Motion Sickness AND Headaches (didn't want to hijack other threads)

[jheigl]

I did not want to hijack the current motion sickness thread (or any of the other 50 million threads about the subject!!), so I decided to make my own thread because I am not inquiring mainly about motion sickness, but moreso on that of the headaches that I get from motion sickness. In case I'm not being clear, if I go on a ride (first ride that comes to mind is The Simpsons Ride at Universal Studios) that gets me motion sick, I tend to get a headache that will last all day and maybe the next as well. I was just wondering if anyone experiences this same problem, and if so, did any of the motion sickness "remedies" help...i.e. wristbands, dramamine, etc. I take dramamine for the flight there and back, but I don't typically do thrill rides, so never had to worry about this for the most part. I want to experience more thrill rides on our upcoming (honeymoon) trip because she likes to do thrill rides and I would like for her to have a companion!

[drakester]

A couple years ago I found that everytime I went to amusement park I would get sea sick. I finally stared taking a motion sickness pill everyday before I headed out to the parks. It has saved my life.

[lillykat]

Originally Posted by drakester

A couple years ago I found that everytime I went to amusement park I would get sea sick. I finally stared taking a motion sickness pill everyday before I headed out to the parks. It has saved my life.

My husband has this exact problem now that we have kids he knows he will be doing more thrill rides someday. Do the pills make you drowsy? The poor guy ends up w/ the worst headaches after some rides and it ruins the day.

[toledo13]

I SWEAR by Bonine. Seriously. I CAN RIDE THRILL RIDES NOW!!! (granted... I'm still a wuss... and they don't get rid of scardy-cat issues , but you better believe that I can ride RnRC and get off and have a sandwich afterward!)

I used to take Dramamine, and it really never worked very well for me. Made me very sleepy, still made me feel yucky in the belly, etc. But Bonine- I tell you- it's wonderful. Just one raspberry flavored tablet lasts 24 hours. I NEVER ever had to take two. One a day, that's it!

Believe me, I'm as naturepath as they come and HATE taking pills for things (other than vitamins), but I still take these little babies religiously every day of the trip, unless I know we're not going on any rides that will upset me (like Three Caballeros, Ellen, Small World, etc.). But if I know I'm going on ANYthing with drops or dizzying whatevers... I chew up a pill and am good to go.

I could EVEN do ToT last trip! (see my video in my siggie )

[pickles]

try an anihistamine like zyrtec and see if that doesnt help

I get dizzy and almost like a headache..hard to explain but it hurts my eyes/head.

I had tried the bonine etc and occasionally it helps. I saw my doctor and one of the things he suggested was zyrtec and that seemed to help it the most

this last trip I did pretty good on most rides. I still wont ride teacups or the carousel

[ajpa]

For the motion sickness part try eating something with ginger. I think there is candied ginger which would be handy.
Also close your eyes a lot during rides like The Simpsons where it is the vision effects that are causing distress.

[loriandmatt]

i too get a mind splitting headache along with the nausea when i over do it on a ride. (i know my limits and occasionally i either don't do my research and end up on a ride that will make me sick - example: manta at Sea World - OY! OR i really like a few rides that are borderline for me and i try to cram too many in too quick - example, ToT followed too closely by RnR and StarTours.)

i have found that bonnine is much better for me than dramamine as far as keeping the nausea from creaping up. it works wonders on "borderline" rides. those for me are ones like dinosaur, RnR, ExEv...most rides actually. i have to tell you though that bonnine only did so much for me on the "holy crap" rides. those for me are Manta and the high intensity side of space ride at epcot. the bonnine may have taken the edge off but i shutter to think what i would have felt like without it.

the nausea is one thing, but i really thought my head was going to explode when i got off these two.

[GiGi30]

Add me to the list who gets motion sickness very easily. Used to not be that way, but now, I am very sensitive. As much as I think Soarin is a neat ride, it messes with my head and I don't ride it!

I use the non-drowsy Dramamine. Very effective for me. Also, my hubby is a physician and recommends over the counter benydryl for nausea. It does a great job without having to take something heavier. Some people get knocked out by regular benydryl but luckily it doesn't make me sleepy. I always keep some handy!

[skier_pete]

My wife *claims* (and I use that word not because I don't believe her, but only because this is not from my own experience) that rides Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, and ToT would give her headaches. She would not get nauseous, but get a headache that would last the rest of the day. A few years ago I found a thread on here that discussed that these headaches can be caused by a lack of oxygen to the system, which comes from the person holding their breath during a scary part of a ride. The recommended solution was to *scream* during those parts of the ride. The theory is that when you are screaming, you can't hold your breath. Now, I admit I was a bit skeptical and so was she, but I convinced her the next trip to go on Splash Mountain (my favorite, which she prior had only ever done once because of the headackes) and she tried the screaming technique, and it WORKED...no headache.

Now, I don't know how this would work with someone that also gets nauseous as well, but OP was asking specifcally about headaches, so I thought I would pass this on. (DW also does suffer from some motion related ailment - on rides like Soarin or the circlevision movies, she has to close her eyes, I always ask her if it makes her sick...again she claims it doesn't, she just "doesn't like the sensation"...)

I myself get really sick from spinning rides, but other than the tea-cups (where we simply limit spinning) nothing at WDW bothers me that way.

[The Expert]

I don't like the drug effect of Dramamine, Bonine, etc and the wristbands only mask it a little for me, but I have found that GINGER works wonders! You can drink ginger ale or take ginger cookies or candy, but I get ginger pills from the health food store and just pop a couple before hitting the parks, at lunch and then again later in the day. It really, REALLY works and I find I have no side-effects (drowsiness) and don't feel out of it like I do on other medications.

[they!]

ginger works the best for my family too, though none of us suffer severly from motion sickness, but we've used it on cruise ships if it's rough.

works great!

[toledo13]

Originally Posted by they!

ginger works the best for my family too, though none of us suffer severly from motion sickness, but we've used it on cruise ships if it's rough.

works great!

Ok so here's a question for the ginger people... when do you take it? Before you go on the dizzy rides or after you feel sick already? I've always taken bonine and it's worked great, but this past time I did get a little bit drowsy from it. What kind do you get? Candied? Regular? Pills? I'd love to hear more!!!!!

[RMulieri]

If it is that severe , you can always go to your primary care physician and ask about a prescription for Scopalamine transdermal medication patch

[pickles]

I think, people need to say what symptoms they have and what they use to help those symptoms.


Ginger is suppose to be more for nausea. I would be curious if anyone who got headaches and similar problems on rides used ginger with success?

I agree with the one poster whose wife just doesnt like how certain rides make her feel.
I am not afraid at all on most rides. But BTMRR at times can mess with me head and eyes and is a very unpleasant sensation..just watching the carousel can cause the same yukky sensation for me
I dont get headaches that last. I just cant stand how my head feels on the ride.
EE I really enjoy that coaster, but it was making my head hurt and ears tickle this last trip, the 2nd time I rode it i stuck my fingers in my ears..looked stupid but it did help stop some of the sensation

so perhaps, rather than just saying you use bonine or dramamine or ginger etc.. you could state what symptoms you get and how it helps

as in my case..sometimes dramamine or bonine helped my weird head feeling, but i think what helped the most was the zyrtec taken the day my trip started

[Judy in Texas]

Originally Posted by RMulieri

If it is that severe , you can always go to your primary care physician and ask about a prescription for Scopalamine transdermal medication patch

These patches work wonders. They will help with the headaches from the ups and downs and also the upset stomach from the spinning. One patch will work several days. I know from experience.

PS: One thing that helped me with Soarin' was to sit on the top, end, and watch the mechanics of the ride. It lets you know how big a part your mind plays in motion sickness. That said, I still sometimes look away when flying up and over the ski hill.