upside down rollercoasters...

[megansmom]

Anyone here with a shunt try this? Megan loves Disneyland and wanted go on the rollercoaster at Calif Adventure but her doctor told us she can never do this cause it can cause a blockage in her shunt. Megan is having a hard time understanding why, I'm sure as she gets older she might understand better but I would also love to see her to go on one. She absolutely loves going fast and goes on every ride at the park including space mountain.

So does your doctors tell you no upside down rollercoasters? Anybody in here been on one and had problems with shunt? Let me know

Thanks
Tracy

[hope9]

I've been told no upside down roller coasters because there is risk of quite a few problems, although I'm sure she would be fine with going just a few times! I'm just too scared. :]

[LIZARD]

We have been warned about rollercoasters (of any kind) many times. The G-force is excessive with many of them, so they aren't recommended. The one time I recall going on a rollercoaster (I was 16), I had no problems, but when I see multiple warnings, I figure it's not a good idea.


LIZARD :)

[MICHAELSMUM]

Hi, we have also been told no rollercoasters at all for Michael:mad:.it was ok when he was smaller but now he,s older he wants to go on them with his brother but i feel that we wouldnt have been told no if there wasnt any risk, so i steer him away and go on other stuff.I know its hard to say NO but why risk problems when theres no real need.. take care:)






mum to Nikki 16, Claire 14 going on 30, Peter adhd and sencery probs and Michael 8 hydro,on shunt #8 dandy walker syndrome, ataxia, epilepsy, sight probs 2 sub-temprol de compressions, and as cheeky as they come.

[Love My 7 GEMS]

WOW>>>another thing I didn't know about! I never heard or read this before, but since Matthew is still so young, I guess I wouldn't have thought about it for many years, but it's good information to stuff into the back of my brain for future reference. I'm already thinking about other things that he might not be able to participate in, and it makes me sad for him. He's so "normal" in every way, that it is hard to accept that he won't always be able to do everything other kids can do. So, I'm very sad for Megan...I hope that you can find other things that she CAN do that will make her happy, and help her find fun without the rollercoasters. Just tell her that it would make her tummy feel too yucky...(and that is probably true anyway!!)

BTW.... if you're coming to California, may I recommend trying to get at least ONE day at LegoLand, which is further south of D'land, closer to San Diego...it's one of the most enjoyable places I've ever taken my kids... Absolutely LOVE that place! Something for everyone to do. Just bring towels and bathing suits for the kids... you'll see why!

Dori

[Nathan]

I have not been expressly forbidden to ride rollercoasters. However, having been on a few, I won't riding them anymore. I always ended up staggering like a drunk for at least 15 minutes and had one heckuva headache after riding them. I also was quite nauseaous for some time after.

[jomama]

i went to the local fair a few times ago and those rides messed me up soooo bad, i think like lizard said, the g force is way too much. I also went staggering out, then spent about 2 hours in bed at home with a bad headache, and REALLY nautious. i swore i'd never even try that again, but we went to disneyland last summer and I did all the space mountain n materhorn n stuff, and was fine so maybe not too much g force going there. And we didnt do any of the rides that ends in a fall, i think that would not be good.

[KathiDG]

Been to Six Flags SEVERAL times in the last 10-12 yrs (I wouldn't ride roller coasters until I was in my early 20s because I was just scared...nothing to do w/ shunt). I ride EVERYTHING....stand up, sit down, upside down, STRAIGHT up & down....that was both with my old shunt (died out after 20+ yrs in 2006) AND the new one (Strata programmable - installed August 2006). I haven't had any problems with roller coasters thus far....BUT I DO know that I need to pay attention to how I feel AFTER going on them...if a certain ride messes with my head too much and I get too dizzy or nauseous and have a lot of pain, then I know I need to play it cool a while....there HAS been just ONE roller coaster that really made me hurt after and that was Deja Vu at Great America....BUT I had some sinus issues the whole day, so I can never be sure if it was the ride for sure or not....Six Flags took the coaster down in 2007-08...and actually....it was my FAVORITE coaster....LOL

[jgm]

I have two VP shunts and was advised by my neurosurgeon that riding a roller coaster would make me feel like crap. He said it would not cause a blockage or do any damage to the shunts, but I would feel nauseated and probably have a headache. Keep in mind that I am a father of two boys, ages 5 and 3, and I am a big kid myself. So what was a father to do, a year post-op, when his five year old daredevil of a son wanted to ride a coaster? Damn right I did! I did ride an easy one the first time to test the water, and only rode a few that day. Fortunately I did not feel bad at all. Our next venture to Six Flags about 6 months later was an all-out assault on every coaster and spinning ride we could find. Still no problems. I guess everyone is different, you guys will be the first to know if I cause a shunt failure from such foolishness. Carpe Diem!

[jomama]

^^^ mines a vp shunt too, two now but only one then, and yeah i didnt think bout the fact that diff shunts prolly react different too, not to mention diff people! but that fair left me feeling REALLY bad, like 'do i have to go to er' bad.. :( i didnt though, and again, disneyland was a good time, i'm surprised i braved it but i'm glad i did!

was a coaster addict as a kid though :yes:

[Austinsmom]

Is Megans shunt programmable?
if it is that coaster has huge magnets not good
Austins was told not to go on the same type of rollercoasters.
Also Austin did have a revision 2 days after an amusment park day,... rides or just bad luck we will never know???
have fun but be aware. we ask Austin not to go on Rollercoasters, but none held on tracks with magnets or fast jerks, Austin's head has always been woobly.
Deborah

I agree with the idea....
Carpe diem! Seize the day, Make your lives extraordinary!" but always be aware and mindful while grabbing the moments at hand..

[GTF]

I have two VP shunts and had a 3rd venticulostomy and I ride upside down roller coasters.
I have been for years.
I only stay off if I feel really bad. If not I'm riding.
I also ride the wood coasters. They are rough!
I like the feeling I get when I go upside down on the steel coasters.
Does it hurt some?
Yea. Who cares. So do many other things with hydro.
I still have to do them also without the pleasure of coaster riding.
Like riding in a car or having someone sneeze nearby.
Or a ring from a phone.

[GTF]

This me on the right. Front seat.
Future SIL on the front left.

SheiKra Bush Gardens Tamps FL

[Coaster Crazy]

As you can tell by my sign-on name!!!!! I refrain from any coaster that has an over the head restraint. Mostly because of sensitivity. My favorite coaster is Millenium Force, Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio. My NS told me there should not be any problems. Just like the others stated, everyone is different. Test the waters as you don't want to spoil your day. Stacy

[AMBush]

Marijke's neurosurgeon has never really put a lot of restrictions on her, but we know from experience that she haaaaaaaates any thing fast, jerky or spinny. Teacups? Awful. When we went to Disneyworld, she liked the Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin the best -- it's relatively slow with a videogame target-shooting aspect that she loved. Basically, though, anything that's fast enough to get her coaster-loving dad's adrenaline going is one that Marijke will not tolerate well.

[megansmom]

man the posts seem 50/50, half say yes just do it and the other half say no way!... lol Well I don't think this will be an issue until we go again in January so for now I will just not worry about it. When she asks me if she can go on them I will just tell her "We'll see"...

Thanks for all your posts e1...

Tracy