Dizziness/Vertigo Tips

[areno79]

Hi all!
DH suffers from awful dizziness; so much that a single ride on an elevator can make him dizzy and unable to function.
He really hates Soarin' because of his dizziness. He would love to ride FoP, but we are both concerned about the effects and how it will impact him.
I was wondering if anyone had any tips to help with dizziness and/or vertigo? Products, medicines, etc. are welcome!
Thanks

 

[Lilsia]

Well just as everyone is triggered by different things, treatments work differently too. I would try the usual and have him talk to his doctor. FOP is more like Star Tours then Soarin IMO. So if there is anything that works for him on that(or not) then it would proabably be the same for FOP.

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

For what it's worth, I get insanely dizzy easily too and am the same way on elevators. Even though I have difficulty climbing stairs due to hip issues, I will still pick stairs over an elevator in most situations. For me, FOP was far better than Star Tours. That simulator is easily the worst for me at Disney. For FOP, there is only one spot that really messes with me. While trying not to give much away, it feels like you're moving really fast at one point and so the graphics are rapidly rushing by. It doesn't last long. What works for me is to try not to look at all of the scenery flashing by during that short time. I look straight ahead and try not to blink, as when what I see changes too quickly for my brain to process it and it looks blurry, that contributes to my dizziness. For some reason, blinking makes it seem like the scenery is changing even quicker for me. There is a bit of air that blows on you too during the ride, which for me helps a lot with my dizziness. Also, make sure he's well- hydrated, and if changes in light contribute to his dizziness, I'd recommend him wearing sunglasses/ hat in the parks as going from the bright outside into sometimes darkened queues can often mess with your equilibrium.

More broadly, for dizziness, what works best for me is promethazine/ phenergan, though it must be prescribed by a doctor. For over the counter remedies, I really like Hyland's Motion Sickness Relief tablets. They're made from natural sources, dissolve in you mouth, and work pretty quickly. It's only a few bucks for a bottle of those, so worth trying out before the trip to see if they help.

 

[mamabunny]

Hi all!
DH suffers from awful dizziness; so much that a single ride on an elevator can make him dizzy and unable to function.
He really hates Soarin' because of his dizziness. He would love to ride FoP, but we are both concerned about the effects and how it will impact him.
I was wondering if anyone had any tips to help with dizziness and/or vertigo? Products, medicines, etc. are welcome!
Thanks

Does he have a medical diagnosis for his dizziness?

I suffer from BPPV (Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo) and have found that typically once I have my dizziness under control, I can manage it myself pretty well. I have to make sure that I sleep on both sides every night (I tend to sleep on my left side, always have) and only occasionally I have to go to my ENT to get "the rocks in my head" re-aligned LOL. (yep, that's what he calls it). It will flare up every couple of years; I had another severe bout after the accident I was in last January, but it resolved within a very short time, once I was allowed to sleep on my right side again.

Typically, BPPV isn't controlled via OTC medications or other devices that work to treat seasickness, etc.

If his dizziness is caused by medicine, or some other condition, he could consult with an ENT (Ear Nose & Throat specialist) and see if there is any treatment to help his condition.

Is it just Soarin' (and possibly FOP) that is a concern for him? Or are there other rides he avoids as well?

 

[areno79]

For what it's worth, I get insanely dizzy easily too and am the same way on elevators. Even though I have difficulty climbing stairs due to hip issues, I will still pick stairs over an elevator in most situations. For me, FOP was far better than Star Tours. That simulator is easily the worst for me at Disney. For FOP, there is only one spot that really messes with me. While trying not to give much away, it feels like you're moving really fast at one point and so the graphics are rapidly rushing by. It doesn't last long. What works for me is to try not to look at all of the scenery flashing by during that short time. I look straight ahead and try not to blink, as when what I see changes too quickly for my brain to process it and it looks blurry, that contributes to my dizziness. For some reason, blinking makes it seem like the scenery is changing even quicker for me. There is a bit of air that blows on you too during the ride, which for me helps a lot with my dizziness. Also, make sure he's well- hydrated, and if changes in light contribute to his dizziness, I'd recommend him wearing sunglasses/ hat in the parks as going from the bright outside into sometimes darkened queues can often mess with your equilibrium.

More broadly, for dizziness, what works best for me is promethazine/ phenergan, though it must be prescribed by a doctor. For over the counter remedies, I really like Hyland's Motion Sickness Relief tablets. They're made from natural sources, dissolve in you mouth, and work pretty quickly. It's only a few bucks for a bottle of those, so worth trying out before the trip to see if they help.

We've never ridden FoP so that's really helpful, thank you!

 

[areno79]

Does he have a medical diagnosis for his dizziness?

I suffer from BPPV (Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo) and have found that typically once I have my dizziness under control, I can manage it myself pretty well. I have to make sure that I sleep on both sides every night (I tend to sleep on my left side, always have) and only occasionally I have to go to my ENT to get "the rocks in my head" re-aligned LOL. (yep, that's what he calls it). It will flare up every couple of years; I had another severe bout after the accident I was in last January, but it resolved within a very short time, once I was allowed to sleep on my right side again.

Typically, BPPV isn't controlled via OTC medications or other devices that work to treat seasickness, etc.

If his dizziness is caused by medicine, or some other condition, he could consult with an ENT (Ear Nose & Throat specialist) and see if there is any treatment to help his condition.

Is it just Soarin' (and possibly FOP) that is a concern for him? Or are there other rides he avoids as well?

He does not have a medical diagnosis other than "vertigo." They've done heart tests, MRI's, etc. but haven't found anything.
He recently got a new CPAP machine after not using his for the last 3 years, so I'm wondering if this will help.
We've never ridden FoP but I've read about the motion so want to be prepared.
Soarin is definitely an issue for him, as well as some roller coasters.

 

[meagarunt22]

I have something very similar so thing like the teacups were never an option. But I tried Dramamine Naturals since it was non drowsy. Come to find out it is just a huge dose of ground ginger and I wouldn't have bought it if I knew it because I probably would've assumed it wouldn't work. IT WORKED. I spun to daughter to oblivion on those teacups and although I was so dizzy I could barely walk out of there, I didn't feel sick at all. I rode all the spinning rides and was good to go. Best part is it wasn't something unknown, but just ginger and I wasn't tired at all. I can only find them online though.

 

[Lilsia]

I have something very similar so thing like the teacups were never an option. But I tried Dramamine Naturals since it was non drowsy. Come to find out it is just a huge dose of ground ginger and I wouldn't have bought it if I knew it because I probably would've assumed it wouldn't work. IT WORKED. I spun to daughter to oblivion on those teacups and although I was so dizzy I could barely walk out of there, I didn't feel sick at all. I rode all the spinning rides and was good to go. Best part is it wasn't something unknown, but just ginger and I wasn't tired at all. I can only find them online though.

Ginger is an amazing plant with all kinds of benefits. It is an anti-fungal and an anti-inflammatory. Anyone with sinus issues should use it. I have also had a skin conditions since I was young called Tinea versicolor, basically skin produces too much yeast and you get a very itchy skin discoloring rash. Over the years I have tried what the doctor's have prescribed, including a very very expensive pill to no effect. I started making ginger tea for a sinus infection and found out that it worked on my tinea. Saved me hundreds of dollars a year on medicine. I tell doctors that I use it and it works and they look at me like I am crazy.

 

[areno79]

One of my friends mentioned patches that you can buy on Amazon and you stick them near your belly button, but I don't know the name of them. Has anyone tried anything like that?

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

One of my friends mentioned patches that you can buy on Amazon and you stick them near your belly button, but I don't know the name of them. Has anyone tried anything like that?

I've never heard of a patch that goes near the belly button. I have used scopolamine patches, but those go behind your ear and are more for helping to prevent nausea and vomiting. Dizziness is a common side effect.

 

[Lynn in MI]

I second the Dramamine Naturals. I use them and they are fantastic.

 

[areno79]

I think this must be the patch my friend was talking about. They're called MQ Motion Sickness patches.

https://www.amazon.com/MQ®-Motion-Sickness-Patch-Count/dp/B00S9FSPOG?th=1

 

[redberyl]

If he can't handle soaring I would avoid fop, it's much more intense. I love soaring but fop made me sick

 

[smokeyblue]

This will probably not be of help with your trip, but if your doctor has exhausted all other possibilities as cause for dizziness he may want to see a neuro-optometrist. A subtle misalignment of the eyes can cause chronic vertigo, headaches, nausea, reading problems, concentration problems, neck pain, etc. I ended up with these problems after a car accident. Life honestly sucked and I thought I was headed for permanent disability until I was prescribed prism glasses to correct the misalignment. I still have difficulty but I would say things are about 80% better than before I got my glasses.