Sailtales do not recommend giving out email addresses on this site. Some of those contributing below can be reached by writing to skipper@sailtales.co.uk However, please bear in mind that not all contributors leave any contact details. Mal de Debarquement Syndrome induced by flying In response to A life on the ocean wave I live in Australia and flew to London to visit my daughter. When I got off the plane I noticed I had the swaying, like walking on an air bed in a swimming pool. When I went to bed that night I felt like I could feel the force of the aeroplane landing in the centre of my back in the thoracic region. A really weird feeling. I have previously experienced the swaying/rocking sensation after being on a cruise boat for 3 days. The swaying sensation went after about 6 weeks. This time it has not left. I have had Mal de debarquement for 3 years. It is very debilitating. I, too had trouble with my vision and tinnitus. I would find it very difficult to comprehend at times what people were saying to me at work. I work in a medical specialist practice. To describe how I felt after about the first three months would be to say that I aged over night. I was extremely exhausted. I had to keep working even though I was so very very sick. I had the MRIs etc like everybody else and eventually after about 8 months got diagnosed by a neurologist at the RPA hospital in Sydney with this condition. For the first 12mths it was a huge struggle to go out anywhere and to get through the day at work. I would cry and pray that it would go away. I tried physiotherapy, acupuncture, diet, etc. Time is probably the only cure. I find also if I get tired, it worsens. Before I took the flight to London, I must say that I was extremely exhausted and stressed out from work. I really do think that this makes you a strong candidate for this condition. After struggling to cope with this condition for the first 6 months, I went to see my GP and asked for anti-depressants. He prescribed Efexor, a small dose. I do feel that it helped. The symptoms did not go away. It just helped me to cope a little better. In my opinion, I think the best management for this condition is DE-STRESS, get plenty of sleep, exercise, move, move and more move. I bought a treadmill which has helped also. Trying to explain to people who have not suffered with this is very difficult. Unless you have had it, you have no idea how AWFUL it is. Three years later, my symptoms are only about 15% of what they were initially. Thank GOD.

More Flight Induced Misery I have been dealing with what I think is MDDS for the past 8 years. In Sept. 02, I took tow sort flights on a friday and 2 short flights back that Sunday. I woke up the next day feeling like I was on a boat and that someone had spiked my drink. I went through months of ENT testing, MRI's, you name it. In the process we discovered I have Arnold Chiari Malformation and a vascular loop on the 8th nerve behind my left ear. I had brain surgery to correct the loop and it did nothing the change the dizziness. Fir the past 7 years, the dizziness has abated to a level 2. It's constant but not rocking and more visual like walls breathe. Last week, we flew to TX and back within 24 hours and my symptoms came back like crazy. I'm now at 10 out of 10 and it's making me miserable. I had forgotten how bad it could be. Our first go round 8 years ago when we tied to research what it could be was fruitless. My husband found MDDS yesterday and it sounds like my story. I'm calling my GP first thing tomorrow and praying he listens to me and can help me find someone in our area who can help. Best of luck to everyone and it makes me feel better to have others who understand what I'm feeling, Katie Comment on this article Tell us your story