Our family took a cruise 4 years ago. I was 43 years old at the time. It was a great cruise and not rocky until the last day. We had flown to Miami and met the cruise ship there. I had a terrible cold and was very congested. After returning home I still felt like I was on a ship. It felt like a gentle swaying, but it was really rough to live with.
As time went on it really never changed and was always there. I really felt depressed a lot of the time. Before the cruise and afterwards I had been going through a very stressful period in my life. A friend had turned against me and I was devasted. Then my father passed away. I am not sure if this had anything to do with the problem but it definitely didn't help. I went to two ENT specialist. The first one ran a lot of tests for hearing and a Cat scan. Nothing showed up. The second one ran more tests and a MRI. Still nothing. At least he had read about this problem but wasn't sure of any cure. We joked around about it and called it the "Love Boat Syndrome".
Then about 6 months later I had the first cold since the trip and was very congested. After a few days I noticed that the dizziness was gone. I was so greatful. I really thought that it must have something to do with colds, flight and the cruise. I tried dramamine but nothing.
Last July (1996) I took a flight to Chicago. I was out there on a business trip at a training class. It also was a more stressful time for me. I was working on a new project at work that was very demanding. I was also working with some difficult people. I developed a cold while I was there. While I was there the TWA flight 800 crashed. I had known a teenager on the plane and on my return flight I was flying into the same small town in Montrose PA. that he and 17 other students who lost their lives were from. It was very upsetting and difficult to take that flight. This was a very stressful and emotional day.
When I arrived home I went out onto a floating dock for about a half an hour and when I got off the constant swaying was back. I felt like I was floating all the time. I think that the second time that it came back it was worse.
I noticed the problems with concentration. I sometimes stumble over words, but seem to be able to laugh it off and no one seems to notice. My memory has definitely gone down hill. I email a lot of memos and try to have others who have requests email me also. This helps me by allowing me to refer back to what was said or agreed upon. I am able to get by at work ok. I do have to work very hard. I take home work at night and review it. I also use ear plugs sometimes at work to help me concentrate. Noise makes me crazy. My husband sometimes will have the TV and radio on at the same time and wants to carry on a conversation. I just can't do it. It is almost like when someone runs their finger nails along the blackboard. I have tried to cut out certain foods etc. but I really don't see any difference. When I shop it does help to hold onto the shopping cart.
At first I thought the memory and concentration problem might be a pre-menopause symptom. I would really be interested in knowing if a lot of MDD people are women and what their age is. I do feel some pressure from time to time on one side of my head. I have been seeing a new ENT and have had lots of hearing tests, blood tests, MRI and recently a ENG. The technician taking the test said that he didn't really see any thing but I will have the results soon. I really don't think anything will show. On my next visit to the doctors I will ask about the MRI and see if there was anything at all showing.
When I am riding in a car I don't notice the swaying. It is worse when I get out of the car for a while. I have been trying to get a cold to see if the dizziness will go away like the last time but don't seem to be able to. This is the first year in my whole life that I haven't had some illness. I appreciate the ability to talk to others and support each other. A few times at meetings at work the "difficult people" were swaying and joking around saying I bet you don't notice your dizziness now. It is really no laughing matter.