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Original poster

Mal de débarquement syndrome

39 replies

CatSnackTagine · 08/06/2025 19:55

We NEVER called it that when I was young but thats what google comes up with! I used to get it a lot after a day on a boat. DH and I on holiday and couple of hours after end of the boat trip today, I have the same rocking sensation but I cannot for the life of me think of what we used to call it...

Sea legs? The sways? Land legs? Boat brain? There's some common name for it I'm sure, please mumsnet hivemind

Please help! Grew up in South East if that helps at all...

OP posts:
DitzyDerbyBabe86 · 08/06/2025 20:53

Currently suffering with this myself! 3 days after a boat trip. Fucking horrendous!

CarrotVan · 08/06/2025 20:48

with MDDS your brain switches to being on a boat but when you are back on land it doesn’t switch back. It can take months or years of rehab. 15 years after it triggered my husband still can’t go on boats in case he undoes the rehab

TheFatCatsWhiskers1 · 08/06/2025 20:47

I had it after driving for eight hours.

GingerLiberalFeminist · 08/06/2025 20:47

I've always called it "vertigo" when I get it. But I can get it weirdly for no.reason too and that really is vertigo I think.

BadSkiingMum · 08/06/2025 20:45

I assume that it’s to do with the inner ear?

I have heard that submariners get a more extreme version because their field of vision becomes affected by being in an enclosed space for so long.

Itchybritches · 08/06/2025 20:42

Motion sickness or sea legs/land legs.
I also get it for 2/3 days after being on a boat - not pleasant.

Panterusblackish · 08/06/2025 20:33

After a particularly rough transatlantic crossing my body would not believe it was off the boat for a full week.

Oddly I never get seasick or bothered by the motion of the boat.

Original poster
CatSnackTagine · 08/06/2025 20:31

LakieLady · 08/06/2025 20:23

I've had it many times, but I never even knew it had a name!

When I've had narrowboat holidays, I've had it the other way, ie a back and forward feeling, rather than side to side like on a sailing boat.

Wow that sounds trippy

OP posts:
LakieLady · 08/06/2025 20:23

I've had it many times, but I never even knew it had a name!

When I've had narrowboat holidays, I've had it the other way, ie a back and forward feeling, rather than side to side like on a sailing boat.

TerrifiedPresenter · 08/06/2025 20:18

I used to work with people who spent the day on a floating pontoon and they called it Pontoon Fever 😃

DuesToTheDirt · 08/06/2025 20:11

It can be called land sickness, i.e. the opposite of sea sickness.

AuditAngel · 08/06/2025 20:03

I also get it, but I don’t think i have ever heard a name for it.

Original poster
CatSnackTagine · 08/06/2025 19:58

TrixieFatell · 08/06/2025 19:57

I don't know what it's called but I once spent three days in a boat and I remember the room still swaying for a while once I was on dry land..as someone who suffers with motion sickness, it wasn't the most fun I've had.

Bless you - not nice!

OP posts:
TrixieFatell · 08/06/2025 19:57

I don't know what it's called but I once spent three days in a boat and I remember the room still swaying for a while once I was on dry land..as someone who suffers with motion sickness, it wasn't the most fun I've had.

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