This may seem like a daft question but Jake was only 8 when he had his bleed in April, and is 9 now.
We went on holiday in the summer to a huge campsite in Holland with a big theme park. Jake was desperate to go on the roller coasters. I let him go on the kids rollercoaster that was pretty tame, but he really wanted to go on the big one that went upside down. I told him no, as I wasn’t sure it was safe for him. Most people I talk to about it just say that basically he should be grateful to still be here and just give the rollercoasters a miss, why risk it? - but when you’re only 9 with your whole life ahead of you its not that simple.
Anyone been on upside down rollercoasters after a bleed? His surgeon told us Jake could go back to a normal life, all he couldnt do was boxing. But do rollercoasters form part of a ‘normal life’? I 'd ask the surgeon but he doesn’t speak to patients on the phone, and our next appointment isnt for 6 months!
Any thoughts / advice would be much appreciated.
Hi,
Staying away from rollercoaster’s would be tough for a 9 yr. old, but until you can get an ‘okay’ from the dr. or his/her nurse, I personally would avoid them, as rollercoaster’s increase blood pressure. 
Best wishes,
Patti
hi,
the aunt of my wife who undergone AVM craniotomy too was told to avoid high areas coz this increases the ICP level( intracranial pressure) so i avoid my wife to it. . hope this helped^^
Jaynied, I have a unique perspective from everybody else on this subject. My daughter was 6 when her AVM ruptured. She has had two subsequent craniotomies to resect residual AVMs. I would allow my daughter to go on a rollercoaster if she wanted to. She has fought this hard to LIVE, not to live under a shell and be afraid something might happen.
My husband had a major health problem a few years ago. His employer asked him to go to Afghanistan earlier this year to take photos for a newspaper. I encouraged him to go for the same reason. He fought to LIVE. I don’t want him to feel like he should be afraid.
If it was my son or daughter, I would let them go on the rollercoaster. How long is the ride really upside-down – a fraction of a second? It might be scary for you, but it will go a long way to letting your son feel like a regular kid.
I know it’s a unique perspective, but I wanted to share since I have daughter at a similar age.
Best wishes!!!
Tina I have to say that I like your thinking, and that is kind of the way I was wanting to think, but then everyone just looks at me like I’m crazy! People just think its a risk that isn’t worth taking, but for Jake the risk is worth taking because all his friends can go on rollercoasters, we have days out at the theme park (or we used to anyway)! I am planning a trip to EuroDisney next year when he’s better, and not letting him go on the rollercoasters is going to spoil the experience for him.
I will of course seek medical advice, and if I’m told no, then that means no. But if the doctors can’t, or won’t, answer then I think I’ll be inclined to let him do it - maybe not Space Mountain, but the smaller ones yes.
Thanks so much for sharing