1. Community
  2. Ears, nose, throat and mouth
  3. Vertigo and Dizziness

Are you still able to travel? Fly on a plane? Go on a road trip?

Posted , 4 users are following.

Mmbb10
Mmbb10

Can anyone here please tell me their experiences with traveling after getting diagnosed with their vestibular issues?

 

I would like to know your diagnosis..BPPV, vestibular migraine, VN, etc. And tell me if you’re still able to travel (fly on a plane or be in a car for a few hours). And if you have any advice on how to be comfortable while traveling.

I’ll be going on trip for the first time since 2016. My boyfriend and I will be driving in his car for like 2 1/2-3hrs. Im worried about it but my boyfriend said he’ll make frequent stops if I need a break. It doesn’t seem like a long drive..just a couple hours but I’m still worried.

I haven’t had any vertigo since February 2017. And I don’t really have anymore weird symptoms anymore since 2017. I was never properly diagnosed but I self diagnosed myself with BPPV after doing research. (I’ve had vertigo twice in December 2016 and one time in Feb. 2017. I got vertigo from turning over to another side in bed). But I’m still anxious and nervous thinking something will go wrong while on the road trip.

I haven’t had vertigo in awhile but recently I noticed the past few months that sometimes if I’m going down in an elevator, it still feels like I’m still going down when I get off it. But the feeling only lasts for a few seconds and it goes away. So I don’t know if that’s going to affect how I travel in a car or plane now. 

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • anne05147
    anne05147 Mmbb10

    Posted

    I had repeat bout of BPPV and also MAV, silent migraines which caused balance and aura symptoms.  I fly a lot and found afterwards my balance would be affected for a couple of days due to cabin pressure on descent, but I would think that once the BPPV resolves you should normally be all right.  I did faint once on the plane during descent and the staff said this was due to cabin pressure, but otherwise I wouldn't let it stop me flying or driving unless it was dangerous to myself or others. The only way to really find out how it will affect you is to do it and see and then reassess the situation.

    • Mmbb10
      Mmbb10 anne05147

      Posted

      I talked to someone today who used to work at an ENT office and she said using a nasal spray or Sudafed before going on a plane should help with the pressure on the plane. Have you tired any of those before flying? Do you think it would help? Someone i know used to have vertigo and he says when he’s on a plane he uses nasal spray.
    • anne05147
      anne05147 Mmbb10

      Posted

      No I haven't but yes, it probably would help now you mention it, I have an Avamys spray which I use sparingly for nasal allergy in winter months as any nasal blockage/ear blockage worsens my vertigo.  I would never use Sudafed again as it gave me nose bleeds when the GP suggested I use it instead,  but I might now give Avamys a try before flying.  Thanks. 

    • Mmbb10
      Mmbb10 anne05147

      Posted

      Why does sudafed cause you to have nosebleeds? Is it because it was too drying for you?

      I’ve never really had an issue using sudafed so do you think it’s ok for me to use it for a flight? Even if I’m not sick or don’t have a cold, could I still try to use it when flying?

      I’ve been on a plane about 5 times from 2014-2016. I never had any issues while flying..never had any ear pain or anything. If I had to pop my ears, I would just chew gum and swallow and it worked fine for me.

      But now since having vertigo 3 times has traumatized me, I’m so cautious and nervous about flying again. And I don’t know how my ears will be on a plane now. Will they be fine or will something go wrong..that’s why I’m trying to prepare myself for anything happening. I really wanna try to go on plane next year..it will be a short flight..like an hour and a half..just so I can get used to flying again.

    • anne05147
      anne05147 Mmbb10

      Posted

      If you've never had an issue with Sudafed nasal spray it should be fine.  It started causing me nose bleeds after a couple of days use, don't know why but maybe dried out nasal lining too much.  I was using it for a blocked nose though and have never tried a nasal spray for flying. If you haven't got a blocked nose though a saline spray would be less harsh than Sudafed. 

    • Waffalobill
      Waffalobill Mmbb10

      Posted

      Did that toy dad. He had to have his burned to stop bleeding.
  • Waffalobill
    Waffalobill Mmbb10

    Posted

    Alot of vestibular problems start like it's just bppv. There's a couple that will give you bppv. It's important to find out first that there's nothing serious going on. I had my first vertigo episode in january 2007. It lasted a couple minutes. I was dizzy for 6 months. After they ruled out tumors,stroke etc I was told it's bppv. Next bad vertigo episode happened about a year and a half later. It was real bad. Hospital for 3 days. It wouldn't stop. Still told it was bppv. These episodes went on for years. Once a year, then twice a year. Til it got so I was dizzy almost 24/7. Vertigo a few times a year. Was still told it's bppv but they never did more vestibular testing. Did blood work. Cat scans. Send me home. Well in August 2016 it blew up. Vertigo every day. Dizzy 24/7. Couldn't do anything. Had a MRI. It showed nothing wrong. Redid VNG testing. It now showed almost no response to vestibular stimulation in left ear . Hearing loss. Was sent to a neurologist who said nothing wrong with brain. See a neurotologist. Went to one of those. He said without a doubt i have menieres disease. That's why them treating me for bppv all these years didn't help. He said even untreated bppv doesn't last that long. Bppv can be stopped by a ENT or therapist doing a epiley meneuver. Even if left untreated the crystals displaced by bppv will settle after a while on there own. If bppv spymtoms keep recurring , you may have something else. With me long car rides are tough. Try not to look around. Don't watch scenery go by. I take a low dose diazepam to control episodes. It's actually worse after the car stops.

  • rockymama
    rockymama Mmbb10

    Posted

    I have been diagnosed with meal de debarquement. I think it’s possibly related to hormones but they haven’t determined the connection. Anyways, I still travel (drive, fly etc). I will take a Valium 30 min before I fly which def helps). You cld do that (maybe take it an hour before) for the drive. It helps block the vestibular system from picking up the motion. I also sometimes take a clonazepam the night before travel as an added tool. Hope this helps! 
Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.