seasickness

Old Jul 9th, 2006, 10:09 AM
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seasickness

I am going to Alaska in a few weeks. I used to get seasick as a kid, but have not been bothered by it for a long time. Then I went sailing with a friend on a windy day recently, went below to get osemthing, and was pretty sick. the next time I went I tried one seasickness pill,which worked but made me pretty sleepy. Any other strategies out there?
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Old Jul 9th, 2006, 10:13 AM
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I have been seasick on the ocean, the gulf, the bay and on the Key West trolley so I am always interested in this topic!!
 
Old Jul 9th, 2006, 10:24 AM
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There are lots of strategies and lots of options.

It depends on 1)how subject you are to motion sickness and 2) how rough the water is.

I get seasick standng on the dock watching the boats go up and down. So I take dramimine and damn the drowsyness.

Other options are some OTC pills (Bonine?) that are supposedly non-drowsy.

The Rx Scopolomine patch - which works beautifully for about 85% of people and not at all for the others (including me).

Fresh ginger (useless)

Wristbands - called Seabands I think (useless)
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Old Jul 9th, 2006, 10:27 AM
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The Inside Passage is usually calm. There is a slim chance that you will be bothered if the weatherr is rough so be prepared but not overly concerned.
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Old Jul 9th, 2006, 10:34 AM
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I have the same problem! When I went on a cruise, everybody swore that I wouldn't get seasick but I didn't believe them. I got a perscription that sticks behind your ear and it worked great. It is supposed to last 3-4 days; by the middle of the third day, I was ready for a new patch. As soon as I put it on, I felt much better. I did not feel drowsy at all.
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Old Jul 9th, 2006, 10:38 AM
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Greetings,

Sleepy and drowsy are not the way I like to vacation but seasickness is rotten. No offense to NYtraveler but I have had lots of patients use ginger root with awesome results. One in particular use to get sick just driving here and there. She now sails in the carribean for 6-8 weeks each winter on a private sailboat taking NOTHING but ginger root with no sickness at all!! Consult a local reputable health food store...preferably not the big chains and try this first. If it works you will have no side effects, if it doesn't might have to try other options.
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Old Jul 9th, 2006, 10:42 AM
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Sick as a kid, too. Actually- now I have "good" days and "bad" days. On my good days I can ride "thriller" roller coasters and sail on choppy water. On a bad day- well, riding in the back seat of a car or sitting on a dock, watching the waves bob up and down...bad idea. Strategies- usually, I know when it's going to be a bad day and I just don't participate in whatever activity planned.

I've tried every "cure" pill, bands etc. Bands don't work, meds make it worse.

So...5 rules.
1) Never go below/climb ladders while on a boat or train.

2)Don't overeat beforehand- Do keep hydrated.

3) Avoid foods that either are more likely to upset your stomach (spicy, high sugar (pop, really sweet candy, processed food such as cheetos)) or food that you unfortunately know tastes incredibly nasty coming "back up"- oranges *shudders* or booze.

4) Stay towards the front of whatever you're riding. I can't ride in the back of a distance bus for some reason.

5) Last but not least- DO enjoy yourself- and DON'T obsess over the fact you might get sick!

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Old Jul 9th, 2006, 11:13 AM
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I get seasick if :
* the boat is sitting still, just rocking..therefore, never go on a glass bottom boat
* I go inside, like to the bathroom ( head) or bunks..therefore, never leave the deck
* boats that make me sick-
little ones, ferries, big ones, fishing ones, big big ones...
So far, the only things that work for me , knock me out- which is alright after you have reached a certain degree of sickness and prefer death to feeling that way another minute amp;
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Old Jul 9th, 2006, 12:59 PM
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Just because you got seasick sailing recently doesn't mean you are suddenly prone to seasickness. I think most people can get seasick if the amplitude of the waves is just wrong for their ear canals. It can be very unpredictable and doesn't mean your tolerance has become less.

The trip to Alaska should be mostly smooth sailing. Don't take anything to start with. If you start feeling queezy you can try any of the remedies suggested. I guess you might start with ginger, move to Meclazine and finally, have a Scopalamine patch handy if you can't hold anything down. By then, as Scarlett says, you'll prefer death to that feeling, so won't mind passing out once the patch kicks in four miserable hours later.
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Old Jul 9th, 2006, 01:35 PM
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The problem is, once you are feeling sick, little can be done to relieve the problem.

I tried the ginger thing recently on a smooth sea....that was a really miserable experience. I'll never try that again.

Dramamine makes a "less drowsey formula"... I think it's the same ingredient as Bonnine. Actually, I take the stuff for a day or two before hand, and I either get used to feeling drowsey or it doesn't affect me as much... not sure which. BUT a couple of glasses of wine will make your knees rubber, even if you took the Dramamine in the morning...watch out for the stairs!

Still... I took Dramamine every morning when I cruised the inside passage. Even so, you'll love the trip. Enjoy!
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Old Jul 9th, 2006, 02:32 PM
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I had to stop scuba diving because I would get deathly seasick on the dive boats. Especially when I came up from a dive onto a boat that had diesel gas. It was horrible. I used the Scopolomine patch and it worked great until they took it off the market because it made some people a little nuts. During that time, I tried everything - even drugs not approved by the FDA that friends brought back from Europe. Nothing worked. Then they put Scopolomine back on the market, but if you were diving, it had a tendency to fall off. Then you fed the fishes . Seasickness has to do with the inner/middle?? ear and someone told me that deaf people don't get it...I've also been told that if you're prone to it, it gets worse with age...Great . Wish I could help you. Good luck!
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Old Jul 9th, 2006, 03:22 PM
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Many (most?) people experience seasickness when the water is rough. For them - some of the less drastic measures may work.

For me seasickness is a function of the shape of the (inner?middle?) ear. I once went to see an ENT for vertigo (had to hold onto the wall to walk) and he took one look in my ear and said - it was the worst he had ever seen. Even gave me some exercises to help - but they made me so dizzy I was afraid I would fall and break something.

I get sick on any boat - even on a lake or river, on any plane, on trains if I have to sit backwards, on long bus trips, in the back seat of cars (limos are the worst - I can only ride up front with the driver) but it's fine if I drive myself and OK if I sit in the front seat with lots of air flowing around.

So try some of the simpler remedies - but have the major ones on hand if you need them. (But once you're sick they usually won't work until after you have actually vomited.)
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Old Jul 9th, 2006, 03:26 PM
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The captain of the catamarran at Buck Island handed my friend a cotton ball and told her to sniff. It worked. The cotton ball was saturated with alcohol...rubbing alcohol folks!

We were both amazed. When I knew she would survive, I jumped back in the water and snorkeled around the island.

Captain Heinz says it ALWAYS works for guests on his tours after the seasickness hits.
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Old Jul 9th, 2006, 03:37 PM
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I get very seasick and have had excellent results with a combination of ginger capsules and the wrist bands...I've found that I need both PLUS I keep slowly eating highly sugared ginger cookies washed down with ginger ale or coke.
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Old Jul 9th, 2006, 03:44 PM
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A friend munched ginger snaps the entire way "over the pond" and had no problems on the flight. Good traveling companion - 'cause I could steal a cookie or two from the stash!
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Old Jul 9th, 2006, 04:48 PM
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I get sick on a porchswing so was very concerned about my taking my first cruise a few years ago. My doctor suggested a meclizine (dramamine II nondrowsy formula or bonine have same ingredient) each evening before bedtime - it worked great. I also use it before curvy car trips, amusement park visits, etc. Good luck and have a great time!
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Old Jul 9th, 2006, 05:36 PM
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I get motion sick on anything-porch swing on up. This winter DH and I were fortunate enough to be asked to join our college friends on their yacht to St. Barts. Say no to the trip of a lifetime???? The adventurer in me said yes and I stumbled upon a magic cure for me. "Less Drowsy Dramamine". I started the day before we arrived and took in religiously. Not to promise too much, but I was even reading on the boat and the swells were sometimes bigger on our crossings. I did notice that I could go much lighter on the wine intake but that was about it. Maybe I got lucky, but wanted to pass this on to my fellow sickies! PS The trip was beyond sublime!
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Old Jul 9th, 2006, 05:41 PM
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I find the only way to prevent "losing it" from seasickness is to stand outside looking straight at the horizon with the wind blowing directly in my face!

Always had seasickness problems on boats, but then it started while I was snorkeling in Bermuda. The water was a calm as could be, but the constant bobbing up and down did me in.

I'm like NYtraveler, must always sit facing the direction of the train -- even if it means sitting apart from family or friends. I've had two serious episodes of vertigo as well - horrible experience.

For some reason I don't have a problem with airsickness. Hopefully that will continue.

So my strategy is to get as much fresh air as possible.

Good luck!!
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Old Jul 9th, 2006, 06:01 PM
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I have only been seasick twice in my life, once on a 27 foot sailboat while sailing on the Inland Passage and once taking the hydrofoil from Naples to Capri..but that was more from all the people around me that were vomiting..it was ghastly!

Remember that saying "when you are seasick you are afraid you are going to die and than your are afraid you are not going to". That is how I felt on the sailboat.

I hope you find something that will work for you youngtom.
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Old Jul 10th, 2006, 02:37 PM
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Regarding Sea Bands. I have to tell you that chemotherapy patients use them with great results. They are accupressure - so if you do not have them in the exact right spot - they do not work. I rarely see anyone wearing them properly. This is one place where following the directions is essential. Seabands are the only thing that does not have potential side effects.
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