I have a BIG problem....HELP!!!!!!

[akasleepingbeauty]

JerJan

I hope you are able to make the drive - I hear that HHI is definitely worth it!!

I happened to notice that you are from Stow - I lived there for 4 years in my younger days and went to middle school and 2 years of high school there. It is indeed a small world, huh????

Good luck on your trip!

 

[JerJan]

Thanks Rhonda...No, I'm not going to do it this year maybe next year. It's still AVAILABLE TO RENT. Thanks for the good thoughts though and yes...it's a small world. I'll keep my eye out for you on the other boards!

 

[Deb & Bill]

I have had a terrible problem with driving over bridges and high road at interchanges until I finally made the drive on the Going to the Sun road in Glacier Park. That is truly a white knuckle drive. My husband refused to do it. My 10 yr old son was freaking out (sitting next to me in the passenger seat in the front seat while I drove) because he was on the long drop down the side of the mountain side of the road. Husband was cozily sitting in the middle seat behind me.

I don't like the current bridge east bound over Escambia Bay since it is only a temporary bridge.

I can't sleep in the car, or read, or watch movies. I always sit in the front seat, driving or passenger and look straight ahead. I used the patch on the Disney Cruise and it worked well there, but it didn't work at all on Space Mt.

Luckily my son has inherited his father's genes for lack of motion sickness.

I wish you and your daughter lots of luck. It's not fun.

 

[gracelrm]

My DH suffers from a Panic Disorder. He takes meds to help him; however back before he started meds - he learned that caffeine seemed to make it worse. He switched to decaf coffee & caffeine free drinks and did notice some improvements in his symptoms. Of course, when you are about to start a long car ride - you probably need a lot of caffeine. Anyway, just a thought to go along with all of the good advice you've already received.

 

[spiceycat]

hey I learned the hard way - just reroute and avoid the mountains.

at least most of the Interstates aren't as bad as the highways, us routes and local roads....

I don't like heights myself - especially when you can't see over the silly thing an then suddenly coming down of you is a BIG truck - 18 wheels in the middle of the silly road and it is a tiny road before this happen and you are on the side going down.....

anyway after this happened I started to reroute myself along different routes.

so you can avoid the mountains but it takes planning and definitely a longer route. which your husband might not be willing to do.

how about some CD of music or favorite books for both of you - then you can have your eyes close while you listen?

 

[colleen costello]

Hi. I am usually fine on car rides but on the long trips all the stress gets to me so I take prescription ATIVAN before we leave in the morning. My doc prescribed it because it is longer-acting than Xanax. Our first days drive is about 10 hours and then I take a 2nd tablet at night so I can sleep in the hotel. We drive thru Tennessee on the way south and there are some curvy areas with big drops. NO WAY I am heading thru there not medicated!

Re: Bonine... We have had GREAT luck with this stuff. My daughter can get a little urpy on long rides so we don't mess around. Bonine is cheap, chewable, and it doesn't make the child too sleepy. When we finally go on a cruise someday, we will ALL take it... better safe than sorry! A half tablet is fine for kids; you can check the dose with your doc. Bonine is actually Meclizine, which you can get with a prescription in capsule form. They prescribe it for patients with inner-ear problems/dizziness. My Mom is EXTREMELY prone to motion sickness and she swears by the stuff. You take it an hour before travel and then avoid reading or tv in the car, which can aggravate the problem. It is also available as "Non-Drowsy Dramamine 2."

Hope this helps!

 

[Dean]

Choices that come to mind:

• Dramamine - sleepy
• meclizine - not approved less than 12, much less sedation.
• phenergan orally - very sleepy but even more effective. Less safe for younger and never to be given less than 2 y/o.
• scopolamine patch - a lot of side effects enough that about 1/4 of adults have to discontinue it's use. Try it ahead of time if need be. Don't try to cut it to reduce the dose no matter what you're told.
• Ginger - health food stores and the like.
• Sea Bands - work on accupressure
• Relief bands (I think that's what their called) are electronic and produce a tiny electrical current. Some swear by them but they appear to be only marginally effective.
• phenergan gell on the wrists - no real scientific studies I'm aware of but seems to work well for some with little or no side effects.
• Zofran - expensive and not covered by many insurances for this purpose.

I'm sure I've left something out.

 

[OneMoreTry]

The "less-drowsy Dramamine" and Bonine are the same thing. Meclizine. Also known as Antivert. They work well for my whole family including my 7 year old girl who is very prone to motion sickness.

Take 1 - 2 hours BEFORE starting the trip and regularly DURING the trip. Once symptoms start it's too late.

Regular Dramamine works great too. My dtr likes the drowsiness. Also take in advance!

The patches work, too. Cause dry mouth. Have to be started hours before the trip. Require the hassle of a prescription. I'm not sure they're approved for kids.

If you have a panic disorder then you will need professional help for it.

We drive through West Virginia a lot. It's tough for people with motion sickness. But my DD does well with the dramamine. Plan your route to get to flat land as soon as possible. It would be worth it to take a longer route.

 

[Princess Nancy]

I know this is a totally different approach, but it just might help a little. I live in South Carolina and my "home" is Cincinnati. I think from Stow this might be a bit longer but worth it...

Try driving down I-75 instead of through WV. We never go that way! It would be longer for us to go through WV and the time in the Mountains is much more. You will still have some Mountain driving in SC, but it should be less.

Sending good wishes and pixie dust!

 

[Mississippian]

WOW! You guys are great with your wonderful tips! Now what about me...does/has anyone out there (adults) suffer from panic attacks in the car? How do you handle them? This is getting worse for me as I get older, it actually started in my late 20's and now that I'm 43 it's getting uncontrolable!

I have always been a nervous flyer, and after 9-11, things got pretty hairy for me. The planes that scare me the most are the really big planes, even though I know these are the safest.

I came very close to not getting on a plane to return home from Paris. I wasn't running around flapping my arms, I was just terrified.

Anyway, I shared this with my doctor and he prescribed me the lowest dosage of Ativan, with instructions to take one an hour before going to the airport, another if I still feel nervous waiting for the plane, and a third if I get on a plane and am still nervous.

They have worked wonders. I've only had a few three-pill flights, usually with bad weather. I travel a good bit on business, and these days usually forget to take my pill bottle with me. I suspect I will not need them again unless I go to Europe, and then only for the trip home.

Good luck!

p.s. These pills can be habit forming if you take them all the time. So take them if you have a specific problem. I can't advise on the wisdom of using them regularly, although you have to do what you have to do to get through the day.

 

[luvindisneyworld]

My DH had extremely bad panic attacks for about 4 yrs and they got so bad he finally had to o to the Dr.He was prescribed Lexapro 10mg,that has been a wonder drug for him.He is like a totally diffrent person now.That is the smallest dose availible they said a child could take that.He has not had a panic attack in over a year.
Please go to the Dr and see if they cannot help you,I know how miserable my DH was and it made me wanna cry because they were that bad.Its expensive though,even with our isurance its 50.00 a month but I would pay 500.00 a month to have my DH feel like a new person.

Misty