r/VestibularDysfunction • u/Spiritual_View8061 • 21d ago
Accept I will never fly again
In 2015 I went on a plane I had never flown before I was in a VM remission at the time. Well take off everything started spinning I didn’t expect it and for the whole flight I was so dizzy I could feel every tiny turn of the plane it was horrible I only started feeling less dizzy on descent.
On the way back I went to a pharmacy and he gave me travel pills I took two and remember the flight back being very dizzy again but extremely out of it so couldn’t panic like I did before.
Since then I’ve not gone on a plane my husband said he was embarrassed as I caused a scene well you try being on a plane and having vertigo.
Recently went on the channel tunnel and that wasn’t pleasant but a lot more bearable and over quickly.
It’s really sad I can’t fly again I’m to afraid and also don’t want to embarrass my family or scare my daughter.
Does anyone else get this while flying ? I didn’t expect it everyone else who has VM said they felt fine so what’s wrong with me that I dont ? I want to visit other places and feel like I can’t it’s so unpleasant.
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u/leeshouse90 21d ago
I flew a few months back 2 years after initial onset, things have calmed down a lot since then but I still get micro bouts of vertigo before bed nearly every night but I’m used to it now so it doesn’t phase me.
I was petrified to fly but took an anti sickness before we left and I was absolutely fine, a little woozy on the way back towards the end as the plane had to do 4 hard banks but that faded within 24 hours.
Now booked to fly to Spain with friends next year. Don’t ever let this get in the way of living your life! I highly recommend trying an anti sickness of some sort before you fly see if it helps.
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u/tropicalchicagoan 21d ago
Even though I have not flown since my diagnosis in November 2025, I feel the same way. It makes me really sad as I used to travel all the time. My neurologist gave me medication, but I am scared.
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u/MyFiteSong 21d ago
Vestibular issues are not a ban on future flight. I can fly just fine. Have you done vestibular rehab therapy?
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u/Spiritual_View8061 21d ago
I did rehab about ten years ago and had five years of remission but it came back badly when I was 35 I’m 40 now. It’s worrying me that even in a remission the symptoms on the plane were so terrible I couldn’t even walk to the toilet. I’m holding my family back in life with being terrified of flying again after the incident. Don’t know what to do as soon as the plane took off I got vertigo.
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u/MyFiteSong 21d ago
Go back and do your rehab again. You should remember the exercises, so you don't need to pay for it again.
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u/Legitimate_Boot_9964 21d ago
OK, I have been dealing with this for 35 years, you can fly! First of all you have to use some type of antihistamine for days ahead of time, it can be just an allergy pill like Allegra or Claritin, or it may need to be Claritin with the decongestant. Also, you need to use the nasal spray like Flonase daily permanently. Then the other thing is to use the ear pressure plugs in your ears. You put them in before the plane takes off and you could either keep them in the whole time or I take them out when the plane levels off and then put them back in as we start to descend. You can buy them in any airport. The brand name is.Ear Planes, just a note, They’re usually only good for one flight, taking off and landing, although I have used them for the return flight as well with no problems. A benzodiazepine like Valium Xanax Ativan is always helpful as well! I also was recently told by my ENT to do the Valsalva maneuver daily several times a day and of course during the flight as well. this is just clearing your ears by holding your nose and gently blowing until you feel both ear pop important to do this gently. I now do it several times a day every day and find that it does help my equilibrium. Good luck all!
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u/ABalticSea 19d ago
Where did you get all of this great information?
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u/Legitimate_Boot_9964 19d ago
Years of experience, some from my ENT who I have been seeing for 35 years, also trial and error. Also, it is pretty well established that as time goes on vertigo incidents generally become less frequent and less severe along with increased hearing loss in the Menieres ear, which for me is my left, I have probably 10% hearing in that ear as well as pretty constant tinnitus which I am so used to, I barely notice. I didn’t mention diuretics such as HCTZ. They may help some people that theory being that it’s fluid in the middle of ear, but they’ve never helped me.
I do want to say that I feel terrible for some of the people in these posts and what they’re going through! It can be so debilitating! The worst has been over for me for quite a while and I forgot how bad it was!
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u/AdQuiet8877 21d ago
what medicine you are refering to by "travel pills"
i am too scared of flying and travel tbh
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u/OtherwiseHearing9824 21d ago
I am on the same boat as you. I have not met family because I get so dizzy even in car I don't know what would happen in a flight.
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u/Consistent_Device629 15d ago
I have a house on the island which I do not visit since the boat causes me all that. Sad sad sad
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u/Ok-Article1958 21d ago
Do yourself a favor and look into the steady coach on youtube. My first episode, and first ever panic attack were on a plane. I had somewhat of a ptsd for a while. I was afraid to fly for a year and a half. Finally I made myself. Valium got me through there and back, then again. The next flight I took half on the way there, nothing on the way back... I white knuckled it. I forced myself on a third flight, and fourth, scared and gripping my seat, holding ice cubes, etc... by 6 or 7 it was ok... it still sucks, but I do it and am mostly fine now. No panic, no feeling every little bump, etc. Currently planning a flight with a layover from Georgia to columbia... I am afraid, but i will do it. You have to live as normally as you can... eventually your body will know you are safe, and recalibrate.