Mal de Debarquement or MdDS is a type of vertigo and imbalance that mainly occurs after getting off of a boat. The usual situation is that of a middle aged woman who has gone on a cruise.
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Within a day or so, your land legs likely will return and the symptoms will disappear. However, for a rare few returning vacationers, this persistent sensation of motion or dizziness can continue for weeks or even longer. The disorder is called mal de debarquement syndrome.
The disorder is called mal de debarquement syndrome. “It is a phenomenon that isn't fully understood,” says audiologist Julie Honaker, PhD CCC-A, Director of Cleveland Clinic's Vestibular and Balance Disorders Laboratories. “We think it may have to do with the brain rather than the inner ears.”
After a cruise, most people regain their land legs in a day or two. But for a rare few, the sensation of persistent motion lingers for weeks. Here's what you should know about mal de debarquement syndrome.
If you've ever spent some time at sea, you may have noticed that you felt a little wobbly once you were back on land. This wobbliness is “mal de debarquement.” This condition makes people feel like they're still standing on the deck of a ship despite the fact that they're safely ashore.
When you get back on shore, you need time to get your land legs back. That usually happens within a few minutes or hours, but it can take up to 2 days. With mal de debarquement syndrome, though, you can't shake the feeling that you're still on the boat.
Start in an upright, seated position on your bed. Tilt your head around a 45-degree angle away from the side causing your vertigo. Move into the lying position on one side with your nose pointed up. Stay in this position for about 30 seconds or until the vertigo eases off, whichever is longer.
DIMENHYDRINATE (dye men HYE dri nate) prevents and treats nausea, vomiting, and dizziness caused by motion sickness. It works by helping your body maintain its sense of balance.
Mal de débarquement syndrome (MdDS) is a rare vestibular disorder that makes you feel like you're moving even when you're not. MdDS is common after traveling, especially by boat. In most cases, MdDS symptoms go away within 24 hours. But they can linger for months, or even years, in some instances.
Translated as “sickness of disembarkment,” mal de debarquement syndrome (MdDS) is the illusion of movement after movement has stopped. It is caused by exposure and then removal of movement. Many people deal with MdDS after air or sea travel. Typically, MdDS resolves itself within 24 hours.