Originally posted by don8life
Wow, One more try, you sound pretty bitter. What is up with that? Can you blame a mom for trying to figure out what is best for her child.
Here's what I mean. There are different "levels" of immunosuppression. Most people on immunosuppresant drugs are sensitive to fungal infections and atypical bacteria. Some patients are so sensitive that it's dangerous to be around others. Some of the organisms will even be present without people around -- such as aspergillus and other fungi in the water rides. At some stages, these patients have to avoid almost all contact. It depends on the drugs involved. and the doses.
It will be difficult to avoid most of these organisms at WDW and I don't know if a GAC will make a difference. If someone is immunosuppressed enough to avoid people, then exposre to 40 in a boat ride would be just as bad as the few people that are on either side of you in a line. If the doc says it's ok to go out, then the exposre in a line is probably no worse than the other zillion exposures the person will have at WDW. (See the other post from an immunosuppressed pt above.) That's why I asked others with similar experience to post. her doctor and organizations that deal with taking sick kids to WDW will probably also have suggestions ab out what will be helpful and what won't.
With ill children we have to face difficult decisions. With our ill girl we do that all the time. We have avoided vacations and we have taken vacations. When we take vacations with our little girl it is VERY difficult for all involved, but we do it anyway.
I am not bitter at all. I was harsh, admittedly. Yes. But so is the situation. I agree that dismom needs to decide what to do with her child. And part of that decision is "should we go to WDW at all?" We make that harsh decision every time we try to go. And I think dismom is still wrestling with that part of the decision. Hence, the anguish in her post.
I'm not saying that she shouldn't get a GAC card. But I think we all need to be judicious with using them if we want them to continue to be available for those who need them. Ie. will it make a difference between going and not going? I guess the child's doc should answer that one.
Also, immunosuppression is NOT seizures, kidney damage(nephrotoxicity), dizziness, neurotoxicity. If a child has these things that is a totally different matter. In that situation a GAC card would be mandatory. It sounds like dismom's child does not have them. (They can be side effects of the same drugs, but not a direct effect of immunosuppression unless a patient develops lupus or an infection which then in turn leads to these problems. ) But avoiding crowds will not PREVENT them from occurring. So that's not an issue here.
If you want me to post our battle with untreatable epilepsy, I will.
Again, I was trying to put perspective on the issue. I am all for sick children going to WDW. but sometimes it's better to wait a while. I think my family knows that as well as anyone.