Has anyone had landsickness or MdDS post cruise? How long did it last?

[Hazeleyes101]

I've done eight cruises; had it after two of them, but not after the other six. No relationship I can determine to rough seas, activities on or off the ship, or length of cruise. We always have a midship stateroom. Once the symptoms persisted for a couple of weeks, second time only a couple of days. Not a big deal for me; I'm leaving in a week for a transatlantic cruise and just accept that what will be, will be.

[topgallent]

http://www.tchain.com/otoneurology/disorders/central/mdd.html

 

I think that if one has had it for several weeks once or is female with a history if migraines there is a risk, how great the risk I am not sure as the research isn't there. I have read some very sad stories, see

 

http://www.etete.com/mdd/support.html

 

for some of them about women who have gone on a cruise which changed their lives and led to permanent balance and vertigo issues and it didn't have anything to do with how rocky the sea was... I think since in my case I didn't respond to sea-sickness medication that some speak of... see "After the MDD has started, most medications that work for other forms of dizziness or motion sickness are ineffective. Specifically, antivert, bonine, meclizine, dramamine, scopolamine seem to be of little use. Valium and related medications such as Klonapin are helpful in some persons." then I really had a small milder form of MdDS. Some of the posts I have read on cruise critic of cruisers having gotten symptoms for months or years and then getting on another cruise seem highly risky to me... I am only considering what the situation is because it was weeks, just under a month, but even that has me taking serious pause and really not going... I am still looking for evidence to make me feel the risk isn't there... or not that badly there... other cruisers who have success stories... but I think the fact is, as some members on support groups for this balance disorder have said, it's a gamble and the losing end is possibly an incurable condition that will be a life-changing condition... if one had had an experience of MdDS before then as one of those support members put it.... perhaps the brain has identified itself as one of those that is within the risk group. Is that a risk I am willing to take for a two week cruise or for any cruise? It seems like a big gamble at the moment, and I'm heartbroken about it because I would really like to go and get a break from a very difficult year.

 

Hopefully my response to my thread now prompts some more responses that I can weigh in. But if you knew that there was a chance that you were more likely than the average person to getting an incurable balance disorder that may not go away with time would you take that risk?? I have read stories of people who cruise fine several times and then a certain cruise does it, or cruise and get small episodes and then finally a big episode hits. It's definitely a reason to pause, I think.

[1SMURFF99A]

Hello Everyone.

I am a 33 year old female and several years ago in June July of 2007, I went on a week long cruise around the Hawaiian Islands. The last night was especially rocky and our cabin was near the front of the ship. After disembarking I experienced what I think was MdDS for several weeks, I believe it was just under a month's time, before the symptoms went away. If you are not familiar with what MdDS is, it's the sensation of being on the boat when you are on land that is usually only alleviated by movement in a car or boat (something like that) and for some can last years. There is no cure but many go into remission where they feel normal again. There is little research on it so there is no way of knowing if one is in the high risk group to have dizziness for a long time or just for a few weeks, as far as I have found. I have done some questioning among support groups for MdDS but their group is biased of course, towards encouraging me never to cruise again. Maybe this group, as a group of repeat cruisers, has a different point of view.

 

So that you know it isn't MdDS if it's just a few days, or if it's relieved by typical drugs used for seasickness like Bonine. Specifically, antivert, bonine, meclizine, dramamine, scopolamine seem to be of little use. Valium and related medications such as Klonapin are helpful in some persons. If what you had responds to that it is not MdDS. Also, you would feel great on the boat but then sick after the boat...not both. MdDS will feel better if you're in a car or on another boat. You feel like you're still on the boat, basically.

 

After that episode I did go on one overnight ferry and several small ferries over theyears but never had a recurrence.

 

I have been invited on a 14 day cruise around the Mediterranean leaving on April21 of this year and I have been posting and sending emails looking forinformation on whether it is too risky for me to travel again.

 

Questions I have been asking include: If you have MdDS did you have a smaller episode before the larger episode from which you currently suffer or do you always suffer episodic symptoms which pass? Do you prevent your symptoms with any means successfully? Do you think it matters how calm or rocky the sea is and was the cruise that affected you the on the Med at all? Do you think it's possible for someone to experience the symptoms once and never again, even if they do other cruising? Do you think it's too risky to endeavor to go on the cruise? Is it rare for episode to be long lasting or do typically the episodes remain short as

mine did?

 

 

Thanks so much and I hope these aren't too many questions. As it stands I'm leaning against going on the cruise but it's quite a shame as it would be a lovely experience if I remained well.

 

btw this cruise critic account belongs to my father who loves to cruise.

 

I get it after every cruise. I'm fine on the ship but before I get off, I put on the wrist sea bands. I usually wear them for a few days.That seems to help.

[Onessa]

I always get a very mild case that will last a month or so -- with sensation slowly lessening over time. It is exsasberated by enclosed spaces -- so I'll get very woozy after going into a small toliet stall or fitting room.

 

I've been on 20+ cruises -- seem to get it every time, but it is pretty mild so I choose to live with it. Your case seems to be worse. Have you talked to an ENT specialist or even just your PCP?

[ariawoman]

My sister suffered this after two cruises. She had used the transderm patch both times. Dr. did a vertigo treatment, ( she was turned upside down , etc) made her sicker but it went away. She now uses Bonine ( chewable) before she gets on the plane to go to the cruise, and one a day in the morning for up to a week after she gets home. She has never had the problem again. She too was going to give up cruising. So glad this works for her.

 

I had an issue that I to attribute to using the transderm scope patch.

 

My 1st cruise I wore the patch. Was fine while wearing it for the most part, though did have seasickness (was on a very small ship - seabourn spirit).

 

A day or two after getting home from vacation i was noticing dizziness, especially when going to like, a grocery store, or shopping in general. Whenever it involving scanning aisles or racks. I went for all sorts of testing and eventually was diagnosed and had to go to "vestibular therapy" which supposedly gets your eyes and ears back in synch.

 

I've not used the patch and have taken 3 cruises since, and so far, so good. I take ginger root capsules now while on vacation (550mg, 2 pills in the AM and 2 in the PM each at a meal). I don't know if it's the ginger but, my seasickness has been lessened too. (else, the S class ships are just better for me) :-)

 

Good luck - I really feel for you. I was nervous too, and honestly I get nervous about getting seasick on every cruise, but I just love cruising too much to give it up on the chance of getting seasick, so I chance it.

[swedish weave]

Google "Epley particle repositioning treatment" It may help some of you get over the vertigo after a cruise.

[topgallent]

I am looking for accounts of people who once had or are prone to landsickness or MdDS post cruise (not sea sickness, people who are fine on the boat) and have had episodes of landsickness for 2-4 weeks after previous cruises who have successfully avoided recurrences by taking Clonazepam before during and after the cruise or Bonine (meclizine). I have noticed some people claiming taking Bonine (meclizine) has solved their landsickness problems even though they don't have seasickness and I'm keen to hear more about this.

 

I had an episode of landsickness of MdDS once after a rocky 7 day cruise that lasted a little under a month and I'm researching ways to prevent this from happening again so I can keep cruising.

 

If you have only had landsickness for 2-5 days that's considered normal and not really the demographic I am looking at. :)

 

Also if you tried it and it didn't help that's also news.

[Muushka]

I fit your requirements except I used Scopolamine. I took Bonine for the entire cruise and it DID NOT help with the condition after getting off of the ship. Good luck with your hunt.

[i love dorset]

I first experienced this thirty years ago after spending a weekend on our boat. When I got home I felt very unsteady on my feet and the world was swaying as if I was still on board. I think my doctor though I was mad and it continued for weeks...he sent me to an ENT specialist who told me I would have to live with it. Every time I go on a cruise now I feel just the same (even on shore days) I was told it was Migraine based. I love cruising so just put up with the bad feeling. Didn't actually know so many other people have this. Think everyone thought I was a nutter so it is quite a relief to know I am not alone. If I can live with the feeling most days (been 30 years) anyone can. Go and enjoy the cruise.:)

[TruRed76]

I had the land sickness for about two weeks after my first cruise. It was so bad those first few days that I literally had to hold onto something when sitting on the toilet to keep from falling off! It was only a four day cruise. I wore the patch the whole time but did not take meclizine. I chalked it up to side effects from the patch however I have since worn the patch for days at a time without a problem.

 

I just returned from a seven day, rocky cruise. I again wore a patch the whole time and took meclizine as needed. The first morning after the cruise, I woke up feeling a little rocking. I took another meclizine and have not had any problems since! I was worried about going back to work so soon after returning from my cruise because I thought for sure I would be much worse after a seven day cruise versus a four day cruise, but I was wrong!

 

I really can't say what made the difference. The only two things I did differently was to 1. take the meclizine as needed during the cruise and as soon as I felt symptoms and 2. our last day on the cruise was a port day versus a sea day.

 

Btw, the Epley maneuver only works for BPPV (benign positional vertigo), not for dizziness by any other cause.

 

Good luck with your decision!

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

[FoxyBride14]

I have gotten it after almost every cruise as well. It usually lasts about a week and then goes away. But that's why I decided not to do a 12 or 14 day Mediterranean cruise and did a 7 day b

[medykman]

OP, did you ever end up going and if so, what was your MdDS experience like afterward? Dying to know.

 

My wife and I have been on 2 cruises:

Sept. 2014: 3-Day Ensenada on Carnival Imagination

Jan. 2017: 7 day Eastern Caribbean on Norwegian Escape

 

My wife has had MdDS since the 7 day cruise and has had it 24/7 with some days being better and worse than others, it's been 6 months now but has gotten better (but not remission). She's 34 years old and is susceptible to insomnia. The seas were nice but she had a hard time sleeping (we were at the very front of the ship). She always feels better when she drives but small spaces like a shower and closet she gets the rocking feeling.

 

It's encouraging to see that other people have gone on cruises already having MdDS and it not getting worse. We're interested to see who has traveled knowing full well they had MdDS and if their symptoms ever get worse afterward or if it stays the same or is sometimes better. We've bookmarked this page to see other peoples' experiences.

[Alakegirl]

The OP started this thread in 2013, and last posted on Cruise Critic in 2016. Its doubtful you will get an answer.......

[Fish Lover]

Even though the original OP started this thread a few years ago, I'm responding since I know this can be a problem and I haven't seen it spoken about.

 

I went on a cruise many years ago. It was not particularly rocky and it was short (5 days). The one day we got off the boat, I was terribly ill all day. Dizzy, slightly nauseous etc. As soon as I got back on the ship, I was magically well. I passed it off as something I ate.

 

After the cruise, I had horrible bouts of dizziness and vertigo like symptoms. After a several weeks, I found I couldn't really function well at work. So off to the doctor. I was afraid because I thought (don't laugh) I had a brain tumor. When the doctor discovered I had returned from the cruise, he told me it was like a reverse sea=sickness. He advised me to take dramamine every 4 hours for 3 days. Sure enough, all the symptoms went away. It has never recurred after many many cruises.

[gold1953]

The OP started this thread in 2013, and last posted on Cruise Critic in 2016. Its doubtful you will get an answer.......

 

Since the poster responded to a 2013 post it now will move forward to the front page and the topic will bring responses

[leehal]

Had it on my first couple of cruises, was fine this time.

[cruisestitch]

"OP, did you ever end up going and if so, what was your MdDS experience like afterward? Dying to know"

 

OP's last post on Cruise Critic was in 2016. I'd be surprised if you hear anything but they did post on 3 Holland America roll calls so apparently land sickness didn't stop them from cruising.

[gerelmx]

In my family we felt it in our first cruise, we did not take it as a disease, and for the following cruises I think we were already accustomed that the discomfort was not felt again.

[muffy6445]

I didn't some research as it has affected me. It mostly occurs in women, 40-60 years old and have your menstrual cycle while on the cruise can compound it. Cruise must be 7 days or more. Check, check, and check. Been a month and just down to evenings when I'm tired. Better when I'm driving which is common. Good news is I get to relive my cruise each day!

[donaldsc]

I often get it. It lasts about a week. The really strange thing is that it only occurs at the end of a cruise. It never occurs when I am on a lang excursion during the cruise. Go figure.

 

DON

[igfclsapci]

What I have found that works on the ship and after for my equilibrium issue and pounding headaches after a cruise is " xaminina ". After a harrowing ferry ride from positano to Capri I headed for the nearest pharmacist who recommended this pill. It is not sold in the US and can only be found in certain European countries like Italy . Once I took it my dizziness and headaches subsided in a day or two and I don't go on a cruise without it . In fact I am on the Reflection now and although the seas are fairly calm i have had no issues .

I bought 13 boxes in Rome, so I don't run out in the future. They are about 7 US dollars per box .

I didn't have any side effects and no drowsiness .

I had stopped taking them once I got off the ship and my headaches started up to the point I could not get out of bed .

So after my last cruise I started to take them 3 days before the cruise and then for 3 days after. I had no headaches or dizziness either on the cruise and then none after. What a relief.

It works for me but may not for everyone .