Land sickness/vertigo after boat ride

[Tsommer12]

I’ve come across a few of these forums in doing research after having been diagnosed with MDDS after a 6 hour boat ride in Miami last week. It’s been about 10 days of constant bobbing, vertigo, weird gravitational pulling and head pressure. I’m miserable!!! I know A lot of you have experienced this post cruise, and wanted to get advise on recovery time and any tips on treatment. The internet has successfully scared me to death that I am going to be stuck this way for life, so wanted to check with frequent cruisers on your experiences with it. Do you find that it gets better gradually or wake up and finally back on land? Anyone done acupuncture or seen a chiropractor to help reset the equilibrium??

 

thanks for your help! I’m suffering over here and an anxious mess!  

[Essiesmom]

I have no experience with it, but the acupuncture people on the ships say seasickness is their most common complaint.  I would wear my seabands and go for acup. if nothing else worked.  EM

[cb at sea]

I've had it twice, post-cruise.  The 1st time, it lasted about 2 weeks....but it only presented a problem in small spaces...shower, closet, etc...

The 2nd time, it lasted longer, but it was much milder....so I just knew what it was and pretty much "went with the flow"...I knew it would resolve itself in time....which it did.    None of the other cruises caused any issues.....don't know what the catalyst was....one cruise (the 1st time) was rough, but the 2nd time I had this, we had smooth sailing.  Must be an inner-ear issue.  I do have sinus problems.

[ldubs]

Hi Tsommer.  Sounds like you were diagnosed by a doc then did a Google search.  Those frequently don't turn out well.  Anyway, you will get some good info about the experience of others here on CC.  With the severity of what you describe,  maybe think about a re-visit to the Doc.  Truth be told, I'm not even sure what kind of doctor to see about something like this.    

 

Hope you feel better soon.  

[mom says]

If it's lasted 10 days, then you really should consider seeing a doctor, not a chiropractor. This could be your family physician, or if you prefer, an ENT specialist, since they are used to treating patients with vertigo problems.

 

I've had problems with MDDS in the past, but since I started the practice of continuing my daily Bonine for several days post cruise it hasn't recurred.

Edited June 11, 2019 by mom says

[Tsommer12]

30 minutes ago, mom says said:

If it's lasted 10 days, then you really should consider seeing a doctor, not a chiropractor. This could be your family physician, or if you prefer, an ENT specialist, since they are used to treating patients with vertigo problems.

 

I've had problems with MDDS in the past, but since I started the practice of continuing my daily Bonine for several days post cruise it hasn't recurred.

I’ve seen two doctors. My ENT said it has to work it’s way out of me and takes time, but wanted to see what other people had experienced with something like this. I went Online and you see all these horror stories about people who’ve had it for years, so wanted to consult avid cruisers who have experienced this. 

[evandbob]

I recently had a bout of vertigo that was totally unrelated to cruising.  I found a remedy after being shown some simple head movements that would "redistribute" the fluid in my ear canals by a physical therapist at a place called Fzical.  (google is your friend).

 

Here's something similar

:https://www.webmd.com/brain/home-remedies-vertigo#1

 

[lenquixote66]

I have been suffering from Vertigo since 2012. I cannot be on a plane or a train .I have been to several ENT's ,have tried accupuncture and probably everything else.Nothing has worked. I have sensations of walls moving giving me the feeling of being on a merry go round.

[Tsommer12]

18 hours ago, mom says said:

If it's lasted 10 days, then you really should consider seeing a doctor, not a chiropractor. This could be your family physician, or if you prefer, an ENT specialist, since they are used to treating patients with vertigo problems.

 

I've had problems with MDDS in the past, but since I started the practice of continuing my daily Bonine for several days post cruise it hasn't recurred.

I’ve seen two doctors. My ENT said it has to work it’s way out of me and takes time, but wanted to see what other people had experienced with something like this. I went Online and you see all these horror stories about people who’ve had it for years, so wanted to consult avid cruisers who have experienced this. 

[Tsommer12]

9 minutes ago, lenquixote66 said:

I have been suffering from Vertigo since 2012. I cannot be on a plane or a train .I have been to several ENT's ,have tried accupuncture and probably everything else.Nothing has worked. I have sensations of walls moving giving me the feeling of being on a merry go round.

I’m looking for people who have had experience with MDDS as a result of going on a cruise. Not regular vertigo. 

[Summer96]

@Tsommer12 I hope you are feeling better already. It is normal to experience land sickness up to 2 weeks after disembarking the ship. Therefore, MdDS isn't officially diagnosed by a doctor until the symptoms have lasted 30 days or more.

I have suffered from MdDS for 3 months now after a 10 day cruise. My symptoms are mostly bobbing/rocking. For the first month I also had a gravitational pull toward one side, as well as, headaches. I was diagnosed by a neurologist (as ENTs tend to have less knowledge about this syndrome).

 

I would advice people not to read too much about this syndrome from the Internet, as it is full of worst case scenario stories. What I have learnt from my doctors, and from reading papers written by specialists in this subject is that:

• Most people recover within 6-12 months
• Most people do not suffer from this for the rest of their lives (only 3% will have symptoms 10+ years)
• Symptoms will decrease and go away gradually, they will not disappear over night
• It is possible that common medicines prescribed for MdDS will actually prevent the brain from readjusting itself back to land and it might cause people to suffer from the symptoms longer
• Stress, worrying about your situation and not getting enough sleep will make symptoms worse
• Symptoms will cease when in motion (train, plane, car, ship, treadmill, stationary bike, etc), but lots of motion will also cause your symptoms to last longer
• Exercise, balance training will help

My symptoms have been gradually improving during these 3 months - I am nowadays free of symptoms for days on end, and the few days I do have symptoms, they are mild and last less than 5 mins in total during one day. So, I have almost recovered!

The first month was the worst and it was quite scary. I continued working normally and exercising. Sitting in front of the computer (my job) made the symptoms worse, so taking breaks throughout the day helped.

 

The absolutely most important thing, is to stop being scared and anxious about your situation. Your brain is amazing, and if it has been able to learn how to adjust to the motion of the ship, it will be able to learn how to be on land again. By being anxious and stressed, you are not giving your brain the possibility to rewire itself. So, whatever you can, try to learn how to ignore your symptoms and go on with your life. After a while, you will notice that your brain will stop remembering the motion more often. You will have a good day, and the next week might be really bad. Slowly, you will notice that the good days increase. So, don't be discouraged if you have a setback! And remember, most people will recover from MdDS!

[donaldsc]

I assume that you have been on this site - https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/mal-de-debarquement/

 

DON

[Aplmac]

On 6/11/2019 at 3:07 PM, Tsommer12 said:

I’m looking for people who have had experience with MDDS

as a result of going on a cruise. Not regular vertigo. 

 

We've been on 14 cruises now

and I had read (on CC) about this curious affliction before it happened to me

-just the one time, on no particular cruise (can't even remember which one!).

 

Thankfully, it didn't last more than a day or two

and it never recurred, but it sure is odd to be still feeling the motion of the ocean

while standing on firm dry land!

 

I feel sorry for those who have endured longer spells: it's not a nice feeling.

[HangryGrl]

Did your ENT discuss the Epley Manuever at all?  I had BPV rather than MDDS but it could be worth a try.  There are several videos online that show you how to do it at home.  It is a series of movements so it's non-invasive.  One of the vertigo boards mentioned that it helps some people with MDDS but not everyone.

[Nikki00]

@Tsommer12

Did your symptoms resolve? Dealing with the same thing?