I have had MDD for over 15 years!! Although it was only diagnosed as MDD 2 years ago. I only get it when I fly and it usually went away in 6 weeks, but it was always a pretty rough 6 weeks!!! My family physician and I would experiment with different combinations of medication each time I would fly and nothing worked until I started taking Antivert and Valium, then I would experiment with different dosages, until I found the lowest dose that would still allow me to be spin-free.
Two years ago, I flew roundtrip Detroit, MI to Jamaica and then 2 weeks later Detroit, MI to LosAngeles, CA -- while in CA I started to spin. My doctor tried a variety of things and after 4 weeks sent me to the "specialists" at the University of Michigan who have a "Vertigo Management Program." It was the worst 2 hours of testing I have ever gone through!! Along with the usual MRI, ENG and a variety of tilting and eye tests that I no longer remember the names, I went through the rotating chair test --- which I would never recommend to anyone!!! The world renown University said that the tests didn't really show anything although 1 of the therapists suggested MDD and her superior said no, he didn't think so. The doctor in charge of my testing at the U said "if it only happens when I fly, he suggests that I don't fly and even when I do at least I know it will eventually go away." I have very few kind words to say about the University of Michigan medical system!!!
This put me at about week 10 of spinning and I get on the internet and start looking, someone had suggested physicians who treat airline pilots and that is where I started. I found Dr. Jon Clark, Head, Spatial Orientation Systems at the Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory in Pensacola, FL. Over the next several weeks, I e-mailed and FAXed him my medical history. He, in turn, e-mailed me a diagnosis!!! I have flown multiple times since then (including a trip to Switzerland) and with the exception of 1 time have been symptom free. I increased my dose of Valium to 2.5 mg three times a day and also the lowest dose of Antivert (although I don't think it does anything), I start meds 2 full days prior to flying and take them the entire trip (which means no alcohol on vacation!) and still take meds 1 full day after getting home. So far, this seems to be working, the down side is no alcohol and I have to fight the valium to stay awake, it makes me pretty tired. But I have no problems sleeping at night!! In April I flew to Florida and after getting home, I had vertigo every morning (while leaning over the sink brushing my teeth) for about 4-5 weeks.
I felt for all the people whose stories I read and have decided I have been very lucky with my MDD. I have not missed but a few days of work -- but I am extremely stubborn and would fight the vertigo! My biggest problem was not being able to concentrate and think clearly!! My bosses (I've always worked for doctors) never understood the vertigo and always made a joke of it, so I never got much sympathy from them and they always said I did better work while dizzy than a replacement could do, so they preferred that I continue working. I always described my spinning as "when you get really really really REALLY drunk and have a hard time walking and when someone asks you a question you really have to concentrate on what they said and how to answer them" most people could relate to that feeling!