Switching room with Medical Supplies?

[mom3sonstt]

We have a trip planned in August at the Treehouses - we are planning to drive.
I am on peritoneal Dialysis, so I have a machine that has a case the size of a medium size suitcase - the machine pretty much fills the whole case and is heavy. With this machine I have dialysis fluid that comes in boxes of 2 6000 ml bags - so each box is 12,000 ml - 12 liters - they are about the siz of a case of copy paper and about as heavy.
I have gone down twice since starting dialysis and we flew, I brought the machine, and had the boxes of fluid shipped directly from the medical supplier - I need a box a day.
This year since we are driving we were trying to work out the logistics - one thought we had was for me to fly down Saturday - driving we would arrive on Sunday - and stay at a Value resort then I could go over and check in at Saratoga in the morning. But - should I have my boxes delivered to the Value and then have them lug them all over to SS the next day - or could I have them delivered to Saratoga and could they bring me the one I would need Saturday night to me at the Value?

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

Personally, I would NOT rely on an extra party* when dealing with medically absolutely needed stuff. It's not like you're blowing your nose, you are on dialysis.

While most things will go down without any incident, there always is a small risk of problems. No one would want that to happen with something as important as stuff needed to keep their health at it's optimum.

One story always stuck with me. It's the story Kathy (DCLFun) told on this board. Hopefully she'll be along herself to tell the right details, but if I remember correctly some of her (VERY!) needed medical appliances got 'misplaced' for a long time. Nobody could tell her where it was, let alone get it to her. It was a lesson that I didn't need or want to learn myself, Kathy taught me well enough by simply telling the story.

OK, so far for the preaching part. Can you have the one box you need at the Value delivered there and the rest at SSR? You might want to contact the special needs department to talk this over to make it go as smoothly as can be. You can find the phonenumber in the stickys Sue made for us, at the top of the disABILITIES-board. They can also tell you if it is wise to have the boxes at SSR delivered the day before, or if that is running an added risk of 'misplacement' of the boxes versus having them delivered on the day of arrival.



*as in adding in more than absolutely needed, like having your supplier ship to SSR and SSR than having to ship SOME of it to a Value. That's adding a risk of SSR not shipping it to a value or shipping all to a value instead of only one box.

 

[mom3sonstt]

Message received Baxter Medical is who delivers my supplies - They deliver them monthly to my house and if we are going away on vacation (not just driving somewhere for the weekend where I can throw a couple boxes in the back) they will deliver what I need to where I am going. Relatively speaking Disney is a small enough area that I don't see why they couldn't deliver one at one place and the rest at another - I was thinking it would be less likely to have a problem if everything was delivered to one place. My thoughts were that Sat night I could run over to Saratoga check on my delivery and ask if they could bring one box to whichever Value I'm at not just call over. I thought if I called that could cause problems in that they may consider them delivered to me already even if they only took one box.

I don't know - the machine is too heavy for me to lug through the airport and I have to take it as carry-on since it's too important for them to fling across the tarmac like I watch them do and with them driving I couldn't send it with them because they would leave either Fri evening or before the crack of dawn on Sat and won't get there 'til noonish Sunday so I would have to go too long without hooking up - so I may have to ride down. I was trying to avoid that because that long in a vehicle will make me swell terribly, it would make 6 people in the hotel rooms, and I would have to take my machine and however many boxes in the van along with all our luggage and stuff

There is now simple solutions at least not one I can find yet

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

Oh, no need to explain! I'm VERY pro taking all medical stuff along as carry on. I know the dragging that can be caused by it, but also know the stress of checking it, worrying about it, and god forbid; getting something back (yet again, I seem to win that lotery each time ) broken again.

The volume of what you'll need during the trip is a pain in the rear, it's as simple as that. If it were me, I would call Baxter Medical and talk this through with them also, besides calling special needs. You know, if something were to go wrong on the part of BM, it would probably mean not getting a delivery at one of the resorts or getting both deliveries at one resort. In the last case; you'll deal with it as it happens than and there. Hopefully they'll deliver to SSR and you can simply take that one box over to the value by taxi.

If you can have them deliver at SSR on the first day of arrival (so when you check in at the value) it would give you the chance to have at least one box on property. If they missed the delivery at the value, you could go to SSR to get the needed box. If the other way around; you'ld know at least one day before needing the boxes. Both would leave you with at least 24 hours to call BM and get things sorted out.

But, back to step one. I would call BM and first special needs department to talk this through with both. They can tell you all of the options and scenarios with the least risk.

Also, if BM is anything like the medical supply companies at our little corner of the world (am not in the US), they will have experience with dealing with these types of questions and finding out which scenario would fit your needs best.

And after all is arranged; have a sigh of relieve and give yourself a pat on the shoulder and tell yourself "well done!". Too many people get overwhelmed by just thinking about the organisation and volume of needed stuff and simply go "oh forget it, I'll just stay home". No option if you ask me , but I know the perseverance (spelling?) it can take to go for it. Something that deserves a kudos.

 

[mechurchlady]

Plan C
First of you can box the machine and then bring a folding dolly for moving it around the airport. You can ask skycap service to transport the machine to the gate for you. Talk with the airline and the airport as they should be able to transport the machine across the airport for you.

Have two shipments sent. 2 boxes to the value resort and the rest to Saratoga Springs.

Plan D
You fly to Nashville and meet them there. They would have the equipment and could pick you up at the airport. The next day they could take off and you could take a taxi to the airport. They then drive down to Orlando and meet you there at the airport.

According to Google from Moline, IL that would be about 9 hours then 10 hours of driving. You could even add a day or two of Nashiville fun.

I have more plans up my sleeve, lol.

 

[dclfun]

I would NOT rely on anyone at WDW to deliver your supplies from one resort to another. They're not obligated to do so unless you have supplies at your first resort and want them moved over to the next one and even then ( my nightmare) things can get misplaced. I have a son on dialysis although he's on hemo but I wouldn't chance anything involviing his care and I'll never, ever again rely on WDW transferring my supplies from one resort to another since I ended up in the lobby with EMT's and was a mere minute from being hauled out via ambulance. Just my opinion.---Kathy

 

[mom3sonstt]

Plan C
First of you can box the machine and then bring a folding dolly for moving it around the airport. You can ask skycap service to transport the machine to the gate for you. Talk with the airline and the airport as they should be able to transport the machine across the airport for you.

Have two shipments sent. 2 boxes to the value resort and the rest to Saratoga Springs.

Plan D
You fly to Nashville and meet them there. They would have the equipment and could pick you up at the airport. The next day they could take off and you could take a taxi to the airport. They then drive down to Orlando and meet you there at the airport.

According to Google from Moline, IL that would be about 9 hours then 10 hours of driving. You could even add a day or two of Nashiville fun.

I have more plans up my sleeve, lol.

Plan C is a possiblility. The last 2 trips I had DH and 2 - 4 teenage boys, so I had my own built in "skycaps" to do the heavy lifting I never even gave them a thought since I've been part of a group since this has become part of my life.

Plan D won't work so well with DH's travel plans. If they leave Sat morning they'll drive clear to Southern Georgia. Since there are so many of us and I don't work anymore we are looking to cut back where we can without giving up our trips altogether. One of our ways of cutting back is to eliminate hotel stays - with 6 full grown people we would probably need 2 rooms at regular hotels

Plan E - was for me to take one of the boys with me. He could carry the machine - I could pack a change of clothes for us in an overnight bag - the problem would remain with having one box in one place and the rest in another. Not exactly cost saving, but another option.

It looks like a call to Baxter is in my near future.


Thanks for all the help from everyone!

 

[Talking Hands]

I have to agree with those who say don't trust your medical necessities to anyone else. At one of the values they lost my insulin, syringes and other meds when I left them in the baggage area until our rooms were ready. I didn't want them in the heat. Well they delivered them to another room. We finally did retrieve them after an hour and 1/2 but it isn't worth the stress. Now it all goes in a cooler and remains in the car until we can get into the room.

 

[mechurchlady]

Plan F
"was for me to take one of the boys with me. He could carry the machine - I could pack a change of clothes for us in an overnight bag - the problem would remain with having one box in one place and the rest in another. Not exactly cost saving, but another option."

Have two boxes sent to the first hotel and the rest sent to the second hotel. You would have enough for two days in case of problems.

I have a Plan 9 from Outer Space and Plan X, ooh and there is Plan Q which is top secret, lol. This is a fun game, find the most plans possible.

 

[Jitzy]

Could they leave as planned and you fly down a day later? The airport SHOULD accommodate you by having a skycap transport you and your equipment to your gate.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

You can also check into FEDEX ground. I have fedexed pelican cases to myself around the country. (they contained computer equiptment and other electronic devices) with no problem. I have also fedexed (ground) a suitcase and other stuff to myself at the WDW resort that I was staying at. (work trip for me, ending up at WDW)

DW flew in seperately! Helped me avoid having to tote my resort clothing around the country!

You can open an account on-line for free. They are very reliable. you can even designate what day of delivery!

When I shipped stuff to myself I simply put "HOLD for CUSTOMER (name) arriving on (date)

and at the WDW resort, I put the same thing, with my reservation number.

just an idea!
(the shipping fees MAY be tax deductable, or possibly payable out of a FSA account)

 

[jennypenny]

If the supplies are really heavy, are you sure you want to drag them up to the treehouses? Wouldn't a regular room at SSR be better?? The HA treehouses have ramps, not elevators. It's a long way up with heavy stuff. That's what turned us off of the treehouses. I think my son could do the ramp, but carrying supplies all week would be difficult.

Not trying to be a wet blanket, just concerned that you have a great trip!

 

[mom3sonstt]

Could they leave as planned and you fly down a day later? The airport SHOULD accommodate you by having a skycap transport you and your equipment to your gate.

We are checking in on the 2nd - The ones in the van are leaving on the 1st and getting there around noon on the 2nd. If I fly I would als leave on the 1st and would go to Saratoga in the morning to get us checked in so when they arrive everything would be ready. I don't want to fly on the 2nd because I would lose too much of that day. We get down there once a year at the most and I don't want to give up any of that time traveling if I can avoid it.

 

[mom3sonstt]

You can also check into FEDEX ground.
......

just an idea!
(the shipping fees MAY be tax deductable, or possibly payable out of a FSA account)

Good idea - but not in this circumstance....at least not if I understand you right. I couldn't FedEx the machine because I need to hook up to it every night plus I'm supposed to hook up once during the day - but am flexible wih the tming of that. And the boxes are delivered by the medical supplier - so I wouldn't have to ship them at all.

 

[mom3sonstt]

If the supplies are really heavy, are you sure you want to drag them up to the treehouses? Wouldn't a regular room at SSR be better?? The HA treehouses have ramps, not elevators. It's a long way up with heavy stuff. That's what turned us off of the treehouses. I think my son could do the ramp, but carrying supplies all week would be difficult.

Not trying to be a wet blanket, just concerned that you have a great trip!

The only reason we ate staying at Saratoga is for the treehouses - if we were gonna get a regular room we'd go back to OKW. The supplies will be delivered to the resort luggage/package storage area and brought to our room after we get checked in. By that time we will all be there which, in addition to me, includes DH and 4 teenage boys. The supplies will be taken to my room - so they only need to be hauled up once - along with all the luggage and other stuff.

I'm not getting a HA treehouse - don't need one. I will be renting an ECV, but have been told that there would be an area to store it on the ground level (I will verify that after they are actually open). As for the stairs - I can do them - wouldn't want to stay on a 3rd or 4th floor with no elevator, but give me a handrail and don't rush me and I will get there - a little out of breath maybe, but that's ok. It will be a long time before I'll be able to ride the family rafts at Blizzard Beach again....I can not - no way no how - walk up all those steps and I am terrified of the ski lifts Stupid, I know, but I hate "rides" where my feet dangle - and the thought of the ski lifts But one flight of stairs - I'm ok with that.

 

[mom3sonstt]

Thanks to everyone for all of your suggestions and ideas. It's looking less and less like I will be flying. Hubby retired this year (He's only 55 but they were offering a generous buy-out if you retired in January - the alternative could be no job in 2 years with no buy-out because the work done at the plant he worked out is being sent to a different plant in a different state) He did hire on somewhere else doing consulting, but that has turned out to be fewer hours than he anticipated, so we WILL be taking this trip because we don't know when we will be able to go again, and we are going to watch things a little closer and cut where we can. The price of a Value on a Sat night is pretty high - so I may just ride with them.

If things do change - I placed my monthly order with Baxter yesterday and asked them about having one or two boxes delivered to one hotel and the rest to another and they said that was fine.

I will also be talking to my nurse to see about maybe doing some manual bags for my daytime one - it would be easier to manage that on the road. I would have to re-program my machine. (Which isn't too hard - they can talk me through it - or give me a cheat sheet ahead of time) She suggested that initially - but right now my "total volume" is 11,500 ml for the whole day, and 2 "machine bags" is 12,000 so I didn't want to have to get even more supplies and then just drain out the excess fluid in the machine bags that I wouldn't be using.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Good idea - but not in this circumstance....at least not if I understand you right. I couldn't FedEx the machine because I need to hook up to it every night plus I'm supposed to hook up once during the day - but am flexible wih the tming of that. And the boxes are delivered by the medical supplier - so I wouldn't have to ship them at all.

Oh!! I see. Then I would not risk it. but you could take only a day or so change of clothing with you, and fedex the rest!!



At any rate, I hope you have a good time there!