Accesibilty Rooms and Vertigo -- Breakaway

[PhillyCruiserinCT]

So here goes question 2 of 12,347. I have 10 months to go before we set sail, so I figure at 1200 questions per month, I'll be a Breakaway expert :D

 

My lovely wife and I are going on the Breakaway in April and we are going to have quite the group. So far its looking like six families (all one large family) and close to 30 people all at once. My sister is disabled from the waist down with no mobility and originally didn't want to go as she thought she would sit in the room the entire week and read books, which she could do at home. We ultimately convinced her that there is PLENTY to do in a wheelchair and that her mobility issues will be of little to no impairment. Sure she cant do everything, but hell, neither can I and I love every second on board the vessels.

 

The question is regarding not so much the wheelchair, as the accessibility team at NCL did a great job of a lot of that, but she gets vertigo at times when she travels by train etc; so much so that she takes medicine to help mitigate it. Understandable the bigger the boat the less you feel the sway, and that hold true for me, but does it hold true for someone who get vertigo now? Has anyone on here that gets vertigo gone on a successful voyage?

 

I feel helpless to talk to her because I have no frame of reference. I would love to give her the confidence from someone who is in her shoes that it wont be a waste for her to go, so I am hoping that someone has been there/ done that?

[Sauer-kraut]

Ah the joys of vertigo NOT

I suffer, I cruise, I always take my 'seasick vertigo' meds with me just in case. It is el cheapo meclizine picked up for a few dollars with the docs script.

 

I've sailed the EPIC and the Carnival Breeze (both large ships) after being diagnosed with vertigo and had no discomfort. There was no need for me to get into my first aid kit. Most ships today are indeed stabilized and sometimes you feel absolutely no movement.

 

I didn't use to suffer from seasickness at all, and if I felt a bit queasy I'd go to an outside deck, breathe the fresh air and look at the horizon and I was fine and dandy for the rest of the entire cruise. Before being diagnosed I did notice I had 2 days of malaise on the SUN when I was on deck 12 forward and when I was in the casino and my outdoor 'cures' didn't help me at all. I did get better on day 2.5 and was fine thereafter.

 

So I now do my prescribed "exercises" for the inner ear crystals and do them diligently before cruising just in case as well. But haven't had a serious bout of vertigo in over a year. Every person is different and I can no way say if my situation will be the same as your loved one will encounter. Having never really suffered in my youth to now sometimes have a hard time watching a movie because of camera movement my sympathies to your loved one having to experience this. I hope she will join you, have a wonderful time and get bitten by the cruising bug! :D

Edited May 31, 2015 by Sauer-kraut

[PhillyCruiserinCT]

Thanks Sauer. I know she currently takes medicine for it, so my assumption is she just need to tell her doctor and he'll know what to do?

 

Super glad that you are not affected by it as that's a win for you and possibly for her as well :)

 

On a similar note I get motion sickness in general when I am in the back seat of a car and I cant see out the windshield, on a plane always, and if I travel backwards on a train/subway car. I spend the first two days of every cruise feeling dizzy and lightheaded but by day three I am as good as gold. As I have never been diagnosed by anyone for anything, (chicken) is this the same/similar? Is motion sickness a type of vertigo? Do I have it? Is it hereditary?

[ImADaneFan]

I'm very lucky and do not get sea sick, but after our last cruise on BA I developed vertigo. I know it sounds hokey but apparently there are "crystals" in your inner ear. They tell your body where you are in relation to space. In my case a few crystals broke loose and migrated into the tubes in my ears. I believe this happened after a lot of trips down the various water slides :D

I originally thought it was just the feeling I was still on the water after arriving home, but I continued to get worse. I finally saw a specialist and after one treatment he was able to put my crystals back where they belong! I haven't had any symptoms since. Vertigo is a terrible feeling and I'm so glad I was able to get it resolved. The treatment was just a series of specific movements done in a certain order.

 

Linda

[cruiseat50]

Wow, I'm so glad I read this thread as I didn't know these things. I really don't get it often but its very scary or at the very least annoying. I got it first time a few years ago just a couple days before we were hopping a plane to Hawaii.:mad: I went to the doc and he gave me a shot and gave me a prescription (can't remember what) and we did go but I was a little shaky the first day or so and didn't want to get in the water because of it.

 

So I now do my prescribed "exercises" for the inner ear crystals and do them diligently before cruising just in case as well. But haven't had a serious bout of vertigo in over a year. Every person is different and I can no way say if my situation will be the same as your loved one will encounter. Having never really suffered in my youth to now sometimes have a hard time watching a movie because of camera movement my sympathies to your loved one having to experience this. I hope she will join you, have a wonderful time and get bitten by the cruising bug! :D

 

I may have to ask my new doc about these exercises or maybe just google it?

 

I'm very lucky and do not get sea sick, but after our last cruise on BA I developed vertigo. I know it sounds hokey but apparently there are "crystals" in your inner ear. They tell your body where you are in relation to space. In my case a few crystals broke loose and migrated into the tubes in my ears. I believe this happened after a lot of trips down the various water slides :D

I originally thought it was just the feeling I was still on the water after arriving home, but I continued to get worse. I finally saw a specialist and after one treatment he was able to put my crystals back where they belong! I haven't had any symptoms since. Vertigo is a terrible feeling and I'm so glad I was able to get it resolved. The treatment was just a series of specific movements done in a certain order.

 

Linda[/quote

 

What type of specialist did you see? Ear/Nose/Throat Doctor?

[A4Audigirl]

Wow, I'm so glad I read this thread as I didn't know these things. I really don't get it often but its very scary or at the very least annoying. I got it first time a few years ago just a couple days before we were hopping a plane to Hawaii.:mad: I went to the doc and he gave me a shot and gave me a prescription (can't remember what) and we did go but I was a little shaky the first day or so and didn't want to get in the water because of it.

 

 

 

I may have to ask my new doc about these exercises or maybe just google it?

 

I'm very lucky and do not get sea sick, but after our last cruise on BA I developed vertigo. I know it sounds hokey but apparently there are "crystals" in your inner ear. They tell your body where you are in relation to space. In my case a few crystals broke loose and migrated into the tubes in my ears. I believe this happened after a lot of trips down the various water slides :D

I originally thought it was just the feeling I was still on the water after arriving home, but I continued to get worse. I finally saw a specialist and after one treatment he was able to put my crystals back where they belong! I haven't had any symptoms since. Vertigo is a terrible feeling and I'm so glad I was able to get it resolved. The treatment was just a series of specific movements done in a certain order.

 

Linda[/quote

 

What type of specialist did you see? Ear/Nose/Throat Doctor?

 

 

Usually a neurologist then physical therapist. It's called BPPV. You can google that and get all the info and most likely the exercises (Dix Hallpike maneuver)

[PhillyCruiserinCT]

So does that mean I can get a shot that will help me not feel dizzy the first few days? I can take the patch, but historically its made me tired, and who wants to sleep on a cruise ship?

[ImADaneFan]

Wow, I'm so glad I read this thread as I didn't know these things. I really don't get it often but its very scary or at the very least annoying. I got it first time a few years ago just a couple days before we were hopping a plane to Hawaii.:mad: I went to the doc and he gave me a shot and gave me a prescription (can't remember what) and we did go but I was a little shaky the first day or so and didn't want to get in the water because of it.

 

 

 

I may have to ask my new doc about these exercises or maybe just google it?

 

I'm very lucky and do not get sea sick, but after our last cruise on BA I developed vertigo. I know it sounds hokey but apparently there are "crystals" in your inner ear. They tell your body where you are in relation to space. In my case a few crystals broke loose and migrated into the tubes in my ears. I believe this happened after a lot of trips down the various water slides :D

I originally thought it was just the feeling I was still on the water after arriving home, but I continued to get worse. I finally saw a specialist and after one treatment he was able to put my crystals back where they belong! I haven't had any symptoms since. Vertigo is a terrible feeling and I'm so glad I was able to get it resolved. The treatment was just a series of specific movements done in a certain order.

 

Linda[/quote

 

What type of specialist did you see? Ear/Nose/Throat Doctor?

 

 

The specialist was a dr of Neuro-ophthalmology & Vestibular Medicine. The problem was diagnosed as Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). It can be either vertical or horizontal. To determine which exercise to perform, he placed dark goggles over my eyes that took video. When the vertigo happens your eyes jerk in a certain way and that tells where the crystals are, and what exercise to do. Then with the goggles off he did the maneuvers to move the crystals, and I was fixed. I was amazed that in less than 10 minutes the vertigo was gone and has not come back. He did tell me that it was possible that it could return. But so far so good!, :D

 

Linda

[Frick_&_Frack]

I have very severe vertigo (various specialists, nothing they can do as it is combined with another medical condition) and it strikes out of nowhere sometimes. Fun - NOT! :p

 

I still cruise and, while sometimes it hits, I tend to "motor through it" and get past the worst and continue on. Sitting outside, calmly, helps for me (if I panic over the "attack", it is counter-productive for me, personally). Other times, never happens on a cruise. I just, now, figure it's part of the gamble and hope it doesn't hit (and, I can just sit on my sofa and an attack starts).

 

I have no intentions of giving up cruising and have been like this for quite a number of years.

 

On the other issue, my DH was very mobility challenged in the years leading up to his passing. Never stopped us from cruising and enjoying every moment. We had the additional issue of having oxygen concentrators (so, that sometimes, slowed him down). But, we did tons. Went on tours, explored the towns, enjoyed the restaurants, bars, casino :eek:.

 

You will find that the Special Needs group aboard is incredibly lovely and willing to do anything they can to help (they have shower seats, toilet risers, etc. as well for your use - arrange it with them prior to the cruise).

 

You will all have a wonderful time together!

[WoodsDrive]

I have vertigo and got off the Getaway yesterday. I had a boute of vertigo start the day we left for our trip. The ear patch my doctor prescribed worked wonders for me.

 

I use a maneuver from the U of Colorado (you can look it up on YouTube) and used it on our travel day to Miami. I wonder if the Spa on the ship may have a technique that works.

 

Anyway, my vertigo did not affect my trip negatively. My hubby was affected by the ship's movement more than I was.

[PhillyCruiserinCT]

Thanks to everyone. I have passed this on to my sister, so hopefully she finds comfort knowing that she is on no way alone; with either the disability nor the vertigo!!

[MagnoliaBlossom]

Depending on where you live, there maybe an audiologist (usually in a hearing aid office). They will be familiar with the maneuvers if your doctor isn't

There are also acupressure bracelets and if you use the patch apply it 24 hours before sailing and do not rub your eyes after handling it. Wash very well or you will dilate your eyes, as the medicine is scopolamine.

[Pia1913]

Thanks to everyone. I have passed this on to my sister, so hopefully she finds comfort knowing that she is on no way alone; with either the disability nor the vertigo!!

 

We are just off the Getaway and had an accessible balcony cabin. If you have specific questions, just ask. NCL does a fantastic job of making sure you know where every accessible area is on the ship.