Cruising and Vertigo

[LovelyMouse22]

We are thinking of doing our first cruise next october with a 12 day trip at wdw before.
We have never cruise before.
I have vertigo since a concussion a while back. It doesn't bother me all the time, but it does still. I'm really worried about being on the ship with it.
I am worried about getting sick anyways, but even more than this.

We would also be driving home right after getting off the ship. Is that a bad idea?

Any tips for dealing with this?

 

[MrsScooby]

We are thinking of doing our first cruise next october with a 12 day trip at wdw before.
We have never cruise before.
I have vertigo since a concussion a while back. It doesn't bother me all the time, but it does still. I'm really worried about being on the ship with it.
I am worried about getting sick anyways, but even more than this.

We would also be driving home right after getting off the ship. Is that a bad idea?

Any tips for dealing with this?

Ok, I guess it depends exactly what triggers your vertigo
I had a doctor explain to me that most vertigo was caused by crystals in the middle ear getting stuck (I think it was the middle ear) and that a specialist would show me ways to turn my head during an episode so that the stuck crystals were dislodged. I wound up not following up on it because I haven't had any episodes in quite a while.
My mother in law had some very severe episodes years ago and I know she mentioned having medication on hand just in case they came back.

So the bottom line is you need to check with your doctor to see what you can do to prepare just in case you have a problem.

FTR, I have a long history of motion sickness (cars,planes, boats, etc) and I was pleasantly surprised not to have a problem on DCL
I do take bonine with me just in case --it makes me feel safer to have it on hand. Never had any vertigo on the ship either.

Good Luck

 

[develizweb]

I also suffer from vertigo and did not have any issues on any of my cruises....I have figured out that funny enough what triggers my vertigo is cheap wine. I also took Bonine and wore the sea sick bands...no issues at all. I would for sure bring medicine...antivert or whatever it is called, I can't remember.

 

[LovelyMouse22]

Thanks!! That makes me feel so much better! I will be sure to pack bonine and sea bands. I'm going to take something for DS who will be 4 at the time of the cruise, just incase.
I was feeling queasy and dizzy just thinking about the ship rocking.

Is their a place on the ship I should stay to feel the motion less?

 

[MrsScooby]

Thanks!! That makes me feel so much better! I will be sure to pack bonine and sea bands. I'm going to take something for DS who will be 4 at the time of the cruise, just incase.
I was feeling queasy and dizzy just thinking about the ship rocking.

Is their a place on the ship I should stay to feel the motion less?

I have heard that midship is suppose to get the least motion, but for me it is all about the weather. If the weather is good or bad it doesn't seem to matter where I am on the ship...I feel movement in bad weather and nothing when the weather is good

I've cruised during August a couple times and we had some storms both times and I was fine. Make sure you take something (bonine, etc) if you plan to be on a small boat (tender, excursion boat, whatever) -they move alot more and I've forgotten this in the past. Was fine on the DCL ship and then fighting the motion-sickness when I went to a small boat

I also notice that the more I worry the worse my symptoms seem to be...I think our anxiety can contribute somewhat ...I always worry less if I have my bonine with me

I have found I can have a drink while taking the bonine, but it affects some people differently. Try it at home first to see how it affects you

 

[njdisneylovr]

I suffer from vertigo as well and have had no issues with it when I cruise ( flying is a whole other story). Good luck

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

I have Meniere's disease, which among some of the lovely symptoms, includes vertigo. I went on the Dream, forward front, 12th Deck and did just fine. I did take a cane for extra support, but I've also had surgery to cut the vestibular nerve and have balance issues. However, if I did okay - there certainly is hope for those who suffer with vertigo.

Good advice on here. Bring (and take) Bonine. Try not to stress. Maybe cut your salt intake and caffeine levels until you know how you are dealing.

You might consider seeing what is known as an "neurOTOlogist" I put the middle part in capital letters to distinguish that I was not talking about a neuologist. A neurotologist is an ENT with special training in neurology. They usually know more about vertigo and Meniere's type issues than other doctors.

 

[Mokat76]

I was on a cruise in February. We encountered rough seas and the ship was rocking quite a bit most days. My cruise was less than a month after I suffered a severe bout of vertigo, so like you I was very concerned. I took the last of my prescription meds with me and OTC bonine. Surprisingly, I had no problems on the ship and took my Rx meds only once and that was more as a preventive measure than a true need since we were tendering into port and then boarding a smaller boat for our excursion. One PP who said she took a cane had a great idea. If you can find an inexpensive foldable cane you can pack in your suitcase, you'd have an extra balance aid if you needed it. I hope you'll be just fine and have a terrific time.

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

By the way, if the link will show up, here is an EXCELLENT site with tons of information on vertigo and it's causes.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

My father-in-law gets motion sick easily. The inlaws took the patch with them and he had no problems on their ship (RCI's Oasis). However, on an excursion it was very hot outside. He was sweating a lot & the patch came off. The small ferry back from the excursion made him quite sick. Just in case you use the patch, here's a scenario to be wary of.

 

[MrsScooby]

This was what I was talking about.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2303034_treat-vertigo-brandt_daroff-exercises.html

Not sure if this is the type of vertigo you have, but I would definitely check with your doctor to see what they recommend for you

 

[amie28]

Oh, please keep us posted on how your cruise goes. My DD16 also has vertigo issues that resulted from concussions.

 

[disneyholic family]

I have Meniere's disease, which among some of the lovely symptoms, includes vertigo. I went on the Dream, forward front, 12th Deck and did just fine. I did take a cane for extra support, but I've also had surgery to cut the vestibular nerve and have balance issues. However, if I did okay - there certainly is hope for those who suffer with vertigo.

Good advice on here. Bring (and take) Bonine. Try not to stress. Maybe cut your salt intake and caffeine levels until you know how you are dealing.

You might consider seeing what is known as an "neurOTOlogist" I put the middle part in capital letters to distinguish that I was not talking about a neuologist. A neurotologist is an ENT with special training in neurology. They usually know more about vertigo and Meniere's type issues than other doctors.

OT - there is a great medicine for the symptoms of menieres - the only place in the world you can't buy it is in the US (not because it's dangerous, because 40 years ago there was a screw up in filing with the FDA and since there's now no patent, no company is now willing to invest the amount of money it takes to file with the FDA - so you can't buy it in the US - but you can everywhere else)..

anyway, it's like a miracle drug...takes away all the symptoms (vertigo, tinnitus, etc)
Betahistine Dihydrochloride is the chemical name (it has various brand names) - the one i use is manufactured in Switzerland. I've been on it for about 16 years. Totally saved my life. Without it, i'm totally bedridden. I can't move. With it, i live a normal life.
Don't buy the generics - they don't work as well. They'll try to convince you that Betahistine Hydrochloride is the same - it's not.
Only use Betahistine Dihydrochloride.
I doubt that doctors in the US are even familiar with it, but everywhere else they are. And it is a miracle drug. Anyone who suffers from menieres syndrome knows what i'm talking about.

but getting back to the thread - i didn't have any problem on the ships - but then again, i take betaserc every day (Betahistine Dihydrochloride).

 

[LovelyMouse22]

Thanks so much everyone! Thanks for the sites. I'll have to check them both out.
To the pp,i will definitely keep you posted on how it goes.
Hopefully with the bonine and seabands i do fine. I do have medicine to jelp with the vertigo,but it puts me to sleep for days!

I think we are going to go with the 3 night cruise for this first one,just to see how i do. If i do well then i want to book a Western Caribbean!

 

[Suz D]

I have benign positional vertigo and am not bothered on the cruises (we've been on 6). My father-in-law also has vertigo and we assured him he'd be fine (since I was). He was NOT fine and felt rough most of the journey. He wore the patch.

I think that for the majority of people, it's not a problem and you'll probably be fine. The only thing is driving home right after the cruise. On a three night you're probably good, but it often takes me a day or two to get my land legs back.

I'm excited for you though. A Disney Cruise is amazing!

 

[LovelyMouse22]

Im worried about the driving home part! We will be driving home as soon as we are off the ship. Hopefully dh does ok!

 

[April1971]

Thank you so much for asking this question and for all the responses. I woke up this morning worrying about this. I had benign positional vertigo a year ago and live in fear of another episode. The neurotologist and the vestibular therapy worked miracles, and so quickly for me. I never appreciated how debilitating vertigo can be until I experienced it and I am so sorry for anyone who has to live with this condition. I feel much more confident after reading this thread that I'll not have problems on the cruise after hearing everyone's success on their cruises. I will also say that I also get motion sick sometimes, and as a child on a cruise had no problems until we took a tender, so I agree with the advice to take your bonine before you get on any little boat even if you feel fine on the cruise ship. Thanks again.

 

[ilovetexas]

I have benign positional vertigo and am not bothered on the cruises (we've been on 6). My father-in-law also has vertigo and we assured him he'd be fine (since I was). He was NOT fine and felt rough most of the journey. He wore the patch.

I think that for the majority of people, it's not a problem and you'll probably be fine. The only thing is driving home right after the cruise. On a three night you're probably good, but it often takes me a day or two to get my land legs back.

I'm excited for you though. A Disney Cruise is amazing!

FYI for your father in law....I tried the patch once and IT made me sick. Tried it on land prior to the cruise and it made me dizzy and lose my balance. Doesn't work for anyone in my family; strangely enough it makes us all ill.

 

[tluther5406]

I think we are going to go with the 3 night cruise for this first one,just to see how i do. If i do well then i want to book a Western Caribbean!

I have found that I don't suffer from vertigo after the longer cruises but do after the shorter ones. In the past year and a half, I did a 10 day and a 7 day and did not suffer. Prior to that, I did all 3 and 4 day cruises, and I suffered for about 1-2 wks after each. I have always wondered if it was because my body had enough time to adjust to being at sea by the end of the 7 and 10 days but was still trying to adjust on the shorter ones.

For someone that mentioned their little one in an earlier post, I was concerned with my then 3 year old because he tended to throw up a lot. I was afraid he would get motion sickness since we didn't know what was causing the vomiting. I don't know how true it is, but a pharmacist told me they don't suffer from motion sickness that young. He was fine.