Nicole Babineau
Cruise Ship Passenger Disabled By Mal de Debarquement Syndrome
Carnival Cruise Lines Triumph - March 3, 2006
Nicole Babineau
Submission Date: August 16, 2007
Event Date: March 3, 2006
Cruise Bruise: MdDS
Bruise Location: Cozumel, Mexico
Age: 36
Home Town: New Brunswick, Canada
Cruise Line: Carnival Cruise Lines
Ship: Triumph
Details:
It all started as soon as I stepped off the ship. I felt a lack of balance, fatigue, brain fog and constant headaches.
After getting home, the symptoms did not go away. I stayed in my house for a couple of weeks because I did not trust my balance and was scared of falling in public.
My family doctor does not know what I have but I do. It's Mal de debarquement! I am presently waiting to see an ENT for a consultation.
Five and a half months have gone by and I still feel as if I am on a boat. This feeling is with me 24 hours a day. I even had nightmares of being on a rocking ship just to wake up and feel terribly dizzy.
It has changed my life because now I am so sensitive to motion ex: drive in a car for more than 30 minutes makes my symptoms act up. This is related to me being on a cruiseship for a week, it can't be a coincidence!
I am a young woman with no prior motion sensitivity whatsoever. This was my second cruise and this didn't happen then. There should be more research done to find the cause and meanwhile others should be warned of a potential possibility to having MdDS after a cruise.
There is a video from another Cruise Bruise story that explains this condition. The video is HERE
A support group for MdDS sufferers is HERE
More MdDS cases are here
Mal de Debarquement Syndrome (MdDS) is a rare balance disorder that most often develops following an ocean cruise, other type of water travel, or motion experience. MdDS persists for months to years. Common symptoms include a persistent sensation of motion such as rocking, swaying, and/or bobbing. This sensation of motion is often associated with fatigue, difficulty maintaining balance, and difficulty concentrating (impaired cognitive function).
Symptoms of MdDS include persistent sensation of motion, imbalance, fatigue, sensitivity to light, headaches, migraine headaches, dizziness, nausea, confusion, memory loss, ear pain, anxiety, and depression.
Symptoms are rated on a severity scale as follows:
1-2 Sensation of rocking/bobbing/swaying is almost imperceptible. Most often noticed while walking but may also be recognized while sitting, standing or lying down. Can usually perform routine daily functions without the need for rest periods.
3-4 Rocking/bobbing/swaying sensation is almost constant but can function fairly well with occasional rest periods. The sensation of rocking/bobbing/swaying may include the perception of movement along either a horizontal or vertical axis. The floor seems to move when walking (as if walking on a suspension bridge, water bed, or trampoline). Altered balance. Cannot remain standing in a fixed position with eyes closed.
5-6 Rocking/bobbing/swaying intensity is increased. Accompanied by difficulty in concentration and/or mental confusion (impaired cognitive function). Most routine tasks become difficult to accomplish. Require periods of rest. May stumble when walking.
7-8 Rocking/bobbing/swaying is more severe and noticeable while walking, standing, or sitting. Associated with considerable fatigue. Increased loss of concentration and/or mental confusion. Balance is affected (bump into objects when walking; clumsy in handling objects; may drop things).
9-10 Rocking/bobbing/swaying is extremely severe. Balance is very poor. Require support for walking and standing (have to hold onto walls). Significant mental confusion. Impaired ability to speak. Remain in bed most of the day.
Treatment
While there is no known cure for Mal de Debarquement Syndrome (MdDS), some success in managing symptoms has been realized with medications and vestibular rehabilitation.
Most anticholinergeric medications that work for other forms of dizziness and motion sickness, such as meclizine or scopolamine, are not effective in either treatment or prevention of MdDS.
