Mal de Debarquement

[cflutist]

My DW experienced this after one of our cruises, and shortly thereafter a God-incidence caused her to get a brain scan that revealed a Meningioma. Apparently they are fairly common and slow growing -- so you may have one for decades before any symptoms appear [things like seizures :eek:]. Once it was removed, subsequent cruises have not caused "land legs" [another name for this symptom]. So if the ear-crystals thing doesn't work, you might want to investigate this.

 

Interesting that you should mention this. I underwent a pterional craniotomy in 2015 to remove the same thing (had 52 staples closing the incision on my scalp) and had to cancel an Alaskan cruise because of it.

 

We just returned on 4/17 from a 15-night cruise to Hawaii from SF and both noticed the rocking and rolling motion on land for a day or so before it went away.

[jnc411]

I'm a yachtsman and the rocking sensation is normal, particularly after a bumpy sail in a small yacht, but it normally only lasts for a maximum of one day or until you have been to sleep.

 

Your problem sounds like crystals in your inner ear.

 

My wife had something similar which was initially put down to vertigo. Then it was diagnosed as crystals having formed in the inner ear which were affecting her balance.

 

Apparently the formation of the crystals is common but they only cause trouble when they are in a certain location.

 

She was sent to the local hospital and placed on a flat tiltable table which was then manoeuvred in such a manner as the technican was able to use gravity to move the crystals and 'park' them in a place where they caused no problem.

 

The fix was instantaneous and the technician could tell when he had fixed it by the track her eye balls followed when he asked to look from one side to the other (I think he could see them follow an arc rather than a straight line as she looked from one side to the other - but, apart from the fact that he knew when he had fixed it, I can't remember for certain exactly what it was he said told him he had fixed it, but I stress the fix was instantaneous

 

Check this link.

http://vestibular.org/understanding-vestibular-disorders/types-vestibular-disorders/benign-paroxysmal-positional-vertigo

 

 

Go and discuss it with you doctor.

 

Thank You so much for this web site. I had a severe case of this , not from a cruise but just as I woke one morning , could not walk , became very nausiated, ended up in the emergency room. I still get it now and then but know what I am dealing with now. This is a good article that explains it well. It is not a fun thing. Again thank you.

Cori

[Florida_gal_50]

I'm glad I'm not the only one that suffers from this. Good information in this thread. Thank you.

[venicecruiser]

I take 25mg of meclizine (Bonine) daily while I am on a ship and continue it for about 2 days after disembarking. Works great for me! I take it at bedtime.........Your pharmacist can get you the generic meclizine and it is much cheaper that the brand name Bonine. Plus, doesn't make you sleepy like Dramamine can.

 

 

Claudia

[chamima]

I get this for about a month after every cruise.

After a lot of trial and error I take meclizine, sometimes alternating with tylenol sinus (same as Aleve D).

It helps a LOT with the severity and the length of time I have it.

If I remember to start the meclizine a day or two before the end of the cruise it definitely shortens the length of time I have it afterwards but I usually forget about it until it starts.

 

That said, you've had it a really long time. Maybe you should see an ear specialist.

 

(I don't know if it's related but I was diagnosed with Meuniere's disease (fluid in the inner ear) years ago but haven't had an episode in a very long time)

[WupperAV]

Being a pilot and owning a boat I can tell you how to control it. My E N T Dr said it was caused by inner ear chrystals. Shake head side to side 10 time , forward to back 10 times and roll your head around it's axis 10 times. Close your eyes and repeat. After a few days symptoms should go away. Remit $140 for advice.

[mrs and mrs]

I just tri e d thi s and am foolin g v e r y so ck, sen di n g med i ca l cl aim t o you.:)

[LeeW]

Used to get this after every cruise, or at least the ones with some ship motion. Worst place was in the wide-open airport concourses as the runways kept moving around. Typically lasted a couple of days for me. The head tilting procedure really does work. But if you are still having problems after a month I vote for seeing your doctor (who might show you the procedure).

[Aus Traveller]

Being a pilot and owning a boat I can tell you how to control it. My E N T Dr said it was caused by inner ear chrystals. Shake head side to side 10 time , forward to back 10 times and roll your head around it's axis 10 times. Close your eyes and repeat. After a few days symptoms should go away. Remit $140 for advice.

I would have to have a bucket close by. :D Even the thought of all that head-shaking is a bit much.