treatments. Enjoy your vacation!

Yes I was better with my first - a girl - but not my second - a boy. Maybe it was a sign of things to come

Thank you we can't wait! I'm currently having to sit on my two children to contain them!

 

[KayV]

I know you can rent oxygen/ supplies from Buena Vista Scooters. Enjoy your holiday!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . Does anyone know if Disney have medical type rooms or similar where guests can go take a seat to administer such meds . . .

1) Everyone is correct about the First Aid rooms.
2) If you can get there quickly enough.
3) Read the park maps and ALWAYS know your best route.

4) But, there is a better way to have a QUIET, SEDATE, ALL-TO-YOURSELF room.
5) In a clear voice, shout, "Elsa and Anna are outside signing autographs, with no lines !!!"
6 You will clear the room FAST, FAST, FAST​

.

 

[book_junkie]

I take the same thing but in pill form when I feel a migraine coming on, so I completely understand what you're talking about. If your medicine is like an Epi-pen and you carry it with you, you could always take it and then make your way to the first aid room. Especially if time is especially important (and your cluter headaches are anything like my migraines) it might be best to take the medicine and then find the quiet place to wind down. If you also need dark/quiet to a great extent, there are really small eye masks/ear plugs that could help turn a mildly dark room into one that would really work well.

I've been taking my diabetic insulin at tables and benches (bathrooms are so icky) and my little pen needles will go through my clothes and don't even look like needles. No one pays attention. I've taken it against walls, benches, tables, etc.

 

[mackay_j]

it would be quicker to find a quiter spot and give your self it there, then head to first aid for rest cool down - that way you won't miss your window. My dd gives herself injections all the time while in wdw- never had any issues form anyone- we do not have a window it has to be now.

 

[EllaRoosmummy]

Thanks everyone for the great advice. Clusters are a bit different to migraine in the fact that it's almost opposite. Where I know you guys need cool, dark spaces for recovery cluster patients can't sit still. It's one of the classic signs I think of telling the difference between the two - for early diagnosis. CH sufferers tend to rock or hit their head and need to move around a lot whilst in pain. It's more the privacy to go through the attack and ride it out whilst the meds are working as it can be quite distressing for others who are not used to seeing it. I'm sure a lot of people with different conditions on here can relate!

I'll definitely locate the rooms in each park at the start of the day. Thanks again and happy holidays to everyone for your next visits! (Sorry - vacations!

 

[sukhakuli]

My husband gets those. They look intensely painful (I get migraines, I'd take that over the cluster head aches any day). He only gets 3 or 4 a year, so he doesn't have a prescription for them. But the writhing around can be disconcerting to people who don't know about it.

So, I echo first aid. My father went there for a lie down when he was vacationing with us. He had terminal cancer, and he sang the praises of the first aid people pretty much until he passed away. They were so kind to him, and let him take as much time as he needed.

 

[pampam]

I hope I am not taking this thread off topic, but here goes.

We live in Canada and cannot take O2 into the states. We order ours through Lincare. We must fax a presciption for it to them and it is delivered to our resort. The # is 1 800-631-9843. The local phone # is 407 846 4144, and the fax # is 407 846 8303. They used to charge about $10.00 for each cylinder.

If the moderators feel this is too off topic, please delete.