Has anyone with vertigo ever cruised?

[Cruisefan7]

I'm getting married on Carnival Pride next month, and am wondering about my Mom. She has bad vertigo, where her equilibrium is thrown off at times, and she gets dizzy. I'm wondering if being out to sea will have any affect on that?

[Bigoldhag]

I have Minieres Disease and get vertigo quite a bit. I have found that taking dramamine before the cruise begins and about every 6 hours for a day or two I am ok. This gives me time to get used to the motion with a little help and usually after the first day I am ok. I always keep a pill in my pocket because it is VERY important that you take something as soon as you feel a problem starting, if you wait too long it will be too late to stop it. I have been on about 8 cruises and never have a problem so far as long as I stay on top of things. Have fun !

[kjunea]

My mom has bad vertigo and she loves to cruise. She also uses the dramamine pills (the kind that don't make you as sleepy) and starts the day before.

 

As an aside, she has had this problem for many years, and finally a doctor sent her to another specialist, who said she had a "crystal" in the wrong place in her inner ear. Then he put her is a special chair that tilted her all over the place until it moved back into the right spot.

 

This was almost 2 years ago and she hasn't had an incident since then, so I guess it was true!

[tinydancer2109]

I'm getting married on Carnival Pride next month, and am wondering about my Mom. She has bad vertigo, where her equilibrium is thrown off at times, and she gets dizzy. I'm wondering if being out to sea will have any affect on that?

 

I have a slight cause and so does my mother. Well hers is a bit worse than mine. Just make sure you keep Dramamine on hand. The pursers desk also has some kick butt stuff but make sure you are prepared to sleep! The first time I ever got sick on a boat was the last cruise on the Celebration... but it was a tiny ship.

[LorrieB]

I have vertigo and the only time I ever had a problem was on the elevator. I can't look out of the glass elevator at the atrium without getting dizzy so I face the doors. Don't get dizzy doing that. I didn't have a problem with the ship but did drink ginger ale and take ginger pills. Worked for me.

[Bunti]

I also have had vertigo, due to Labrynthitis, on and off for years, but haven't had an episode on a ship, thank goodness.

 

I do, however sometimes feel a wee bit queasy, and the bonine or dramamine fix that up quite fine.

 

I always carry extreme low dose valium with me, so if I start to get that uh-oh vertigo feeling I can take one, and so far they have never failed me- they stop my type of vertigo in its tracks. Just thinking though, it has been well over a year since I have had a spell, better check my prescription date.

[candigirl41]

I also have labrynthitis and I use seasick patches. Never had a problem

 

Candi

[krogerlady]

I had one attack of vertigo. Didn't know what it was, scared the bejeezus out of me. Ended up in the emergency room!! My doc put me on meclizine, which is Bonine, twice a day for a week and I haven't had it again. I read the scopolomine patch in some people causes vertigo when they take it off, and that was what I was going to use, but now I think I will just take the meclizine twice a day, because I had absolutely no side effects from it, and I should be fine. This was a great question!!

[DrTigger]

I also have Meniere's disease. I have no problem cruising if I stick to taking Dramamine about two times a day. Last cruise, I had a really bad case of Vertigo for about 5 days after I got off the ship. So, I would suggest that she continue the Dramamine a few days after your cruise.

[Cruisefan7]

Those were a lot of great responses! Thanks for all your help!

[JLC@SD]

My mom has bad vertigo and she loves to cruise. She also uses the dramamine pills (the kind that don't make you as sleepy) and starts the day before.

 

As an aside, she has had this problem for many years, and finally a doctor sent her to another specialist, who said she had a "crystal" in the wrong place in her inner ear. Then he put her is a special chair that tilted her all over the place until it moved back into the right spot.

 

This was almost 2 years ago and she hasn't had an incident since then, so I guess it was true!

 

 

for those thar have experienced this like me....here are some links to explain it...

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benign_paroxysmal_positional_vertigo

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epley_maneuver

[SweetCheeks Cruiser]

I also have Menieres Disease and just got back from another cruise. Make sure she takes Bonine or something similiar as all have suggested. In addition to that I also wear sea bands at night if the seas are rough. They really do work! I never thought I would be able to cruise since I get motion sick rather easily but I tried it and did just fine!

[cofgren]

Hello all,I also have Meniere's disease.My 1st cruise I took Dramamine before the cruise and carried them with me for the whole cruise.Ended up needing them a few days after the cruise.I have now been on 15 cruises and don't use Dramamine anymore.

[SoCalCruiserGal]

I just wanted to say thank you to the person that created this thread.

 

For five years I have battled vertigo but until January, I had always been told that I was nuts or that I wasn't feeling what I feel every day of my life. It took one specialist to believe me. :) Unfortunately mine is permanent due to inner ear nerve damage, so I smile for those of you that don't have it permanently.

 

Bunti, if you wouldn't mind, could we talk via email. The specialist has given me the very low dose of Valium and I'm so afraid to take it because I've never spoken to anyone that has, but I have heard horror stories. I would love to get feed back from you if you wouldn't mind. I've tried the herbal remedy which is supposed to be the same, but it hasn't give me any relief. I think it's time for the valium but would really like to talk to someone about it. socaltangal@hotmail.com

 

Thank you,

Stacey

[jamie09]

I'm so glad you asked this-we are considering our first cruise-but had a really bad bout of vertigo a year ago and was starting to get nervous about the cruise bringing it back.

[jamie09]

Question to tack on to this---is there a certain type of cabin that helps more than others (ie. interior vs. ocean veiw)?

[mia10010]

Question to tack on to this---is there a certain type of cabin that helps more than others (ie. interior vs. ocean veiw)?

 

 

I'm not sure if cabin type would matter, but I have bad vertigo and I always book midship. I also like the balcony because I think the fresh air helps.

 

In additon to dramamine/bonnine, doctors can prescribe a medication called antivert.

[SoCalCruiserGal]

Jamie,

 

If you like, send me an email and we can talk via email rather than through the boards. Socaltangal@hotmail.com

 

Thanks,

Stacey

[cks]

Question to tack on to this---is there a certain type of cabin that helps more than others (ie. interior vs. ocean veiw)?

 

I've always heard that low and midship is best. Just to make sure, I booked an interior on Riviera, right smack dab in the middle of the ship. I get vertigo about 2 or 3 times a year. It lasts for about 5 days at a time. So, I don't want to take any chances! I also plan to bring bonine, ginger, and I even splurged and bought one of those Relief Bands that shocks the nerves that make you feel nauseous. I don't know if it'll help the vertigo, but I'm covering all my bases. :D

[Minoushka]

I get it sometimes half a GRAVOL works even Natural does to

Lower decks are best

I still rock for a week after we leave ship sometimes need it on land

Labyrinthitis is HORRIBLE It feels like you are falling off the earth .I was transported to Hospital spent the night ..i really threw up non stop until Gravol kicked in

First episodes were the WORSE!!!

[nagster]

I am the queen of motion sickness, think I have a touch of vertigo too. I recommend to continue taking the meclizine for a few days after the cruise. One time I didn't and I felt like I was tipsy for about 10 days.

 

Can anyone tell me the difference between bonine and dramamine. I was going to run out of bonine and picked up the dramamine because of the package (size of a lip balm) both stated .25 meclizin. Is there a type of non drowsy dramamine. I remember my mum loading up us five kids with dramamine for an atlantic flight.

[jetskier]

Can anyone tell me the difference between bonine and dramamine. I was going to run out of bonine and picked up the dramamine because of the package (size of a lip balm) both stated .25 meclizin. Is there a type of non drowsy dramamine. I remember my mum loading up us five kids with dramamine for an atlantic flight.

 

First off you can buy Meclizine 25mg from the pharmacist for around $9.95 for a 100ct bottle at Walmart.

 

Bonine has the same ingredient plus a flavoring.

 

Non-Drowsy Dramamine also has the same ingredient.

 

Both cost a whole lot more than buying it from the pharmacist.

 

Dave

[Tobyshuman]

I went on my first cruise in 2007 and guess what decided to kick in right when we crossed over the Ashley River in Charleston, yep, my inner ear problems. I used the pills and my bands that I remembered that I had packed for just in case. I had a pretty good cruise considering that I felt it in my head the whole time. Next time my bands will be on ahead of time and ginger will be in my body. My vertigo had not acted up in 2 yrs before the cruise.