Safe rides for Congestive Heart Failure?

[AliceandAriel]

My Mother and I are still teasing out a rough plan of going to WDW together for a first mother-daughter trip in October, but there's a few hiccups along the way. Namely her medical conditions.

I've already accepted that we'll probably suck it up and get an ECV for her because walking 5-12 miles a day in FL heat and humidity will have her on a gurney faster than you can say Mickey. She's not a heat person, hence why we'll never entertain the idea of her going in say, July. (Not that I'd ever want to either!)

But what rides, aside from the obvious, should we be wary of? I know coasters are off limits, as well as a few jerky rides. I've compiled a list, but I know there's probably more or less. Anyone with CHF who's gone to WDW care to share what you rode/didn't ride and how it all went?

No-Ride List

*Rides marked with a * are iffy due to weight and her medical condition, which I'd have to ask her how she felt about.

Magic Kingdom
Space Mountain
Barstormer
Big Thunder Mountain
Splash Mountain
7DMT
Dumbo*
Magic Carpets*

Epcot
Mission Space
Soarin'*
Test Track

Hollywood Studios
ToT
RnRC

Animal Kingdom
Expedition Everest
Kali River Rapids
DINOSAUR*
Primeval Whirl*

 

[ProudMommyof2]

CHF does not have the same restrictions as coronary artery disease. Get the ECV for sure and the biggest restriction is salt, not rides. She will really need to be careful about all the salt.

I would talk to her cardiologist or PCP.

 

[JillyBean1899]

My Mother and I are still teasing out a rough plan of going to WDW together for a first mother-daughter trip in October, but there's a few hiccups along the way. Namely her medical conditions.

I've already accepted that we'll probably suck it up and get an ECV for her because walking 5-12 miles a day in FL heat and humidity will have her on a gurney faster than you can say Mickey. She's not a heat person, hence why we'll never entertain the idea of her going in say, July. (Not that I'd ever want to either!)

But what rides, aside from the obvious, should we be wary of? I know coasters are off limits, as well as a few jerky rides. I've compiled a list, but I know there's probably more or less. Anyone with CHF who's gone to WDW care to share what you rode/didn't ride and how it all went?

No-Ride List

*Rides marked with a * are iffy due to weight and her medical condition, which I'd have to ask her how she felt about.

Magic Kingdom
Space Mountain
Barstormer
Big Thunder Mountain
Splash Mountain
7DMT
Dumbo*
Magic Carpets*

Epcot
Mission Space
Soarin'*
Test Track

Hollywood Studios
ToT
RnRC

Animal Kingdom
Expedition Everest
Kali River Rapids
DINOSAUR*
Primeval Whirl*

Let me preface this by saying I am by no means a medical doctor, and even if I was I would hesitate to say definitively what your mom could go on without being *HER* doctor.

Most of your list looks good. I'd probably count on cutting out Dinosaur and PW, they're a bit jerky/thrilling, and would probably get her heart rate up, which I'm guessing she'd want to avoid with a heart problem. I haven't been on Soarin', so I can't comment on that, but from what I've seen the ride itself is pretty gentle, it's the sensation that you get when you watch the video combined with the motion of the seats that causes problems. And for Mission Space I assume you mean the non-centrifuge side? Test Track probably wouldn't be a problem, either, as long as she's OK with the speed. It's not terribly bumpy/rough, except for the few seconds you're going over the rough road tests, but I would say it's smoother than some roads I've been on.

The restrictions at some of the Disney rides are in place basically as a CYA, just in case the ride triggers a condition, they can say "look, we warned you that you shouldn't go on, it's not our fault". There is no way they can tell you she can't ride, but they also can't say "oh yeah, it will definitely be safe for her to ride". When guests asked me about it for Kong/Earthquake, I'd describe the ride for them, ask them what else they'd been on to be able to compare it to, and then tell them they'd have to make the determination on their own. There were a few times that they'd be really unsure, so we offered to let the rest of the party ride to see how it felt, because they knew better than we did what the person could handle, and if they decided the person with the health condition would be OK, we basically child swapped them on without having to go in line again, as long as it was a small party. At Earthquake it was easy to do, since the group getting on the train was so big anyway, other guests hardly even noticed.

 

[WantToGoNow]

My dh hasn't been to WDW since his CHF diagnosis last July. Basically all he has been told to avoid is sodium...also has to restrict fluids. He is not a thrill ride person but I would imagine you might want to avoid anything that might increase her heartrate too much. I can't imagine though that she wouldn't be able everything on your list other than Dinosaur.

 

[kam1011]

My husband has CHF and severe cardiomyopathy, but other than staying off the biggest of coasters, he hasn't needed to adjust any other rides.

 

[suemom2kay]

Word of warning, CHF is a broad term to discuss many levels of failure. Do you know your Mom's ejection fraction? Once below 30, many cardiologists recommend an ICD to combat lethal arrythmias. Does your Mom have ventricular ectopy? Heart palpitations? Is she active? Does she regularly exercise?

A previous poster stated that people with CHF do not have the same restrictions... Many people with CHF have CHF as a result of heart attacks caused by CAD. Again CHF is very broad and restrictions must be tailored to every patient. I agree watch the salt, esp. hidden salt lurking in theme park food. Definitely get the ECV.

I would definitely ask the cardiologist if rides that increase heart rate significantly would be alright. Your Mom's cardiologist would be the best to answer this. Have a great and safe vacation.