Is it normal to feel dizzy after being on a boat for a week?


Is it normal to feel dizzy after being on a boat for a week? Within a day or so, your land legs likely will return and the symptoms will disappear. However, for a rare few returning vacationers, this persistent sensation of motion or dizziness can continue for weeks or even longer. The disorder is called mal de debarquement syndrome.


How do you fix disembarkment syndrome?

MdDS treatments may include:
  1. Medication.
  2. Brain stimulation therapy.
  3. Treatment exercises (vestibular rehabilitation).


How do I get rid of MdDS?

The resolution of MdDS is spontaneous, so it often remits without any specific treatment. Most medications for dizziness or motion sickness such as meclizine, dimenhydrinate, and scopolamine are not useful in MdDS. Anxiolytics may temporarily improve symptoms, with benzodiazepines likely to provide the most benefit.


Can disembarkment syndrome go away on its own?

MdDS usually goes away on its own within 24 hours. If it doesn't, your healthcare provider will probably need to rule out other conditions, like vestibular migraines. This may take some trial and error. Though it may be frustrating, it can take a while to find a solution that works best for you.


Why am I still dizzy 3 days after a cruise?

The disorder is called mal de debarquement syndrome. “It is a phenomenon that isn't fully understood,” says audiologist Julie Honaker, PhD CCC-A, Director of Cleveland Clinic's Vestibular and Balance Disorders Laboratories. “We think it may have to do with the brain rather than the inner ears.”


How long does it take to recover from sea sickness?

Seasickness usually occurs in the first 12 to 24 hours after “setting sail,” and dissipates once the body acclimates to the ship's motion. It's rare for anyone to get or stay ill beyond the first couple of days at sea—unless the vessel encounters really rough waves.


Why am I still dizzy 5 days after a cruise?

Disembarkment syndrome is a medical condition that may occur following a sustained motion event like an aircraft flight or cruise. It is a neurological condition that is normally diagnosed by a neurologist when the sufferer reports a persistent swaying, rocking, or bobbing sensation.