Just diagnosed with vertigo - which rides should I avoid?

[ZoZo]

Just diagnosed with vertigo last week - no fun at all!

Am doing physical therapy to help correct the problem, and I won't be going on my trip to WDW for several months. Not sure if this will become a "lingering," ongoing problem or not, and wanted to get some feedback.

I wanted to find out if anyone else had experienced vertigo while at WDW, and which rides might be most likely to cause problems. I'm used to doing everything (except MS, which I don't care for), including RnR, Space Mountain, etc. I'll be bummed if I can't do some of my favorites!

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

 

[tinaninea]

My Mom has vertigo and can't ride anything with a screen like StarTours.

 

[Sisdy]

Anything with a screen is a killer. I have had vertigo for years. It is a come and go kind of thing for what I call the big ones. The attacks where the world spins. But even though those kinds are rare, rides can really make you feel bad. I am still able to ride Thunder Mountain if I look ahead and am prepared for the turns. I also ride Space some times and one of the kids sits in front of me and tells me if the turn coming up is left or right, but most of the time I do not ride this one. Teacups are totally out. I do have medication to help Vertigo, called Antivert (Meclizine) and take it with me all the time. But, I hate to take it as it makes me sooooooo sleepy. So if you have this Rx I would take it to the parks with you if you plan to ride any of these rides, just in case.

 

[Kimmumum]

A really good friend of mine has vertigo and can't go on the following:

Mission Space
Star Wars
Soarin'
Philharmagic
Tea Cups

If I remember the other ones I'll add them later.

 

[ZoZo]

Thanks for the advice, everyone! Keep it coming!

I just had another physical therapy appointment yesterday and hope that the vertigo is going to get better. What a drag, huh? Though, at least it isn't making me nauseous - that would be awful!

 

[Ladysunflr]

I have vertigo also.. I think it depends on the type of vertigo you have.. Do you have BPPV?

 

[Debbie-TN]

I have a little bit of vertigo on steps so be careful on the steps going uo to the Mexico Pavilion. I go up the wheelchair ramp. Also, don't even think about going up the steps in the Japan Pavilion above the store. I made that mistake once and didn't think I was going to make it back down. If you need to go upstairs, take the elevator.

 

[ZoZo]

I have vertigo also.. I think it depends on the type of vertigo you have.. Do you have BPPV?

Yep, it's BPPV. It seems to be responding to physical therapy, though.

Do you think some of the upside-down rides might bring on some vertigo "spins?" I'm thinking of rides like RnR, where you have corkscrews. Since BPPV has to do with the position of crystals in the ear canal, it seems like this type of ride might cause a problem.

 

[vgrandy]

The striped room that expands in The Haunted Mansion sets me off so if you go in there don't look up.

 

[DznyDreamz]

I have BPPV also and just got back yesterday. I've been dealing with this for about 6 weeks now. While I don't have the spinning like I did, my balance is still in bad shape and I'm no where near normal (or my version of it any way).

Personally, I couldn't bring myself not to ride the rides and went on what I wanted to ride. Sure, I didn't always feel great after but it never brought on the spins. I held my DH's arm most of the time when we were walking to keep me going in a straight line. I also brought a note from my doctor saying I was being treated for vertigo which causes signs of instability. I was afraid that TSA and Disney might think I was drunk and not let me fly or kick me out of Epcot!!

I set myself back by going on the rides that I did, but I felt lousy anyway so what can you do??

 

[Ladysunflr]

if you have BPPV, please, please ask your doctor to perform the epley procedure on you.. I had BPPV a few years ago for about a month and after suffering through that my ENT FINALLY did the epley to me.. and I have been BPPV free... my current vertigo was caused by a car accident, so they're not related.. but for BPPV sufferers.. DO IT... You can even do it at home... It looks really weird and medieval, but I swear it worked for me... Don't bother being miserable at the happiest place on earth

 

[DznyDreamz]

As great as the epley maneuver sounds and worked for you, I've had 4 treatments from one of the "best" ENT docs in my area and I'm still dealing with symptoms. Unfortunately, it can linger no matter what the docs do for you. Not trying to be negative, but that is the reality. Research says the maneuver works on 80% of people the first time around. I'm one of the ones in the 20%. Funny how I'm not so lucky when I play the lottery

 

[JPN4265]

Just diagnosed with vertigo last week - no fun at all!

Am doing physical therapy to help correct the problem, and I won't be going on my trip to WDW for several months. Not sure if this will become a "lingering," ongoing problem or not, and wanted to get some feedback.

I wanted to find out if anyone else had experienced vertigo while at WDW, and which rides might be most likely to cause problems. I'm used to doing everything (except MS, which I don't care for), including RnR, Space Mountain, etc. I'll be bummed if I can't do some of my favorites!

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

I would think the teacups for sure.....

 

[ZoZo]

As great as the epley maneuver sounds and worked for you, I've had 4 treatments from one of the "best" ENT docs in my area and I'm still dealing with symptoms. Unfortunately, it can linger no matter what the docs do for you. Not trying to be negative, but that is the reality. Research says the maneuver works on 80% of people the first time around. I'm one of the ones in the 20%. Funny how I'm not so lucky when I play the lottery

OP here. Is the epley maneuver the one where they have you sort of fall backward and put your head in certain positions to get the crystals to go back to the correct part of the ear canal? I have had three treatments so far, and am going back for my fourth tomorrow. It works for a couple of days, but then the symptoms come back. I'm still hopeful that they'll work eventually - keep your fingers crossed for me!

 

[Sgt Mickey]

My husband has vertigo and he dosen't seem to have a problem with any of the rides. BUT i never realized there are diffrent types. Good luck I hope you are able to ride some good ones still. DO you take meds for it? WOuld that help on the rides? My hubby is supposed to take meds but only does if he feels it coming on cause it knowck him out.

 

[Ladysunflr]

OP here. Is the epley maneuver the one where they have you sort of fall backward and put your head in certain positions to get the crystals to go back to the correct part of the ear canal? I have had three treatments so far, and am going back for my fourth tomorrow. It works for a couple of days, but then the symptoms come back. I'm still hopeful that they'll work eventually - keep your fingers crossed for me!

Yep that's the one... worked for me like a charm... I was in a car accident since my BPPV episode, but now I have some balance problems ( tip over for no reason.. ) I can totally feel your pain. Maybe getting a guest assistance card might help? not sure.

 

[DznyDreamz]

OP here. Is the epley maneuver the one where they have you sort of fall backward and put your head in certain positions to get the crystals to go back to the correct part of the ear canal? I have had three treatments so far, and am going back for my fourth tomorrow. It works for a couple of days, but then the symptoms come back. I'm still hopeful that they'll work eventually - keep your fingers crossed for me!

Yes, that is the epley maneuver. I have the same reaction, I feel good for that day and one or 2 later and it comes back. Partially anyway. I'm not spinning like I was, but my balance and focus are all out of wack. I have a follow up with a neurologist in two weeks. I suppose you could get an assistance card, it depends on how affected you are. I had my doctor write a note that said I was being treated for a problem causing an appearance of instability. I didn't have any issues and just held my DH's arm if I was in a wobbly state.

I just got back from NYC and let me tell you,, its much harder to navigate through the crowds in Times Square when you can't walk a straight line then it is in WDW!! At least in WDW, most people you "bump" into (literally) are very friendly and nice and on vacation. Not quite the same story in NYC

 

[ZoZo]

Yes, that is the epley maneuver. I have the same reaction, I feel good for that day and one or 2 later and it comes back. Partially anyway. I'm not spinning like I was, but my balance and focus are all out of wack. I have a follow up with a neurologist in two weeks.

I hope your appointment with the neurologist goes well. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

I have done four Epley Maneuver treatments at the physical therapist, and she started me on home treatments. (It's another name I can't remember, but it's supposed to be successful in most cases that don't respond to the Epley maneuver.) I've been pretty lucky, though - no nausea at all related to the vertigo, and my PT says I'm about a 4 or 5 on a scale of 1 to 10. It could be so much worse.

 

[DznyDreamz]

You are SO lucky! Its funny, I had never really known of this illness/disease and then about 2 months before I was diagnosed, it seems it was everywhere I turned. Then it hit me just before Christmas and I can't shake it.

I hope that your treatments continue to be successful. My ENT said he would do a CT scan next if I still wasn't feeling better after I got back from vacation. I was hoping some of it would settle down and was just a reaction from the wild rides. Doesn't seem to be the case.

Ugh.

 

[rockydek]

I had vertigo 11 years ago and had the Epley Manuever performed at Mass General. It worked...I got it again 10 years later...I went to a physical therapist and they were teaching the same move .... different name.
11 years ago a DR would not give a referral for this procedure.
It works for BPPV only.

As far as the rides go....... everything except Mission Space for me.
The warning sign for this ride mentions, Vertigo.

Have fun...It sounds like it may work for you.