MdDS stands for mal de débarquement syndrome, French for "illness of disembarkation". It is a rocking, swaying or bobbing feeling that carries on after you have stopped moving.
Most people have felt a short version of this after a boat trip. In MdDS the feeling does not fade after a few hours or a day. It can last weeks, months or longer.
What it feels like
- A constant sense of rocking, bobbing or swaying, as if you are still on a boat.
- It often feels better when you are moving, for example in a car.
- It often feels worse when you are still, such as sitting or lying down.
- Tiredness, a foggy head, and sensitivity to busy visual places are common.
How it often starts
It usually begins after travel: a cruise, a ferry, a long flight or a long train ride. Sometimes it starts without any travel.
How it is diagnosed
There is no single test. A doctor, often an ENT specialist or neurologist, makes the diagnosis from your history and checks for other causes.
How it is managed
Options are discussed with your clinician. They may include specific rehabilitation approaches, medicines in some cases, and looking after sleep and stress, which can make symptoms worse. Some people improve over time without treatment.
In VertigoMe
- Choose MdDS (rocking sensation) as your subtype.
- When you log a spin, Rocking sensation is one of the kinds of spin you can pick.
- Logging travel, sleep and stress alongside your symptoms can help you and your clinician spot what makes it better or worse.
This is general information only. It cannot tell you what is causing your symptoms. Please speak to your GP, ENT, neurologist or audiologist about your own situation.
