Penny Badham
Mal de Debarquement Syndrome
As A Result Of Cruise She Took - August 2006
Penny Badham
August 2, 2007
When Penny Badham went on a cruise 11 months ago, she was looking for a good time. The thought never occurred to her, that she could become disabled, perhaps for life, without having suffered an accident or illness onboard the ship. But, that is exactly what happened.
Penny left the ship, without the same condition many cruise ship passengers get, the feeling they are still floating at sea. For most passengers, that floating feeling lasts a short time, perhaps a few days. For Penny, 11 months later, she is still at sea.
Penny is suffering now from Mal de Debarquement Syndrome (MdDS). MdDs is an imbalance or swaying sensation after exposure to motion.
In August 2006 the 53 year old Penny, and her husband Steve went on a cruise around the fjords of Norway. When Penny left the ship she felt fine but two days later during the night she began to experience rotational vertigo.
"This went on for several days, I felt like I was still in motion, so I went to see my GP," said Penny.
For the next ten months she went to see a series of doctors including ear, nose and throat doctors and neurologists, ulimately ending up at University College London where she was diagnosed with MdDS.
Penny says it has affected her life severely. She is unable to go out with family and friends to pubs, restaurants or shopping because of the constant floating sensation.
She also says it has caused depression as a result of the sudden changes to her life, and her difficulty in coping with them.
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.
