Sea Sick

[Bad Obsession]

I have never really experienced sea sickness to its fullest extent. A long time ago I think that I got a little queezy but I never got past that. I also have years and years of being on a boat and being out in rougher conditions sometimes.

My Fiancee is doing well with sailing but in some conditions she gets a little sea sick. She hasn't gotten fully sick but she felt uneasy. I try to keep the boat on its best course to prevent this and I take her needs into account.

Does this eventually get better or do some people always fight sea sickness? I guess what I am asking is will she get use to the motion of the boat or will it be a constant fight of having her on deck watching the horizon, using sea sickness bracelets, and eating ginger?

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

 

[Stu Jackson]

Have her man the helm. It usually goes away. Sometimes when the trick at the helm is over she'll feel it again. There have been countless discussions about seaskick remedies. End result? Have to try 'em all to find out what works for her.

 

[Bad Obsession]

I don't know about manning the helm in that circumstance. Usually the wind is kicking up and the boat is rocking and she isn't ready to steer in those conditions. She is just learning to steer the boat under power and has done very little under sail.

Then again, I steer very little these days thinks to the autohelm. In dogged conditions I stand watch under the dodger, nice and dry, and let the S1 get wet and tired! LOL

 

[Roger Long]

The electronic relief bands really do work. They work especially well if you tell the user that they really, really, do work well.

 

[Bad Obsession]

Roger...are you saying that a sugar pill will work well?

So far ginger snaps seem to help too!

 

[hman]

There are a lot of famous sailors through out history that suffered from sea sickness. On a long voyage, after the first few days, it goes away. However day sailing is a different matter, especially on blue water.

I once took a group of friends out of San Diego on a 20 ft day sailer in 15ft seas after a storm, we were fine until I brought out the sandwiches then several of my guests headed for the side to chum....

The remedy I've found to work best for friends that suffer from sea sickness or motion sickness, is to take dramamine the night before and again when they get to the boat. It seems to work for most of the people I've gone out with.

I hope you find something that works for her..

 

[Deadline]

Seascik solutions

DIET
Avoid greasy foods, sweet drinks before and during sail.
Crackers or chips to keep the stomach stable, with a little Coke.
Ginger snap cookies and real ginger ale, not soda pop.
Ginger root pills or crystals prior to and as needed on board. Herb store.
Candied ginger in Asian section of supermarket. Acts quickly.
Toasty crackers by Lance, with peanut butter. Chew few minutes first.

DRUGS
Take Dramamine the night before, still works daytime.
Transderm-scop prescription drug. Half-patch 4 hours early. Side effects.
Meclizine HCI as a “call item” from pharmacist. Night before & morning.
Motion-Eaze drops behind each ear. Pharmacist or Internet.

GADGETS
Sea Band elastic bracelets with plastic sphere, accupuncture.
Electronic bracelets, $100 at West Marine. Works if already queasy.
Put cold can behind the neck to chill nerves.

BEHAVIOR
Keep your eye on the horizon, which remains steady.
Read a book closely without looking up, eyes remain steady.
Keep busy, preferably behind the wheel.
If going below to rest, use the V-berth for less roll despite pitch.
Induce vomiting to get it over with.
Stand under a tree. –– Benjamin Franklin
Source: Hunter Owners Website 2007

 

[sailaway78]

Manning the helm

One thing that I find always works, at least to some extent is to find something to do that keeps the mind occupied, and not allow them to concentrate on the motion. Manning the helm should work, maybe even better, would be to get someone involved with navigation, where your at, plotting a course, looking for a marker. Also, being on deck as opposed to down in the boat always seems to be better, long as their not smelling diesel exhaust.That being said, after many years and many miles offshore, I can still get a little queasy at times. What gets to me most, is a real long gentle swell. Rough doesn't bother me at all, but a long gentle swell can be a bother.

 

[Rick D]

My Wife...

...got sick in the harbor that was like glass the first trip. I thought my boating days were over. That was 30 years ago. She struggled, but hung in there. It typically gets less severe as you age, so that's good news. It's a combination of physical and mental. Having something to do helps the mental a lot as does familiarity.

What helped her the most was ginger ale and salty snacks, but most of all, Scopalamine as in patch form, although Marazine is what she now uses. It's important to be sympathetic, supportive and reassuring. Good luck!

 

[Mulf]

I'll second the electronic bracelets!

My wife used to get mild headaches or a little queasy when spending time below decks. She started wearing an electronic bracelet which took the headaches away and allowed her to spend time below decks, and even make meals in the galley while underway. She apparently got more used to the boat motion as I would say it's been a couple years since since I've seen her wear the bracelet (although I make it known there are fresh batteries in it every season). Thanks to that and a number of womanship courses I now have to fight for time at the helm as she enjoys sailing the boat.

 

[Ken Prichard]

We've tried them all and here's what works - BONINE. No prescription required and available just about anywhere in the U.S. Take one hour prior to sailing and there are no side effects.
We live in Canada and do a lot of sailing in the Pacific Northwest. Bonine is not available here so every time we cross to the U.S. we stock up. It has worked for everyone we sail with. Give it a try. Obviously what ever you're doing isn't working so you have nothing to loose.

 

[LuzSD]

I used to worry about it, and then I think just the suggestion in my mind that I might get sick made me constantly check myself.. (do I feel nausea coming on....) and sure enough I would start feeling it. But years later, when I really wanted to be on a boat, I noticed once I got into sailing, I have no problems at all. Probably what someone else here wrote...I was busy and that kept me from thinking about it. I know that I acquired my sea legs, they were not natural and there from the beginning. That said, I do not eat alot before sailing, usually cheese or something very solid and never enough to feel even slightly full.

We sometimes stock those small cans of ginger ale or coke to help out those feeling iffy. Also we use Bonine instead of Dramamine because it seems to have no other effects. Take that 30 min. before and seems to help our most tender guests.

I agree, it is not the crazy rough seas that get to me, it is sometimes total calm and especially if I am on the leeward rail with the sail as my view, or looking up constantly....I feel it stalking me.

Help her by reinforcing the idea that though it happened this time, it will not necessarily happen every time.....then once she has a few positive days, she will trust that she can do it without worrying constantly. That seems to be the worst part is the anticipation of the nausea beginning. I also noted that the picture you posted of her once, she was sitting in that wonderful warm cozy corner in the cockpit but THAT is the worst place for an upset stomach.....backwards and no air in the face, bad combination.... BTW, I wonder if your use of the auto helm might be contributing. You are not working with the swells and I sometimes wonder if sea legs is something like riding a horse in that you ride it instead of hunker down against it. Something to consider.

 

[zeehag]

i have never in my life been truly sea sick...i feel for you guys who do get that---different things i know work for different folks--some never get the feeling gone --there are many reasons for mal de mer---some are physiological and will never be overcome.....if something works--do it!! if nothing works--ask a physician if there is something can be done about the middle ear problem ...... in many cases, the first week at sea isnt fun --- there are many articles written in many magazines about this---and there is a little known book about seasickness-
--heave ho--the little green book of seasickness
was awesome cute book --informative and came with a barf bag..lol....some folks i have watched improve with wristlets with a button over a pulse point---others have improved after a beer--go figger..good luck


i did have cats with sea sickness problems-- lots of air is answer in that case----AIR. be outside not below.......

oops--forgot attitude and fear factor. if one doesnt wanna go sailingdammit, there will be more of a tendency towards mal de mer.....also if nervous-- fear vs scared vs just nervousness........makes a big difference....lol
you figger--is you suffering--what is the answer?? lol...have fun ----

 

[Roger Long]

Roger...are you saying that a sugar pill will work well?
So far ginger snaps seem to help too!

Both can work but I heard a lot about the Relief Band when in aviation where motion sickness is also a problem and it was pretty clear from widespread anecdotal reports that they worked better than placebos or ginger snaps.

On my boat, I've found that the crystalized ginger that you can get in plastic tubs works for most people. There are elastic bands with a plastic knob that just presses on the same point as the electrodes of the Relief Band and they work for most of the people the ginger doesn't do the job for. I haven't had the Relief Band fail for anyone yet.

I've also never met anyone who ate deep fried garden slugs and didn't say they tasted exactly like fried clams.

 

[zeehag]

ginger in any form is excellent against the maladies of the stomach....and , if the queasiness is just beginning, eat something like saltine crackers --or some such thing--triscuit ......peanuts......and ginger........water and half strength gatorade if the illness is advanced to the point of not holding things inside at all
lol....

 

[LuzSD]

I don't want to be rude here, but all this talk of of motion and barf and seasick is making my stomach upset! So see, just thinking about it too much can bring it on.

 

[Paul F]

I only get sea sick when on long trips and drugs are the only cure. Forget old house remedies. OTC Meclizine HCI 25 mg. works well take it and keep talking it. You may be a little drowsy but you will be well.

 

[Tom]

ginger root!!!

tom
s/v GAIA

 

[Steve Dion]

Do not rule out ANYTHING when it comes to "curing" mal de mer. Not everything works for everybody and nothing works for some.

I have used the Relief Bands and had success. They even worked after the fact.

http://www.seasicknessreliefband.co...ce_p_11.html?gclid=CI_Ys4vQlqICFRGkiQoduh5vVg

Eat it, drink it, wear it! It does not make any difference IF it works.

 

[Bill Roosa]

I"m wiht LuzSD

Nap of the earth flying in the back of a C-130 mil transport, 18 hours with out a head break and several in-route re-fuels, followed by 3 hours of NOE at over 200 knots. And then someone ralphs. Just the smell was enough to take the rest of us out. Don't know if that is sea sickness but it was bad, real bad.

Don't cook strong smelling foods, keep your mind on something else and take drugs. Stop thinking and talking about it. Never ever ask someone "are you getting sick?"