So, I have this now after my 7 day cruise. I had it after a previous 3 day cruise, so thought I might have it again. I am bobbing up and down in my head. So I go and find out more about this and now I'm freaked out that this may stay with me longer than my previous episode, which was about, oh 3 weeks or so. If this lasts months and months I am NOT going to be very happy. Nor will I go on a stupid boat/ship ever again! Crikey! I am thinking that I was more likely to get this because of the AN, but then maybe not? Anybody else have this. Supposedly this is "rare". Well, I for one am sick and tired of being the 'RARE' bird around the house. Okay, I vented.
Sue, bobbing up and down in Vancouver USA
Mal de Debarquement
Mal de debarquement literally means "sickness of disembarkment." This term originally referred to the illusion of movement felt as an aftereffect of travel by ship or boat. Some experts now include other types of travel (such as by train and airplane) and situations with new and different movement patterns (such as reclining on a waterbed).
For a handful of people, this illusion of movement seems to last for long periods of time: weeks to months, even years after a voyage. Some physicians refer to it as mal de debarquement syndrome, reflecting that it is a collection of symptoms rather than a specific disease. There is no universal agreement among physicians about what mal de debarquement is or how to diagnose it. Not all doctors even agree that persistent mal de debarquement exists.
Leading explanations for the syndrome conclude that the problem is not in the inner ear and most likely occurs someplace in the balance areas of the brain. The brain adapts to the motion of the ship or other vehicle; but once the movement stops, the brain is unable to readapt once again. Why this ability to adapt would suddenly stop is not understood. One theory is that mal de debarquement is a migraine variant; long-lasting mal de debarquement is experienced by middle-aged woman more than by other groups, and more women than men experience migraines.
Symptoms of mal de debarquement include the sensation of bobbing, rocking, swaying, swinging, floating and/or tumbling. These may be accompanied by unsteadiness, disequilibrium, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and a loss of self-confidence. The symptoms usually increase in enclosed spaces and when trying to be motionless such as when attempting to fall asleep in bed or when stopped at a traffic light. The symptoms improve during constant, steady movement such as experienced while in a moving car. Mal de debarquement does not include spinning vertigo, vomiting, cold sweat, ear pressure, ear pain, sound sensitivity, tinnitus, hearing loss or distortion, double vision, or bouncing vision.
Persistent mal de debarquement usually begins within hours of stopping the novel movement and resolves within about six to twelve months. There are also reports of it not resolving for years.
