Worried about several problems I have

[Eoywin]

My husband and I are going to WDW at the end of September, and I'm really excited.

I do want to go prepared, because I have several things that make my life a bit challenging on a day to day level.

My first issue, and the biggest one, is that I have Daily Chronic Headaches. I've had the same headache for 3 years, and am in constant pain because of it. Most of the time the pain is manageable, but they do get migraine-bad sometimes.

I have tried all the migraine / headache medicines my doctors can think of, and none work, so I've had to figure out my triggers and I have a few home remedies that work okay.

I'm just afraid of having a migraine attack in the middle of our vacation

I'll come prepared with my home remedies, and we are going to have rest days so we aren't doing the parks ever day, so hopefully everything will be okay.

I did wonder if anyone knows the address / phone of the nearest hospital to WDW (we are staying at POR), just in case.

The other one isn't as serious, but I have food allegries. Nuts and shellfish to be exact. I have read up a little on the thread on this subject, but I was wondering if anyone had any other advice.

Thanks!

 

[ducklite]

The nearest hospital is Celebration. There are several walk-in places a short drive away as well.

As far as the food allergies, there's another thread all about that with pretty much anything you could want to know, it's one above or below this one, and rather than write it all out again, maybe you could go through that then ask any specific questions you have.

Anne

 

[Cheshire Figment]

First thing is there are RN-staffed First Aid Stations in each park, including the water parks. They can assist any time during park hours. If you need a place to lie down for a few minutes or any other assistance they can help.

For an Urgent Care Center, head toward Downtown Disney. After passign the Marketplace stay to your right and follow Hotel Plaza Blvd until it ends at SR535. Make a left turn and you will see the entrance to Centra Care on your left. You will have to pass by it and then make a U-Turn at the traffic light.

Celebration Hospital is the closest real hospital. From POR head out as if you were going toward Animal Kingdom. After passing Fantasia Gardens you would want the second right which will say toward I-4 and US-192. Get on US-192 Eastbound. After you cross over I-4 make a right at the first traffic light. You will go one long block to another traffic light at a "T" intersection. Turn right and the hospital will be a few blocks ahead on the left.

 

[RNMOM]

I had this same situation and mine was triggered by hormones. I used to get migraines when I was on the "pill" and also when I was pregnant. I started hormone replacement therapy in my mid 40's and by the second cycle I was having daily miserable migraines and my blood pressure went up. I think it is the horse urine formula they make the artificial hormones from, personally. I also reacted to tetanus shots when they were made from horse serum.

I was on all kinds of meds and nothing helped me for 6 months. I went to a chiropractor for a different problem, shoulder pain that physical therapy didn't help after 6 weeks. He fixed my shoulder pain in one visit and my headaches also went away. I got my neck "adjusted" for several months after that and have not had the headaches again. Now, about 10 years later, I feel I need to do this again as I am starting to have daily headaches again but not migraine.

Now as a nurse, I know how traditional medical professionals feel about chiropractic and I have to admit some of what the proport seems like voodoo medicine to me too but for the basic functioning of joints and the skeletal system, I have had good luck. This is no means telling you to do this but consider if your estrogen levels could be a cause or perhaps some simple upper body exercises/or adjustment might help a bit. Good luck. I know how debilitating headaches can be. They just make me miserable and unable to think or even be pleasant to anyone.

You might also ask your doctor for a few high power pain pills in case you need them. Just a few to have on hand in case you need them and you can take one a sleep a few hours and perhaps enjoy the remainder of your day.

 

[Eoywin]

I have been to a chiropractor, and it helped a lot. But not enough to take the pain away totally.

Thanks for the help everyone

 

[RNMOM]

I'm glad you got some help. I have found as I get older, the headaches have nearly gone away and I haven't had a migraine in a very long time. I guess it is one of the good things about ageing.

 

[ducklite]

I have been to a chiropractor, and it helped a lot. But not enough to take the pain away totally.

Thanks for the help everyone

My next door neighbor is a chiropractor. We are about half an hour to WDW. I believe that he will take emergency appointments, and I know he works with insurance. PM me for his name and office number if you are interested.

Anne

 

[barkley]

i can totaly sympathize-my headaches/migranes are not responsive to meds either. i will suggest that if you have meds that you keep on hand for pain managment to take them with you-i've recently learned that some states (not sure if florida is one) won't allow even an existing out of state perscription for some types of pain meds to be transferred and filled for visitors (so although i had an existing perscription at a major chain with available refills-the state i visited did'nt permit that perscription to be refilled at the chain's local store).

one of my triggers is heat-so when i have to be in it i try my best to stay as cool as possible. i constantly drink cold water (and we get a fridge in the resort room so i can keep it stocked) and i wear 'keep cool' or 'migrane ice' patches on the nape of my neck and under my blouse (amazing how well they work to lower your body temp).

i also don't do well with lots of noise-so i take ear protectors in case it gets to me (cheap ones like hunters wear from walmart). bright or flashing lights can trigger-so i carry a pair of dark sunglasses that i sometimes even pop on during nite-time or inside shows.

last but not least-esp. if you have kids that may be in the room while you're trying to 'sleep one off'-consider investing in a couple of pairs of tv headphones. they sell these at bed bath and beyond and other retailers. they run about twenty dollars. they are a small unit you plug into the tv that allows you to turn off the volume entirely but the sound is transmitted to the headphones. this way if you need silence-someone can still watch the tv but you won't hear a thing.

 

[Eoywin]

Thanks barkley!

We won't have kids with us, since we don't have kids yet. We are going for our honeymoon.

I'll be bringing all the home remedies I have, plus some earplugs if something gets too noisy (plus my husband can get some for me from his job, for free). I'll have my sunglasses too, since bright sunlight can make me nearly blind.

Thanks for the help everyone!

 

[OneLittleSpark]

If your headaches are agrivated by heat, you might want to consider talking to Guest Relations about getting a GAC. This could allow you to queue in a shaded area instead of in the full sunlight. See the 6th post on the FAQ for more information.

Good luck and I hope you have a magical time!

 

[ducklite]

If your headaches are agrivated by heat, you might want to consider talking to Guest Relations about getting a GAC. This could allow you to queue in a shaded area instead of in the full sunlight. See the 6th post on the FAQ for more information.

Good luck and I hope you have a magical time!

Keep in mind that not all attractions have shaded waiting areas, and you're better off using EMH to ride as much as you can.

Anne

 

[Eoywin]

Thanks everyone!

The heat doesn't make my headaches worse... but bright lights, especially the sun, can make it worse. I'll have my sunglasses with me at all times, so I can slip them on if someone on a ride get too bright.

I think I would feel bad asking for a GAC, mostly because I don't look sick at all. Plus, there are a lot more people worse off than me.

We will probably take advantage of the EMH, since we are staying onsite, that way we can sleep in if needed. Sleeping it off is sometimes the best way for me to get rid of a bad headache.

Thanks again everyone!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I think I would feel bad asking for a GAC, mostly because I don't look sick at all. Plus, there are a lot more people worse off than me.

Even if you don't "look" sick you clearly have a disability.

If you ask for a GAC, and explain your needs, you will receive one. Think of it as an insurance policy. Just carry it withyou, but if there is a time you need it, then it should be used.

Please ask the following questions. Here are the suggested answers to go with them.

1. Are you disabled (even temporarily)? Yes.

2. Do the people you are travelling with, such as your family, know you are disabled? Yes.

3. Do you expect to meet anyone you know during this trip who may not know you are disabled. Probably No!

4. Do you expect to meet a bunch of people who you will probably never meet again in your life? Probably yes!

5. Is there any reason at all that you should care what these people think about you? Absolutely No!!

6. Will having a GAC available make for a better vacation for you and your family? Absolutely YES!