It's not easy being green

[Steve F]

One thing I've always wondered

The research and anecdotal evidence indicates that people suffer from seasickness for about 3 days, then they becomee used to the conditions, and are OK for the rest of the voyage.But what if they've been using some meds or accupressure bands or whatever? I use the scopalomine patches, and never get sick while using them, but a patch is only good for about 3 days. If I'm out there 2 weeks, do I need to put on a new patch every 3 days, or is one 3-day patch all I should need for the voyage?BTW, the only side effect I've felt from the patch is dry-mouth (fairly common), and that it seems to alter the taste of food so that nothing tastes really good. Doesn't destroy my appetite, but definitely my taste is off.

 

[don954]

here is what got me sea sick for the 1st time

http://www.freedominet.com/images/hatteras.MOVfollowing seas, wind on the nose, going around cape Hatteras during february.

 

[Briarpatch]

Barf , she goes..

Have not had a great deal of problem with seasickness but the responses from those having tried ginger are on point. I keep a bottle of ground ginger root (pill form) in my seabag. Works well in my experience. I started using it some years ago after a NASA experiment with the various motion sickness remedies found that Ginger root beat them all.

 

[Ross]

The other thing I have heard about

ginger is that it improves the taste of whatever comes back up.

 

[Gary Goodman]

Good Topic!

I have gotten queasy occasionally, but only once, in my recollection, to the point of throwing up. Besides rolling motion, I have noticed that physical or mental stress, such as reefing, or untangling a fouled line, or donning a wet suit, tends to intensify the feeling.I am concerned for my guests; about 50% of them are not as fortunate as I am. We have tried Wrist Bands, Bonine, and Ear Patches. The medicines work for some of the people some of the time, but I'm still looking for a solution for a ten-year old, who has gotten sea sick every time out. I would like to hear more from people who tried the electric powered wrist band. I'm hesitant to spend that much money on something that may be more gimmick than a reliable solution.

 

[KayakDan]

"Bein' green is in the genes"

Never been seasick,and I actually like the rough water. None of the family members on my fathers' side ever get seasick (we're from a line of cod fishin' Newfies). I'm thinking a lot of it may be heredity. Of course I went out fishing after drinking and partying all night,and that didn't go really well,but that was the only time I was "under the weather". Many years ago,I took a ferry from NS to NFLD,right after a storm has passed. The ferry did a long slow roll all night,and the hallways were littered with "greenies" I went down to the galley for breakfast and the place was empty. I asked the cook "are you open yet-where is everybody?" His reply was"you're it-and you better be hungry!"

 

[Bill O'Donovan]

Rules of Thumb

1. Don't board with a hangover.2. Don't go below, or go quickly.3. Stay away from diesel fumes.4. Put on the wristbands early.5. Put a cold can behind your neck.6. Give the victim the wheel, works great.7. Keep looking at the horizon.8. Avoid beer at all costs, even one can.9. When all else fails, see Ben Franklin:10. "Best cure is to stand under a tree."

 

[Bobette Eckland]

Anywhere I've ever been

Fortunately I am one of those folks who doesn't get seasick or motion sick. One time in the Bahamas on a 41 Ft. Morgan I was the only one besides the captain who was not sick and the only one who could go down below while underway when it was a very rough sea. I consider it a lucky thing and really feal bad for those who do get ill.

 

[Bryce Custer]

Relief Band

Both my first mate and I swear by the Relief Band.I was skeptical, rarely get sick. One particularly rough day felt queasy, put on the band, set it to 3 and within 90 seconds felt fine! You get used to the shock after awhile.We keep two on board, well worth the money. Look at E-Bay or Drugstore.com (79.99)Pilots have been using for years, now studies show effective for morning sickness.

 

[David11038]

mixed response

I have only been out on large bodies of water a few times, so don't have much of a database to go from, but I have become highly nauseous on two very different occasions (both on Lake Michigan). The first time I felt ill on a 20' sailboat, in gently rolling seas, it really snuck up on me. I didn't actually "feed the fishes" but felt lousy. Then I went out 2 other times and did fine in pretty big waves. The one difference was that I was kept busy the two times I did well. Several years later I went out on a fishing excursion, in big waves (5'), and I again was quite nauseous in spite of several prep doses of dramamine(but then so were all but 2 of the other 50 passengers!).I recently went out on a 28' sailboat, took a dramamine ahead of time and brought some ginger, just in case. No problem at all! Was it the dramamine, the ginger or was I not going to have a problem even if I had not taken anything?

 

[Harley Nygren]

Educated Guess

Many moons ago we had a Ships Surgeon who was a psychiatrist subbing for a real Doctor, He maintained that seasickness was ALL in the mind. Passing south of the Aleutians I hung an apple on a five foot string in the officers' lounge. With the rolling of the ship and the gentle swinging of the apple I had him really sick in 15 minutes. He then knew that it is not in the mind, but in the head. And so he went there.

 

[Gary Goodman]

Response to Harley

Harley,Very Good! I like your sense of mischiveness and humor.

 

[Mike]

Relief Band and the FDA

Look carefully at the packaging for those elastic wrist bands with the little half-balls sewn on to put pressure on the inner wrist; the packaging does not say that it cures/alleviates or helps motion sickness in any way. Why? Because the FDA will not let them make claims that are not substantiated by testing. I don't know if the manufacturers haven't seen fit to try or if they failed, but the fact is that those wrist bands that so many swear by are considered in the same league as diet pills: harmless if used as directed, but not proven effective. In contrast, the Relief Band advertising and packaging all loudly shout that the product prevents and/or cures motion sickness. They can say this because the Relief Band passed the FDA tests for product effectiveness. I am sure there are lots of anti-FDA opinions out there, but take it for what its worth.

 

[Steve Dion]

I have also used the Relief Band with success.

The Relief Band (shock watch) has also served me well. While on a return delivery from Hawaii several years ago, I applied the Relief Band after experiencing mal de mer.I wore the band for about three days (until the battery died) and the symptoms never returned. during the remainder of the trip (about 11 more days).I do not know if the band allowed me to get acclimated or what but it worked for me.

 

[mojo16700]

50 years of sea sick experience

Everyone is different, but I've had enough experience to know what works for me and what does not. Maybe this will help others.Dramamine, Bonine and similar - Take the night before your trip. If you wait until you feel bad that is too late. Sometime works, but makes me fall asleep. Wristbands - Made my wrists hurt while I was throwing up.Scopolomine patch - Only thing that works for me. Experiment to find your doseage. I cut them into thirds. Put it on the night before the trip. Any later is too late. You know it is working when you feel the side effects: dry mouth, funny taste in your mouth, blurred vision and a little high. It takes about 8 hours to get out of your system so I take mine off around 10:00 am assuming I be back at the dock by 6:00 pm. That way you can eat that night without the funny taste in your mouth.Almost of of my rough water experience is when fishing offshore in powerboats. Rarely have a problem on sailboats. Two years ago I sold my powerboat and bought my first sailboat. I don't know why it took me 48 years to do that.Another thing - Don't drink alcohol the night before and be sure to eat breakfast, but eat something stomach friendly.

 

[Rich L]

Don't cut Scopolomine patches

It's ill-advised to cut Scopolomine patches. It gives you an instant overdose by opening the sealed pouch containing the liquid medicine and can make you sick. I remember a Sail magazine article (I think) where someone cut one in half and spent two days poisoned-sick from the patch (thinking it was seasickness but way worse than usual).Scopolomine gives my wife dry mouth and bad taste, but I barely get any side effects. It's good stuff. I use it on trips beating waves over 6 feet. After two patches (6 days), I don't need it anymore.

 

[Pat]

Been sick once in 10 years

...I didn't blow lunch but it was close. Reason was staying up the night before and partying too much and not getting enough sleep. My Navy buddy used to get sick on an aircraft carrier, which was hard to do. When he came aboard my boat on Lake Michigan he was sick within 5 minutes. He used the perscription patch sucessfully but got dry mouth. I told him about the relief band, which I first read about in my flying magizines, and he bought one. Worked great and he was able to sail 12 hours straight w/o incident. He now puts it (doesn't turn it on) on only in case he may need it. I believe the relief band allowed him to get his sea legs. I think sea sickness can be cured if you understand it and have the attitude that it can be beat.

 

[Eric]

Never been

I am one of the fortunate few who have never had seasickness, (except once when I was 10 years old. never chucked lunch, but a ten minute nap cured me). In 1990, I was on a delivery from Bermuda to Noank CT, and that was the only time that I pre-medicated with Dramamine. I never did get sick, but one other of the crew did. Damn near incapacitated him. I stopped the meds after 3 days, and a wicked low pressure system brought us to survival condidtions. I think that by then I was too way scared to be sick.In 1991, the year of Hurricain Bob, 2 buddies and I were headed for Newport, RI. about 3 hours into the trip fom Noank, one of my buds got very sick. We Tried Dramamine, active watching, and giving him the helm, but to no avail. Being a merciful person, we went in to Point Judith, and anchored behind the breakwater in the harbor of refuge. He felt better right away. The next morning, the forecast called for Bob to hit New England in 24 hours. Thankful that we were not in Newport, we headed back to Noank. Again the poor guy was sick, this time 10 minutes after we headed back. I have never seen since, someone so incapacitated as this guy. Everything works out for the best. My sick bud prevented us from being in the path of a nasty Hurricane.

 

[Jeff Woods]

Factors triggering seasickness are individual

I have been sea sick many times, but nearly all of them were either while being anchored or with fuel smells present. When moored or at anchor, the boat moves differently than it does underway -- more pitch than roll. Diesel or gasoline fumes are never pleasant, and only aggrivate my problem. Underway in heavy seas, I can only recall having a single problem (at general quarters, with no ventilation, in 18' swells on a Navy cruiser). Knowing, and avoiding, the conditions which trigger my sea sickness are a much more attractive option than medication, which tends to make me drowsy.

 

[Orville]

Scopolomine

As an RN let me also say DO NOT CUT Scopolomine patches. Also don't change patches and put the new one in the same location as the old one. Change sides or you can get into an overdose situation due to the absorbtion rate. Someone either asleep at the helm or having hullcinations can't be a good thing.