posted on February 13, 2001 01:23:49 PM new
Have any of you had experience with being prone to motion sickness?
I've always had problems with it, but I heard that some people outgrow it. With me, it has been just the opposite. It seems to just get worse as I get older (I'll be 30 this year). Sometimes I feel a little woozy just driving to work.
Obviously, this is a major pain in the butt and really tends to cramp my life.
I take Dramamine when I'm traveling but I can't take it daily. I tried a scopolamine patch once for dizziness and it worked great, so I'd consider that for traveling, too. I even have some SeaBands for my wrists, but I'm not sure if they really do any good.
Anyway, I'm just wondering if anyone here has experienced persistent and/or worsening motion sickness like this and what you've done about it.
posted on February 13, 2001 01:38:19 PM new
Hi inside,
No, I haven't had my ears or sinuses checked, and I haven't talked to a doctor about it at all yet. It's just now getting to the point where it's getting really bothersome, so I suppose I'll have to do that pretty soon.
posted on February 13, 2001 01:47:30 PM new
Hi RainyBear, my motion sickness is confined to sailing. I love being out on the ocean. For short hauls (day trip) I use Dramamine. Used the patch when we chartered a yacht with some friends and sailed the Carribean for 7 days...I followed the directions explicitely...didn't want any problems.
A very unusual thing happened after we made land fall...I took dramamine prior to landfall, left the patch on for whatever time they suggested. For 7 full days after I couldn't turn my head quickly or get up from a seated or supine position without a terrible nausea overtaking me.
It was as if my system said, "well, you fooled mother nature but you can't fool me." I check with the Pharmacist and my docotor...neither one of them had ever heard of a phenomonon like this.
posted on February 13, 2001 02:01:24 PM new
Zilvy, that sounds awful! I worry about messing with things like that... you know, like maybe in the process of trying to fix this problem I'll just make it worse. I'll bet you were relieved that the after effects were only temporary! I'll think about that if I ever try using a patch for longer periods of time.
It doesn't help that my husband can go through just about anything without getting motion sick, and he has a hard time understanding it when I do. He's one of those "it's all in your head" people.
posted on February 13, 2001 02:06:16 PM new
Big bloody 'elp he is!! Where else would the problem be??
Isn't it awful, women seem to be the only ones who can empathize even if they haven't had a specific illness...they somehow can relate based on other experiences.
Do see your ENT and discuss your concerns with him regarding the method and what will be best for you. Good luck!
Edited because my alphabet got away from me!!
[ edited by zilvy on Feb 13, 2001 02:08 PM ]
posted on February 13, 2001 02:19:38 PM new
Sorry, I'm unversed in this... what's an ENT? Is that a specialist or a general practitioner?
For now I'm grateful that I'm quite functional a vast majority of the time. I've read about people who have bouts with vertigo that last for weeks, or months. My worst dizziness was caused by a virus and lasted about two weeks. That was when I got the patch, when I went into the emergency room because I felt like surely I'd just die if my world didn't stop spinning.
Maybe the building where I work is moving just enough to make me more sensitive?? I can see my ferns gently moving all the time.
posted on February 13, 2001 03:14:02 PM new
RainyBear...my husband has suffered from motion sickness his entire life. The only time he can be on the water and not be sick is when the ship is an aircraft carrier! (Still surprized that the Navy would even take him.)
If you haven't already, try increasing your Niacin/Vitamin B complex. You could have a deficiency.
posted on February 13, 2001 03:19:57 PM new
RainyBear - ENT = ear, nose and throat specialist.
I used to suffer from motion sickness, but think I got old and out grew it.
Have you considered driving another car to work to see if it might be brought on my some sort of 'fumes' being emitted from the car you drive? (Since you mentioned woozy.) I've heard of gas fumes making people woozy in their cars.
Also, don't know what the weather is where you live, but have you tried driving with the window cracked down a little, for fresh air to get in. That always used to help me.
But, I too would join the views that you see your doctor for an evaluation since you judge it to be getting worse. No since in taking any chances with your safety and health.
posted on February 13, 2001 03:52:50 PM new
Niacin and Vitamin B? OK, I suppose I should start taking my multivitamins again.
Ear Nose and Throat... thanks!
Fumes are a big one for me, as are strong odors of any kind. I can't ride in stinky cars without getting ill. I had to coax my husband into getting rid of "The Shoe" which he drove when we met, and I also had to stuff my new air freshener in the glove box a few weeks ago when it was just too overwhelming (I used to love those things). I'm very sensitive to fumes even though hubby can never smell them. That's a big reason I get sick on the bus. My car isn't too bad as far as fumes go, luckily.
Fresh air is my friend in the car! I learned that early on.
Thanks for all the great suggestions. It's nice to hear something other than my husband's advice, "Buck up," or, "You're weird."
posted on February 13, 2001 03:58:33 PM new
zilvy- the motion sickness patch(scopolamine) was taken off the market several years ago because it caused side effects. it was recently brought back onto the market but there may still be unknown side effects. BTW- where did you place the patch?
posted on February 13, 2001 04:11:39 PM new
Rainy, is it motion sickness, or are you just feeling dizzy and lightheaded all the time? I have this lightheaded dizzy thing every so often, and my chiropractor takes care of it. It's a pinched nerve type thing in the upper part of my neck. I don't know how you feel about chiropractors, but I can tell you this: my doctor didn't have a CLUE what to do for me, and he was going to admit me to the hospital for some inner ear tests that were going to be very uncomfortable. And THEN he said, no matter what they showed, he probably wouldn't be able to do anything about it. So he gave me a drug to help the dizziness (which it didn't). Also, one more thing. Dizziness can be a sign of blood sugar problems, like Hypoglycemia and Diabetes. Just FYI. That will be $25 please.
posted on February 13, 2001 04:19:27 PM new
Hi Muriel - yep, it's definitely motion sickness (although some may say I'm dizzy ).
I've had a couple of dizzy spells at work but that's a completely different situation. One was pretty bad, and I didn't feel better until I got home and laid down for a while. I wouldn't be surprised if I have some pinched nerves in my neck, but I'm not sure if that would be connected to my motion sickness. But who knows? I've never been to a chiropractor and would be nervous to try that, but I won't rule it out.
posted on February 13, 2001 05:37:11 PM new
Hi, RainyBear - I've lived with the symptoms you describe for almost (Yes - I don't mind admitting it!) 60 years. It is such an aggravation, in addition to being miserable.
I have had every test there is, and no doctor yet has given me any diagnosis other than Meniere's Disease; sometimes I think that is right, and sometimes I don't. And some doctors think Meniere's is just a catchall term for - motion sickness. I am not positive I am spelling it correctly, but that is close; you may want to do some research on Meniere's. (Named for a Dr. Meniere.)
There is some kind of "retraining" available through some specialty ear clinics; they somehow teach your (head? mind? inner ear?) to not DO THAT anymore. I have not had that done, but have heard of it.
Do try the ginger - it is very safe, and if you like the taste of candied ginger, a nibble a few minutes before you get into your car might work. It does seem to help me some. Ginger is prescribed in many other countries for motion sickness and nausea.
The one thing that will give you the most relief when you have one of the worst "spinning room" episodes is to be very still, preferably lying down; fix your eyes on something and hold them there, not moving them, or your head, for several minutes. You will be aware in just a minute or so that things are slowing down. This really does work. It is the only thing I have gotten out of all my ear specialist visits that has helped.
You really should have a complete physical though, to rule out anything serious, as dizziness can be a symptom of many things and if yours is getting worse, you shouldn't take chances.
I keep Dramamine with me all the time, but limit how much I take. If I am driving, I'm okay (unless it is raining). If someone else is driving, then I take about half a Dramamine. Don't just routinely take a whole one, as it may not be necessary. I, too, have "overdosed" on it, when traveling, and it is not a pleasant feeling.
Now, go take half a Dramamine, and call me in the morning.
posted on February 13, 2001 06:16:46 PM new
RainyBear, I get motion sickness in the car and always have to have some fresh air coming in. I can knit in the car (not usually when I'm driving) but not read. Ginger does help but it sounds like this is not a ginger cure.
When we are out in the boat and my stomach gets feeling funny, believe it or not, I feel better if I eat something! My son is an instructor in the Coast Guard and he still gets sea sick once in a while. But then, he is out in 16+ footers. He says he has had some of his people get so sick and vomit so much that they have to rush back in and get them to sick bay.
zilvy, the same thing happens to me when I've been on the boat for a few days. I'm fine on the boat, but I get "land sick" and it takes a few days before I adjust to being on land again. Everything seems like it is rolling. Very disconcerting.
posted on February 14, 2001 10:31:46 AM new
Thanks kudzurose and helnjoe, this is really helpful hearing about others' experiences. I've tried eating pickled ginger on the bus but it only seemed to make it worse! Maybe I should try the candied ginger. I definitely can't read or do anything else visually-oriented in the car or on a plane. (Plane trips are pretty boring for me unless there's a movie playing -- movies on planes are OK for me, maybe because I've taken Dramamine and I'm looking up instead of down.)
I carry Dramamine with me, too, when I'm traveling anywhere that's not local. The down side of taking Dramamine is that it makes me sleepy and grouchy, so I don't have much fun and I'm not much fun to be around, either. I think I'll try the "non-drowsy" kind again soon, but last time I took it it made me a little dizzy. It's worth another shot, though.
I'll check out Meniere's, though I tend to think I'm just sensitive to things. I don't really have recurring problems with dizziness (knock on wood) except for those episodes at work. Both happened around, um, "that time" so I think that could have been a contributing factor.
Too much caffeine also makes me sick -- I can't take Vivarin. LOL, I must sound like a mess.
posted on February 14, 2001 11:05:00 AM newRB: Both the tom and the younger kitten suffer from motion sickness(which makes traveling with them a real ball). When the tom and I were first married, I used to think his claims of motion sickness were balderdash, just like your husband. Then I saw what happened to him after riding one of those kiddie rides at an amusement park(a real nothing ride, as far as I was concerned). I thought he was going to pass out right there on the ground. I've never doubted him since.
Anyway-I discovered that in his family it's an inherited thing. Everyone in his family suffers from motion sickness. Can't take 'em anywhere without them downing Dramamine or slapping on patches. Thank goodness only one of the kittens inherited the tendency. I'd hate to be the only one able to ride on roller coasters.
posted on February 14, 2001 04:34:10 PM new
Hi Rainy Bear,
As Slick Willie says,"I can feel your pain."
I get terrible motion sickness just thinking about it. Years ago, I came back from Germany on a troop ship and for 9 days I was too sick to die. If there had been a road I would have walked!
Here is an idea that might help. I fly a powered powerchute and also an ultralight airplane. These are very light craft and when the wind is up, they just rock and roll bigtime. I have tried all the usual remedies but nothing worked real well.
You are familiar with the "sea bands" that you wear on your wrist? They didn't work for me. However, there is a new product on the market call RELIEF BAND. It looks like a wristwatch and has a built in battery with three settings. It sends a slight electrical charge into your wrist and you only feel a slight tingle in your little finger. If you turn it up high, you can really feel it.
It is amazing and works great for me. Even after you start feeling sick, it will knock that "feeling" right out. There are no side effects of any kind.
They cost about $50.00 but are well worth it.
It is manufactured by Woodside Biomedical, Inc., Carlsbad, CA 92008
The phone is 760-804-6900. I ordered mine off the net. Just search RELIEF BAND and there is a lot of information there.
Maybe it will work for you. You can wear it all day and just use it when you need to.
posted on February 14, 2001 05:08:03 PM new
Deb - thank you! I'll try the Relief Bands. I did try Sea Bands and they're not 100% effective for me, either, so it's good to know they didn't work for you but the Relief Bands did.
Off to do a search... thanks a lot!
Edited to add: Just ordered one from Drugstore.com... it's on the way!
posted on February 15, 2001 10:12:51 AM new
I use Bonine...works better than Dramamine & no drowsiness. Since I go out on dive boats 1-2 times a months I keep it handy. I've even given it to people on the boats whose Dramamine didn't work & it got them over their urri-urps.
I've found that ginger works OK on mild nausea, but full-blown seasickness requires a bigger gun...
posted on February 15, 2001 11:46:15 AM new
I've seen Bonine but have never tried it. I'll pick some up and give it a shot, though, so thanks for the recommendation. I think I'm going to try *everything*! (Not all at once of course...)
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