Son was sick - should we go?

[mndisfam]

Hi all - i am awake since 4 worrying about our trip to the WDW. And I am looking for advice from all you dear DVCers. !! You will know how I feel.

I had major surgery in April - am all recovered now. As a treat for our family getting thru that, we booked 2 days concierge level at AKL with a sunset safari for DH and I. Kind of blew the budget.

Staying 5 nights at SSR for the first time. We have been looking forward to this trip for MONTHS. A month ago, our 8 yr od DS got asthma for the first time. Have it under control now, but 2 weeks ago he was taken by ambulence to the hospital. He had developed a 2ndary lung infection. Then the steriods gave him ulcers and severe disabling migraines.

We have had no relapses, and have a cornucopia of drugs. Docs want us to go - say he is good, and we all need to detox. DH is a commando type, but I think I can slow him down. (or send him off on his own while we veg at the pool!)

We even have tix to MNSSHHP!! All is almost paid for.

Should we go? We need this trip so badly - I really need a dose of Disney "reality". Hubby wants to go -

Anyone else gone under circumstances like this? I appreciate and value anyone's advice...

 

[jbwolffiv]

Since the doctors gave you the OK I think you should go. It sounds as if they were pushing for it. Go and have a great time!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Go, just take it easy...Have a great trip!!

 

[elfbo]

It will be theraputic. See, just what you need. And not only do you have the DR's permission, s/he encouraged you to go. I guess you could ask your son if he feels up to it. But im sure we all know the answer to that one. Good luck, and have fun on your trip.

 

[Anne745]

Go and enjoy yourself. If the doctors say it is ok. You know your child best. You all sound like you need a vacation. If you have some time, go to www.lungusa.com. It is the American Lung Association website.It is a very good informative website. This is the website that took me to Asthma with children. Good luck

http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=44352

Best of luck and have fun.

 

[SueOKW]

I know how you feel, I've had to make similar decisions.

1. His drs. said it was ok.
2. Everyone will be happier there!

good luck.

Sue

ps- things at 4am always seem so much worse than at 9am.

 

[Dean]

As a Pediatrician, I know I would go. I would also encourage most of my patients to go in the situation you're described, with the proper precautions of course.

 

[lenshanem]

As long as his doctor said it was OK I would go. I think it would do him good! Just take it easier than normal. Have fun!

(Dean, I'm impressed. A pediatrician? Very nice.)

 

[beequeen]

I would go - you have his Dr's permission. You are going to Florida - not to some third world country lacking in medical care. If for some reason you needed a Dr while you are there ( and that's a big IF), Celebration Hospital is VERY close and there are a LOT of good doctors in Florida.

 

[Scoootch]

I agree, I'd go also. Esp. if his dr.'s are okaying it. It could do you all a world of good ~ vacation and at WDW no less can be great stress relief after all y'all have been through too

I'd plan to take things at a much more relaxed pace rather than commando style but definetly go. And enjoy!

 

[zurgswife]

Go....have a good time..

 

[Kadorto]

Go! Go! Go!

 

[wilderness01]

Are you saying that your child now has asthma or this was his first time with asthma like symptoms?

If he is now an asthmatic this will be a new way of life for you. As long as the doctor has given his ok and the lung infection is cleared up I would say go. Both our sons and myself have asthma, with both of my sons being very brittle in the past. It is now under control and we travel to WDW all the time. We always bring the nebulizer along with steroids and all the inhalers. Plus I have a list of nearby medical facilities just in case. Once our son was pretty ill for the week prior to our trip. We were at the doctor's office twice that week and although we postponed our trip by a day, we did end of going. I would neb him as necessary and kept him quiet and hydrated along the way. We drove so he had two extra days of rest but believe me I was anxious thinking what on earth we would do if we had to plug in immediately for the nebulizer. The doctor actually said he was well enough to go, didn't express that 2 days prior, and the extra endorphins from the excitement would help him. Being a nurse of course I wanted him in bed, pushing fluids and rest but we went and had a good time. I was fine losing any $ and cancelling the trip but our ped really encouraged the trip. I micromanaged every detail for him and he was just fine. I think I drove my husband a little batty and gave myself some extra gray hairs but that was ok! It turns out our daughter actually got a little bug while we were down there and ended up with a fever/vomitting but the others were fine. It is always hardest on the parents due to worry but honestly if you are prepared and feel confident you will all do fine. It is never fun having a child ill or hospitalized while on vacation, been there, done that with our youngest (19 months at the time and hospitalized) getting Roto Virus when we were least expecting it and 2000 miles away from home, but be prepared and you will be ok. Good luck with your decision.

P.S. That one trip to WDW was actually the trip we bought into DVC. I thought it was going to be a bust of a trip and instead has brought us many times of happiness with more to come.

 

[JKLLady]

My DS 7, has had asthma since he was 18 months & we head for WDW at least 3X a year. I know it's got to be scary dealing with it for the first time, but you all need to learn to live with it. We've taken our nebulizer with us many times; we have it in its own piece of luggage & take it as a carry on. The screeners are used to them; one time at MCO, we were the third family in a row to plop them on the conveyor.....screener just looked & said "breathing machine", which I confirmed & on our merry way we went!
We're heading to WDW on 10/31 & "nebbie" (as my son calls it) will be coming with us again. After being fine since 08/03, his asthma hit him hard again (he's on the nebbie as I type this), & we've been at the doctor non-stop. I won't allow him to miss out just because of his asthma!
Go & have a wonderful time...............as everyone else said, help is only a stone's throw away if needed!

 

[Divamomto3]

GO!
My DS 9 has asthma...we don't let anything stop us...we just bring our neb machine and meds.

You will be fine...just tame the Commando a little so that you can get some rest!

Enjoy!

 

[lenshanem]

I didn't even mention my oldest has asthma, too. It is not bad, though. We go to WDW alot. I think last time she only had to use her inhaler a few times.
What I now worry about is making sure we get a nonsmoking room.

She is also allergic to peanuts and nuts so we have to carry
around Benadryl and Epipens, too. I put it all in a fanny pack and it works great.
Although WDW is great about her allergies, I do worry about getting medical attention right away but then last trip with my parents my youngest had a bad fall and landed on the back of her head at the Poly. They had a medic team there almost as fast as you could wink. They took great care of us. You will be fine.

 

[kathleena]

My opinion: Yes you should still go and you should pace yourself according to your childs health and needs.

Asthma is very serious business - especially since you are just beginning to learn about the meds and symptoms etc. Make your son the priority in your vacation and set the commando aside.

 

[LeftCoaster]

I also think you should go and be sure that hubby understands that this is not a commando trip. I know sometimes I feel like I need to get away. So, I'll drive down to San Diego (90 minutes away) and stay with my friends for a day. It's not a real vacation but the important fact is that I'm seeing something different. It makes me feel a lot more refreshed, and relaxed. I think you ALL need this trip.

 

[mndisfam]

Thank you all very very much. I knew my fellow DVCers would come thru with the right advice.

I am nervous, but I think its something we all need. And like you all said, we need to learn to live with asthma.

 

[Dean]

I tell my parents that we don't want to create asthma cripples and that asthmatics should be able to do what everyone else does at least 95% of the time. The only time they should hold back is if they've had an acute attack or dramatic changes such as shortness of breath not associated with exercise or peak flows less than 50% predicted. Obviously it assumes they're doing their maintenance meds.

On a side note, many health plans now have health education classes. If they do, asthma will likely be one of them. If not, see if another health plan or hospital does. Many health plans will allow non members for a nominal fee, maybe $25-50 per patient.