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Oct 3, '03: Just thought I would update the title of this thread since my vacation is definitely on. I added an update on Page 2.
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Well, I see that my dear, dear friend Minybear has posted about my situation in another thread, so I suppose I should come out of the closet and admit that it was me she was speaking about.
A few weeks ago, I sprained one of my ankles, and in the process of attempting to catch my balance as I was falling, I broke the other one. I have a metal plate, a wire, and quite a few screws in my leg (two of which run from one side of my leg to the other). The healing process has been painful. I am currently only taking a blood thinner (I wont take the pain medication anymore since it made me very ill). I cannot put any weight on my leg for a minimum of three months (if Im lucky). I use a walker in my home (I actually hop with it since I cannot put any weight on my broken leg), and a wheelchair when I venture outdoors (it is painful keeping my leg propped up while Im in the wheelchair).
My upcoming WDW vacation is in jeopardy. My surgeon has already suggested that I cancel it. I told her that I havent been on a vacation since last year and I really, really dont want to cancel this one (Ive worked 12-14 hour days for months & months, and the only thing that has kept my sanity is the thought of two glorious weeks in WDW). She mentioned to me that by the time of my vacation, I might be in a removable cast (I still will not be able to place any weight on my leg, but I can remove the cast for sleeping and showering). If I have a removable cast, then I could float in the swimming pool (I cant tell you how glorious that sounds to me right now, ahhhhhhh!).
I have another doctors appointment soon, and hopefully Ill get my stitches removed. Ill also get another set of X-rays taken in order to see how my bionic hardware is holding up. Im praying that everything will look good and my surgeon will tell me to keep my vacation plans intact, if I so choose.
Even if all goes well, I still have two big fears: blood clots and DVT (I think thats what its called). From what my surgeon told me, I have to worry about blood clots and DVT for the entire time my leg is in a cast. I know that if I fly, the DVT will be a big worry for me. Since I live on the West Coast, my flight time to Orlando is quite a bit. There are never any non-stop flights from where I live, so I usually have at least two plane segments (sometimes, more). Traveling to Orlando always takes the better part of a full day.
As to what I planned to do while on vacation, pretty much nothing but vegging out. As I mentioned, Ive been working 12-14 hour days for months & months (my company has had so many layoffs within the past three plus years that my work load has become insane). Several months ago, I told my husband and children that if they wanted to see me while on vacation, they better visit me at the swimming pool, as I had no plans to be anywhere else for at least the first week of vacation. Now I fear my feelings might change since Ill have done nothing for several months prior to vacation but read & watch TV, arg! For my second week of vacation, my parents were going to join us, along with one of my best girlfriends. That week might have seen me venturing away from my resort a little more (but I still planned on spending some major time at the swimming pool). My guests are waiting on pins and needles regarding whether the vacation will be kept as is or cancelled (I should note that theyre all so very understanding and I dont feel any added pressure from them to keep the vacation intact).
Several months ago, I pre-arranged some vacation activities: all three of the GF's children's activities (for my daughter), 999 Happy Haunts Event (for my family), Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween Party (for my family), Disneys Spirit of Aloha dinner show (a group reservation for my family and guests and a few Disers -- Minybear & her spouse included), the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue dinner show (for my family), and a Reserve Dinner for the Food & Wine Festival (my husband & I are joining another Dis couple for this). I would love to squeeze in a dinner at Victoria & Alberts for my husband and I (its a vacation tradition), however, I havent booked it yet. I might book a special dinner along the GFs waterfront instead. We havent done anything like that yet in all of our WDW vacations, so I think it would be fun and probably easy to do with me in a wheelchair.
I should mention that I currently have the main building booked at the GF for the first week and a studio room booked at the BCV for the second week (if I keep my vacation, I should probably arrange for handicapped-accessible rooms at each resort). I am toying with the idea of spending the whole two weeks at the BCV so that I dont have to resort hop (please note that my family usually resort hops on a majority of our WDW vacations so I dont consider that much of an inconvenience).
Please dont think Im complaining. I would never dare do that since I have family and friends who love me no matter what. I guess I just need a little guidance from my fellow Disers who can understand what I am going through and who can offer up their own experiences to me. Any information/opinions that you can pass along my way will definitely be appreciated. As you already know, (A) I am in pain (which hopefully will diminish); (B) I am incapacitated to an extent (need a wheelchair to move around); and (C) I am worried about blood clots, DVT, and flying (very worried about that). I look forward to hearing from you all.
Janet
Oct 3, '03: Just thought I would update the title of this thread since my vacation is definitely on. I added an update on Page 2.
******************************************
- - - - - - -
Well, I see that my dear, dear friend Minybear has posted about my situation in another thread, so I suppose I should come out of the closet and admit that it was me she was speaking about.
A few weeks ago, I sprained one of my ankles, and in the process of attempting to catch my balance as I was falling, I broke the other one. I have a metal plate, a wire, and quite a few screws in my leg (two of which run from one side of my leg to the other). The healing process has been painful. I am currently only taking a blood thinner (I wont take the pain medication anymore since it made me very ill). I cannot put any weight on my leg for a minimum of three months (if Im lucky). I use a walker in my home (I actually hop with it since I cannot put any weight on my broken leg), and a wheelchair when I venture outdoors (it is painful keeping my leg propped up while Im in the wheelchair).
My upcoming WDW vacation is in jeopardy. My surgeon has already suggested that I cancel it. I told her that I havent been on a vacation since last year and I really, really dont want to cancel this one (Ive worked 12-14 hour days for months & months, and the only thing that has kept my sanity is the thought of two glorious weeks in WDW). She mentioned to me that by the time of my vacation, I might be in a removable cast (I still will not be able to place any weight on my leg, but I can remove the cast for sleeping and showering). If I have a removable cast, then I could float in the swimming pool (I cant tell you how glorious that sounds to me right now, ahhhhhhh!).
I have another doctors appointment soon, and hopefully Ill get my stitches removed. Ill also get another set of X-rays taken in order to see how my bionic hardware is holding up. Im praying that everything will look good and my surgeon will tell me to keep my vacation plans intact, if I so choose.
Even if all goes well, I still have two big fears: blood clots and DVT (I think thats what its called). From what my surgeon told me, I have to worry about blood clots and DVT for the entire time my leg is in a cast. I know that if I fly, the DVT will be a big worry for me. Since I live on the West Coast, my flight time to Orlando is quite a bit. There are never any non-stop flights from where I live, so I usually have at least two plane segments (sometimes, more). Traveling to Orlando always takes the better part of a full day.
As to what I planned to do while on vacation, pretty much nothing but vegging out. As I mentioned, Ive been working 12-14 hour days for months & months (my company has had so many layoffs within the past three plus years that my work load has become insane). Several months ago, I told my husband and children that if they wanted to see me while on vacation, they better visit me at the swimming pool, as I had no plans to be anywhere else for at least the first week of vacation. Now I fear my feelings might change since Ill have done nothing for several months prior to vacation but read & watch TV, arg! For my second week of vacation, my parents were going to join us, along with one of my best girlfriends. That week might have seen me venturing away from my resort a little more (but I still planned on spending some major time at the swimming pool). My guests are waiting on pins and needles regarding whether the vacation will be kept as is or cancelled (I should note that theyre all so very understanding and I dont feel any added pressure from them to keep the vacation intact).
Several months ago, I pre-arranged some vacation activities: all three of the GF's children's activities (for my daughter), 999 Happy Haunts Event (for my family), Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween Party (for my family), Disneys Spirit of Aloha dinner show (a group reservation for my family and guests and a few Disers -- Minybear & her spouse included), the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue dinner show (for my family), and a Reserve Dinner for the Food & Wine Festival (my husband & I are joining another Dis couple for this). I would love to squeeze in a dinner at Victoria & Alberts for my husband and I (its a vacation tradition), however, I havent booked it yet. I might book a special dinner along the GFs waterfront instead. We havent done anything like that yet in all of our WDW vacations, so I think it would be fun and probably easy to do with me in a wheelchair.
I should mention that I currently have the main building booked at the GF for the first week and a studio room booked at the BCV for the second week (if I keep my vacation, I should probably arrange for handicapped-accessible rooms at each resort). I am toying with the idea of spending the whole two weeks at the BCV so that I dont have to resort hop (please note that my family usually resort hops on a majority of our WDW vacations so I dont consider that much of an inconvenience).
Please dont think Im complaining. I would never dare do that since I have family and friends who love me no matter what. I guess I just need a little guidance from my fellow Disers who can understand what I am going through and who can offer up their own experiences to me. Any information/opinions that you can pass along my way will definitely be appreciated. As you already know, (A) I am in pain (which hopefully will diminish); (B) I am incapacitated to an extent (need a wheelchair to move around); and (C) I am worried about blood clots, DVT, and flying (very worried about that). I look forward to hearing from you all.
Janet