Travel Health Advice

[alwaysatsea]

As summer approaches and our thoughts turn to our holidays I just wanted to make parents aware of an unusual and little known condition, Mal de Debarquement Syndrome (MdDS).This condition is often triggered by travelling. However, can I say at this point that it isn't my intention to "harm" the travel industry in any way, it's merely about being informed. After all we are all well aware of the risks of DVT and flying.... as I say it's about having the "knowledge" to make choices in our lives.

I myself as a mum of one have this condition, and have for nine years ongoing now. My son has had to grow up with his mum having this ?weird? health problem. Anyway I constantly try to raise awareness, always looking for new and novel ways in which to do so. With this in mind we have produced a video which hopefully is entertaining but also educates people to what it is like to live with the condition.

Can I just say that it is in no way meant to offend or trivialize those who live with it. So if you could spare just four minutes of your time to watch the video and then forward it onto everyone that you know. We need it to go global and
educate the world to MdDS. It's in a good cause.

Those of us old enough will recognize that it is a cover version of a 1970's hit, but as I say, some of the words have been altered slightly to make it more relevant to MdDS. The vocalist is my son's girlfriend.

For more information, help and support on MdDS please log onto www.mdds.org.uk

Thank you for your time.

here

Hi awayatsea. To be honest, I was expecting a video explaining all about MdDs, however, would I be mistaken for thinking it does kind of seem like a promotional video for the vocalist to get 'spotted'?
I don't mean to sound mean but apart from one sentence telling me it's like being in motion whilst standing still, I learnt nothing.
I certainly didn't think it 'gave me the knowledge to make choices. It didn't inform me about the illness at all.

Sorry perhaps I've missed the point?

In all honesty would you have sat through a video where someone tells you chapter and verse about MdDS? Chances are you would have switched it off, but if you are happy to do that then there are plenty of informational videos on MdDS out there, not least if you look along the right hand side of the YouTube video. As for the vocalist wanting to be ?spotted? I?m sure she would have used a better song to do it with than singing about an unusual and little known about disorder. It doesn?t exactly do anything for her street cred! She just wanted to help raise awareness and give people some idea of what it is like to live with MdDS, not overwhelm them with information. I?d like to think that most people using the internet are computer savvy and can therefore find out more about the condition if they choose to.

okay - I see. It was more of a awareness video than informational. I didn't mean to upset you; I was just expecting more information, that's all. For that purpose then, it's fine. There was just quite a lot of the camera pointing at the vocalist, whuch seemed a little to me but yes, it does make you understand what it's like to suffer from MdDS. I myself have vertigo and so have some understanding of that sort of condition.

I will have a look at the web link for more information..

Many thanks, much appreciated. It really is about making people aware that this condition exists no matter how rare it might be (although there is an argument, is it that rare or more likely just misdiagnosed or given the ?one size fits all? label of vertigo?) As a sufferer of vertigo yourself my heart goes out to you but there are many given that diagnosis when infact there are no spinning or rotational sensations with MdDS just a feeling of being on a boat in rough seas constantly.

I tried to make mums aware on here about the human form of mad cows disease (vCJD) but I got shot down for trying to inform even people calling me names, I was to frightened to post a youtube clip like what you are doing for fear of being shouted at, I was told that I am not communicating properly with the audience on here. So good luck with your aims, I will look at your video and listen to what you have to say without being rude to you.

I wasn't trying to be rude beaaware - I was giving my honest opinion. However my second post was to say sorry if my first had seemed harsh.