Sea Sickness

[ZenKim]

Hi All

I am looking for suggestions. I have tried quite a few things for sea sickness and so far nothing has worked very well.

I tired Dramamine, triptone, the electronic band, the other band, and the Patch. I usually start being sick as soon as the boat stops for the first dive until we are almost back to the dock. I am fine once I get in the water, but quite sick the rest of the time. The patch worked the first 2 times, but last weekend my eyes were so blurry I could hardly see my gauges and I couldn't even see to read menus etc... Plus I did throw up as soon as I got out of the water, but was fine after that.

Does anyone have any other suggestions.....????

No matter what I will keep diving, but it would be more fun without the extra ab workout.

ZenKim

 

[saying]

Stare at the horizon. I'm violently prone to seasickness but when I stay above decks with a little breeze in my face and keep my eyes pretty well planted on the horizon I'm OK. Also lots of water and a bite of fruit helps me.

In the end it's about keeping your system well aware of the fact that you really are moving and that you aren't getting incorrect signals motion from your ears.

Oh. Along with dramamine AND bonine like popcorn.

 

[Wristshot]

I had a lot of problems with nausea when I first started diving. I was usually just fine underwater, but I felt real ill as soon as I surfaced many times.

Initially I used the ginger root stuff that my brother uses for his motion sickness, but it was not getting the job done.

I started using Bonine, following the instructions on the box, and it was a little better, but I was still pretty ill. Then I started asking around at various dive shops. The resounding answer was to ignore the instructions about taking one pill an hour before (or something like that) Everyone said to start taking the Bonine the day before. Since then I usually take one or two doses of Bonine (or Dramamine) the day before, and then one more a couple hours before diving. That seems to have solved my problem.

Remember that every person is different. What works for one person may not work for another.

Remember also that as you get more experienced, you will get more comfortable and more relaxed, and the sensations of nausea will probably decrease. Probably. Many divers still experience some degree of anxiety before a dive, and that can churn up a stomach.

Remember that whether you eat and what you eat or drink before diving can affect your stomach.

Be careful about ever taking any medications differently than the manufacturers instructions, and always be careful about mixing any medications and diving.

Just my dos centavos, and only because you asked.


Wristshot.

 

[DandyDon]

Seems like there's always one or two on any long boat ride who cannot avoid it, but they do what they have to do. Here's something I found a few months ago:

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=36183&highlight=sea+sickness

Good luck, don

 

[bubbleslan]

I normally don't get seasick unless it is really choppy (2-4 seas), but I was told to take Bonine the night before, the morning of, and then right before getting on the boat to alleviate seasickness and that worked for me. One day I was sick as a dog and the next day with the same conditions I tried the Bonine advice and was fine. Also drink tons of water and find something in the horizon to focus on. Try it and I hope it works for you!

 

[ScottyK]

I also start taking the seasick meds 24 hours before I get on the boat. If I do the meds, stay outside and stay away from the diesel fumes I'm usually OK unless it gets "really" rough.

The only time this didn't work for me was one day this summer when the dive boat got caught between two fronts. The waves were crossing each other at right angles and some were launching the 40' boat almost completely out of the water. We came down so hard a couple of times that the boat rolled sideways and partly submerged!

It was a long afternoon, to say the least

 

[Scott M]

See an ENT to check for inner ear problems if all is well ask for a script for Anti-vert.

It works great for me. YMMV

I also watch what I eat the day prior and the day of.

No Alcohol =-)

Scott

 

[String]

Dont suppose you've tried ginger ?

A lot of people here swear by the stuff for sea sickness.

 

[JRO]

I agree, different thiings work for different people.

I know I used to have big problems with seasickness. What I would do would only compound the problem, laying down, moving inside the cabin, etc are probably the worst possible things you can do....you'll only feel worse.

This is my drug free nickles worth;

Stay in the middle of the boat (stand if at all possible), stay focused on a single stable point (on land if it's visible), keep away from the engine exhaust, DON'T GO IN THE CABIN OR BELOWDECKS, stay in the fresh air even if it's raining.

Last and most importantly, if you have to unload...wait until just before everyone jumps in....might as well entertain your dive buddies with the fish feeding frenzy.:spew: :babble:

Hopefully some of this is helpful.

Good Luck,

Jeff

 

[Washy]

ZenKim once bubbled...
Hi All

I am looking for suggestions. I have tried quite a few things for sea sickness and so far nothing has worked very well.

I tired Dramamine, triptone, the electronic band, the other band, and the Patch. I usually start being sick as soon as the boat stops for the first dive until we are almost back to the dock. I am fine once I get in the water, but quite sick the rest of the time. The patch worked the first 2 times, but last weekend my eyes were so blurry I could hardly see my gauges and I couldn't even see to read menus etc... Plus I did throw up as soon as I got out of the water, but was fine after that.

Does anyone have any other suggestions.....????

No matter what I will keep diving, but it would be more fun without the extra ab workout.

ZenKim

I swear by triptone after puking my guts up in Cayman one morning.

The secret though is when you take them. If you're diving first thing - make sure you take one before you go to bed and then one 30 mins before you hit the boat.

If it's an afternoon trip, again take one before bed the night before but then also at the recommended intervals from the time you get up....