Equilibrium problems=SeaSick????/

[Corryn]

Hi again,
I have an equilibrium problem and I'm worried.....
During the summer, we often cruise the Great South Bay on my father in law's boat and I'm fine. I've gotten seasick as a kid because we were caught in a storm and I was stuck below deck, but otherwise I've been okay.

I have a chronic dizziness problem. I can sense when I am off-balance, when the floor is crooked, etc. I deal with this every day and I am used to it and my body has learned to adjust. However, I am worried about being on this big ol' cruise ship.

Does anyone else have this problem? I've heard stories saying, I never get sick but I got sick on a cruise.......or.......I always get seasick but I didn't get sick on the cruise...........

My girlfriend, who is also coming, is a pharmacist and she does not suggest taking the regular motion sickness pills because they make you tired. She suggests the wrist bands.

I just want to get a tally of who gets sick/who doesn't and why?

Thanks!

 

[CM_Mom]

My mom has chronic equilibrium problems also. She did get sick one night but I think it was more taking some of her medications on an empty stomach than the motion of the ship. None of the rest of our group of 5 had any problems.

 

[pettyone]

Hi!!

I can get car-sick even if someone is driving in a straight line & I've also suffered from vertigo and had the "whirlies" for days on end, so, here's my advice:

Try transdermal scopolamine...it's a prescription patch that you can place behind your ear for up to 3 days before changing to a new one...I've cruised twice & had no "whirlies" or nausea whatsoever...I also wear these if I am going on a vacation accompanied by my father--his driving is horrible!!

Dramamine & Bonine are not high on my list of recommendations...the side effects drive me crazy (dry mouth, drowsiness); however, I have had success by taking half-doses of these in a pinch...Hope that helps!

 

[LUVTHEMAGIC]

My family didn't get sick at all on board. We did however get a little woozy at home once we were off the boat. Felt like we were still rockin'

 

[lbgraves]

I didn't get sick even in 20 foot swells on our first cruise. Bonine doesn't make you drowsie & the generic form of that is quite cheap. I started taking it on Thursday since we went to MK and I wanted to be able to enjoy the spining rides with my kids. Even looking at the merry go round or tea cups makes me feel naseous and Bonine let me ride them with no problems at all. I also kept taking it for 2-3 days after we got off the ship. I didn't have any swaying problems that some people post about while getting use to being on land again.

 

[my3princesses]

This is really worrying me as I cannot do the merry-go-round, etc and even have trouble flying (which is how we are getting to Florida).

My main concern is the after the trip feelings people get. Once we get off the ship I have ride a bus (ugh!) and get on a plane (ugh again!).

Gravol makes me feel drowsy and like I am drunk which would not be a pretty site the entire cruise.

Can someone please update me on the list of options for drugs again, especially ones that have NO side effects at all?
Thanks - and my family thanks you!

 

[DisneyBill]

I too am one of those people with extreme sensitivity to motion/movement. I've never had any hint of a problem on the ships. The worse times for me have been smaller transfer boats used during some of the excursions.
I might suggest that scopolamine has some notable side affects for some people. I used them the first time we cruised and it caused extreme blurred vision. In fact although others report the same issue, but recover their vision accuracy, mine greatly improved, but ever since using the patch I've needed reading glasses.

 

[nehdeh]

I, too am sensitive to movement and have cruised many times. I usually only feel "woozy" the first night, and getting as high as I can on the ship and outdoors so the wind is in my face helps. The patch and Dramamine makes me feel off-balance/tired/just generally sick. I took Ginger tablets on my last cruise--1000mg every 3-4 hours and they seemed to help a lot. The sea bands didn't do squat for me, but helped my mother. Everyone has to figure out their own "magic pill".

 

[Corryn]

Aarrrrgghhh! It's tough to figure out their own Magic Pill unless they're in that situation. I guess I'll have to bring one of each!

 

[TumFamily]

A few months ago, my DH and I went to the Bahamas on another cruise line. I was expecting to be seasick because I always get carsick and seasick. However, neither one of us got sick at all. Neither did the other couples that we dined with. We did all occasionally lose our footing because the boat rocked but then people just thought we had alittle to much to drink!!

 

[sumfun]

i have been diagnosed with "labyrnthitis" (sp) very much like vertigo. you have my sympathy. noone understood what the big deal was when i would tell them i get dizzy all the time . i understand your concerns.i have been on 5 cruises and have one planned in just a few days. i have not had a problem with seasickness but have felt a little off balance after getting off the cruise. i continued to take dramimine for a few days and was fine.
tomi

 

[dwkwootton]

Corryn, I have an equilibrium problem also and ironically, I feel my very best on a cruise ship. If your problem is similar to mine, you probably get bouts of a sensation similar to dizziness, as though the floor is moving when it is not. For me, on the ship, I'm supposed to feel movement, the floor is moving, and I'm off balance a little because I should be. Its a relief to me and I've never been seasick in the very slightest on any cruise, even the real choppy ones. If you want to take some meds, consider ginger tablets ~ no side effects and ginger is so helpful to an upset stomach.