Machu Picchu with M.S?

[sprinkles]

Hi all,

 

I don't post on here very often, but looking for some guidance and did not find Machu Picchu here under a search. Afraid to mention this on the South America board, so thought I would come to you guys.

 

So here is my dilemma for anyone who has ever been there (healthy or not at the time). I'm 46 and have Multiple Sclerosis. I get around pretty good and rarely resort to my cane. In recent warm weather cruises I have been bringing my rollator. Going on my longest cruise yet - 49 days around South America with my 78 years old Dad. He wants to go back to Machu Picchu (he went around 10 years ago), I have never been (he mostly wants ME to see it).

 

I did go up to Tibet 6 years ago and got "pretty sick" (I did not know I had M.S. then, if I had, I bet I would not have done it). I got around Tibet fairly well, but did end up in a wheelchair by the end of the trip to see the Terra Cotta Warriors.

 

Anyway, I have not been planning on taking my rollator on this cruise as it just takes up too much room in the cabin and after my last cruise purchased the double arm/canes, so planning on bringing those and a single cane for when "times get bad".

 

Am I totally nuts in thinking I can go to Machu Picchu? I am generally happy just "seeing" things and don't have to hike all over the place. More then likely I will just be "slow" and walking may be a struggle. But I can handle riding the planes/trains/buses and be "happy" just looking out the windows.

 

I fully understand that the trip may "wipe me out", we will have to fly to Costa Rica to catch back up to the ship (this may be on our own tour or through Princess if they end up offering one). But at any rate, I could basically rest on the ship after this, as there is only one stop in Nicaragua and one stop in Puerto Vallarta and I could do without the heat there.

 

Do they have people you can hire to get you around in a wheelchair like they did at the Terra Cotta Warriors in China? Like I said, afraid to ask any of this on the South America board, as Machu Picchu for healthy people can be tough. Any thoughts/suggestions (even if you tell me I'm nuts - lol).

 

Thanks,

Happy Sailing Everybody,

Tammy

[katisdale]

Hi Tammy,

I haven't been to Machu Picchu. However my question to you is whether you have spoken with your MS specialist about the effect high elevation will have on your symptoms. Best wishes with whatever you choose to do.

We are heading back to Europe next week with our daughter and grandchildren. I think of you whenever I think of Europe. Our cruise on the old old Royal Princess was one of our favorites. My post-polio has worsened over time but having the kids with us will be helpful I think. We've never gone in the heat of summer so we shall see. I now travel with a scooter, two canes, and a walker so I understand your concerns about travel with the rollator.

Good luck with the South America trip with your dad!

[sprinkles]

Hi Katisdale,

 

So nice to hear from you, I haven't spoken to my Doctor, we retired and moved to Grants Pass Oregon last year. Let's just say, my choice of Doctors is limited up here - lol and I'm still searching for someone I really like.

 

I'm pretty sure I know exactly how the altitude will affect me, based on my memories of Tibet 6 years ago (I was misdiagnosed 20 years ago and it's probably been M.S. all that time) and cruising with M.S. My guess is that after 30 days on a cruise ship and dealing with the possible heat (bad for M.S). I'll probably be pretty worn out by the time we do the trip to Machu Picchu. Gosh, even as I write this I'm thinking I'm nuts for considering it. But my guess is that yes I could get altitude sickness while in Cusco and mobility will be very difficult (but doable).

 

But at any rate, I "think" that I should be able to get around with my canes, taking the trip as easy as possible and doing most of my sightseeing from bus/trains, etc. Oh the whole things sounds frightening just writing about it, what if both Dad and I get sick, who's going to take care of whom. Also considering doing it without him, just going with Princess if they offer it. Anyway, have a great trip to Europe!

 

Tammy

[sprinkles]

P.S. Katisdale - where r u going this time? Wherever you're going, I do wish you the best trip.

 

Tammy

[Floridiana]

Hi Sprinkles,

 

I went to Machu Pichu on a separate trip. Machu Pichu is not wheelchair accessible, but you can take it easy and see a lot without walking everywhere.

 

Let me describe my experience. I had altitude sickness in Cusco and in Tibet, so I know where you are coming from. In Cusco, the doctor took me to an excellent private clinic and I was as good as new after ~ 5 hours on a drip and oxygen. We continued travelling up to Lake Titicaca and I was fine, just very slow in the thin air. In Tibet, the doctor came to the hotel room and put me on a drip for one hour, no oxygen. I was ok for three days, but I felt it was high time to get out of the mountains.

 

What I would do if I were you.

 

Option 1: Have a car/van pick you up at the Cusco airport and take you immediately to the Sacred Valley which is lower than Cusco. Stay overnight in Urubamba or Ollantytambo. In Olla, visit the ruins and look at them from the bottom. Your father may want to walk up, but you see everything from the bottom. It's just a different view.

 

If you stay in the Lodge smack in the Olla train station, reserve a renovated ground floor room in the garden, not an old one upstairs in the main building. Their restaurant is good.

 

In the morning, take the train to Aguas Calientes aka Machu Pichu Village. You need to walk through the market to get to the bus stop and you need to manage steps. Take the bus up to Machu Pichu. Walk up the steps to the entrance, then the flat walkway into the site.

 

Take the bus down again, return to the train station and return to Olla or Urubamba. Stay overnight. The next morning, take the van back to the airport and fly out.

 

Option 2 depends on the timing of the flights. Skip the overnight in Olla. Go from the Cusco airport straight to the train station in Olla. Take the train and bus as before and stay overnight in the Sanctuary Lodge right at the entrance of Machu Pichu.

 

We stayed at the Sanctuary Lodge. Advantages: At the Aguas Calientes/Machu Pichu train station, an employee waited and took our really small luggage which was delivered to the hotel. The same on the way down again. Dinner and breakfast were included in the overnight package. Good restaurant. While we were waiting for the train to return to Cusco, we were sitting in a special waiting room with a hostess that served us cookies, tea and soft drinks, whatever we wanted to drink.

 

I can recommend our tour company which was very flexible and gave us mostly private tours. Escaped to Latin America.

 

Weather: not hot, really nice in November, but it had rained the entire week before.

 

If you have any questions, just ask.

Edited July 11, 2014 by Floridiana

[sprinkles]

Thanks Floridiana, you have been so helpful to me on the other threads. You suggested exactly what I was wondering, if we could skip staying in Cusco and head straight down to Sacred Valley. I've watched videos on Cusco and would be fine not spending time there. I will check out your tour company too.

 

One question that I still have from watching videos and Dad is not being helpful remembering. Can I see a lot from the entrance to Machu Picchu, or do I have to walk down that pathway and if so how far (cause what goes down must come back up - lol). Am I right in thinking that it would be a complete disaster trying to bring my rolator, for all the flights/trains/buses and completely useless at Machu Picchu?

 

Thanks,

Tammy

[Floridiana]

I am not sure whether the rollator is useful because of the many steps in between flat areas. Aren't the wheels really small and not great on rough surfaces? Can you walk with two of those hiking sticks that people use? I saw someone with a cane that had a seat.

 

The thing is that you need to take the train from Ollantaytambo to Machu Pichu Village, no road access. You also need to take the bus up to the entrance of Machu Pichu. If both are a problem to get in and out, you would need a guide that does the entire trip with you and helps you.

 

You need to get through the entrance gate of Machu Pichu - steps! - because the site is not visible from the parking lot where the busses arrive. It's around the corner.

[Going Coastal]

Sprinkles, when are you going? When you come back could you please tell us all about what you decided and how it worked out for you? Thanks so much.

 

 

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[sprinkles]

Thanks Floridiana, You just mentioned something that I had not thought about before, the cane with a seat. I mentioned on another thread that after my last cruise, I bought the double crutches to take on a cruise for "bad times", but now wondering the logistics of bringing those. I've got a lot to think about, if it's not obvious, what all my "issues" are with this cruise:

 

The bottom line is, for me - m.s. changes hourly/daily/whatever. I still love to cruise and want to see things (like Machu Picchu - lol) and have been trying different things over recent years to help me get by, but do find that I have been doing less and less off the ship. Besides this being my longest cruise to date, I am doing it WITHOUT my D.H. who is usually my big support system and "helper" and going with Dad, who can have his own issues. Not to mention considering going to M.P. without Dad. A lot to think about.

 

Going Coastal, the cruise is January 31, but have to start planning now, as M.P. will be a big trip and a lot to arrange if we do it on our own. So trying to have my ducks in a row before Princess comes out with their excursions and M.P. could book up fast when they do. I will definitely bring this post up and post a review.

 

Tammy

[Going Coastal]

I completely understand. The reason I asked is that I will be doing it with a cane and hoped to learn from your experience. We are going to be there mid December, so I will report back to you on how it goes.

I did Angkor Wat last year with my cane and my husband's strong arm, but only went for the morning tour and rested at the hotel in the afternoon when our group returned after lunch.

My next challenge will be China in March.

Hope everyone with MP experience and advice will chime in here.

 

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[sprinkles]

Goaing Coastal - Sounds like you will be able to give me more advice on M.P. then vice vs.

 

BUT, I did do 3 weeks in China, land tour (8 intercontinental flights), plus four nights Cruise down the Yangtze River (sept 08, so it was still HOT). Saw most, if not all the "big" things in China. So if you have any questions - fire away.

 

Off the top of my head - Terra Cotta Warriors, there were men everywhere for hire (cheap) that would push you around in a wheelchair - all day - which I did - the place was HUGE (and I was recovering from being up in Tibet).

 

Chengdu - Panda Rescue. We bought tickets to have the tram take us around to the different places in the park.

 

Beijing, Shanghai and some of the big cities where overwhelming. I took it slow (I did not know I had M.S. then (misdiagnosed with Chronique Fatige Syndrome in the early 90's). So I was not even using a cane then, but could have used one. We were on an escorted tour, so had bus transportation almost everywhere. Tibet was very tough for me, I chose not to walk to the top of the Portola Palace with everyone else. We also hired pedi-cabs to get to the town square when on our own, vs walking the couple of blocks.

 

The Great Wall, D.H and I only walked up a short distance, but was still "enough" for me to see. Guess it's kind of like my question for M.P. How much can I "see" without walking too far. I guess I am using my experiences in China to convince myself that I can still "do" something like this and not let fear of the unknown, keep me from it.

 

Tammy

[Going Coastal]

Tammy,

Thanks so much for the info. Xian and Tiannemen Square are two places I definitely planning on hiring pushers.

We will have to trade info. I do a private blog for my daughter and sister and a few friends when we are on these long trips. If you are interested or just want to email me,

mine is gulfbeach@live.com.

Hope to visit with you more.

 

 

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