My lovely bride gets seasick, what are you doing?

[kmclemore]

Yes, I agree, Moe - start slow and gentle... the old term we've all heard is getting one's 'sea legs', and it is true.

Also, virtually no treatment will work after sickness occurs... most, if not all of these remedies are only effective if taken several hours *before* any sort of travel (including car) begins - sometimes the sickness begins in the car on the way to the water, and is only made worse by the boat's motion.

[mtc]

good ideas, gentlemen. she's been out about half a dozen times moreso on a j30 we were going to buy - same problem.

we'll try all the suggested remedies and let you know what we find.

you know, i had formal training in the af for high altitude flying and one of the most memorable parts was the vertigo training. you can trich your mind into anything.

i know, i believe i can afford this boat. . .

[Dan B]

The best thing I have found is a product called MotionEaze. I saw it advertised in the back of a sailing magazine so I ordered some off the internet. Works fast, and doesn't make you drowsy. It is a liquid. I rub a few drops into the soft spot behind my ear lobe and within a 10 minutes I feel better. It works for about 4 hours.

[mmc]

My husband, Michael posted a message searching for a remedy for seasickness and encouraged me to join the forum, so I did. Thank you all for the wonderful tips. Needless to say, I will continue my search for a perfect remedy. Several things became clear after reading this forum:

1. I noticed that my discomfort eased significantly when I was at the wheel and focused at a reference point.
2. The water was extremely rough, and going down below started it all.
3. My wristband did not do much, other than shock me every few seconds and add to my discomfort
4. To top everything, I am taking antibiotics for a sinus infection and one of the side effects is dizziness...

All I can say is that I love sailing. I grew up in Barcelona, Spain, and the sea has always been part of my life, but I did not experienced sailing until a couple of years ago (still in training) I have no words to express the peace and the sense of oneness that I experience out there. In addition, I will definitely stock on ginger products next time and try the liquid medicine behind the ear.

Thanks again,

Marta


[/u][/i]

[cuisto]

These cures have worked well with my wife and my sis in law....my brother and I seem completely imune..

15 to 20 min before departing take one gravol....with beer....
the beer somehow seems to counter the drowsy effect of the GRAVOL


also, at the risk of seeming dipsomaniac.....
take one shot of liquor before departing or one glass of red wine....no kidding the calming effect of the booze seems to override the sickness....


spend some time below in calm water, get used to the motion atanchor or marina....motion above deck later seems like nothing...

also soda crackers and ginger ale......seems to fill up the stomach and prevents that woozy sloshing feeling......


I do love that seasick dizzy feeling you get when back on land after a day of swells...anyone know what this effect is called??

Hope these may help..Scott

[Catigale]

Marta

welcome to the forum, and you will conquer this like any other obstacle.

I cant go near a kids ride without getting wiped out for the day (the Teacup ride really does me in)

I have come to accept that I might get queasy as part of the sailing experience, and , a la Bill, take the small bad with the huge amount of good of love of the water and spending kid time away from everything else....

[SPC Paul]

I rarely get seasick, but for the times that I do, I've found the ginger thing that Kevin mentioned really helps. I've never gotten seasick while I'm on deck, no matter how rough it is. But if I go below, even for just a few minutes, it'll hit me. If I remember correctly, it's caused by your inner ear and vision being in disagreement as to which way is up. When you're in the cabin, your mind assumes that the ceiling of the cabin is straight up, but your inner ear knows the truth, and that's the problem. I've also found that if I lay or sit with my eyes closed while I'm in the cabin, I have no problems at all. I've also had decent luck with the non-drowsy dramamine.

But if you really want to experience motion sickness, ride a C-130 into Baghdad. You have to sit in a cargo net sideways to the direction of travel of the aircraft. Add the fact that there are no windows for you to see the horizon, and some way-out crazy flying by the Air Force pilots. I've never seen so many rough and tough soldiers so sick at once. Me included.

[Moe]

I wonder if having someithing hanging from the ceiling, and free to swing would give your eyes something plumb to look at?

--
Moe

[Catigale]

Im getting sick just reading that last post Moe!!

Catigale

[Catigale]

Ill take the nastiest plane ride over people shootin' stuff at me,Jared

God Bless you and all the gals and guys serving anywhere.

[mtc]

Moe you may have something there. . .

The disorientation certainly is from the combination of dichotomous signals to the brain. Why the body reacts with such violence is interesting if not fascinating.

Easy for me to say, though.

I've seen so many boats with the gimbaled light. Perhaps our elders did it not only for the gravity aspect of keeping the candle upright, but also as a cure for vertigo.

We'll hang stuff.

Michael

[dclark]

An ex-girlfriend tried those wrist bands a few years ago. She was puking within an hour. I've found for adults the best thing is the Non-Drowsy Drmamine that you can get from the grocery or drug store. There is also a similar product that I've seen the scuba people take. The name escapes me, but I know they sold at at Sports Chalet as well as other dive shops.

[dclark]

...A quick search and I find it was Triptone that my old dive instructor swore by. But I think if you check the active ingrediants, you'll find they are pretty much the same.

[Carl Noble]

MTC

We tried all the remedies listed and then some for my wife and the one we found that worked for her was the Relief Band. http://www.reliefband.com/main.html

It works great for her and you can use it AFTER the person gets seasick.
There is a downside in that while wearing it you get a small pulsing shock in the hand. It doesn't hurt but you do know its there.

[aya16]

I have found that when Karen gets a little woozzy the best way to help her was to ask her to go up on deck to check something as she walks close to the mast I do a quick jib and she falls in the water. When I go back to get her and bring her aboard shes so mad she forgets about being sick. This will only work a couple times as they start to catch on real fast and wont go on deck anymore. But now she doesnt complain about being sick anymore either.
Quick note: make sure shes not wearing one of those self inflating vests as they are costly to re arm.