Motion sickness advice please...

[pixiedustaholic]

I never used to get sick riding in a car, etc. However, I have noticed in the past few years there have been times where I get queasy while riding, especially if I'm reading.

I am going on a field trip to D.C. in a couple of weeks with my DD and it is about a 10 hr bus ride. Last bus trip we went on was about 4 hours away and I actually started feeling nauseous, hot, sweaty and just when I thought I was going to lose it, we stopped at a rest area. (Thank goodness!)
On this trip, I was sitting near the middle of the bus on the driver side with a window seat.

My question is: is there a better place to sit as far as motion sickness goes? Front, middle or back of the bus? Thanks for any tips.

 

[GoodFairies]

Front right would be the best place to sit, so that you have a clear view out the front window of the bus. Air conditioner or window open as far as possible. No reading. You can also take some motion sickness medication.

 

[tennisfan]

I have found it better if I avoid coffee. Tea actually helps me to, as the PP said don't read either. I always feel nauseous when reading & travelling unfortunately I have to for my job in the ambulance service

 

[minkydog]

I have been car-sick all my life. 52 years of car-sick. The best I can tell you is sit close to the front, next to a window, have the A/C on you, no reading or doing anything in your lap, eat light(crackers, cheese, apples), drink water or eat ice chips, if you feel yourself getting icky look straight ahead rather than out the side window. Sometimes I just give up and put my head back. If I can sleep I won't get sick. Good luck!

 

[pixiedustaholic]

Thanks for the advice. I think I'll email the teachers in charge and ask if they can reserve me a seat near the front of the bus.

 

[minkydog]

Thanks for the advice. I think I'll email the teachers in charge and ask if they can reserve me a seat near the front of the bus.

Oh, yeah. Seat-in-the-front is one of my conditions of chaperoning.

 

[IDoDis]

Have you tried wearing a motion sickness patch? They work wonders. You can buy them over the counter at any pharmacy.

 

[PUZZLDY5]

I agree with the PP. The motion sickness patches work wonders.

 

[momof1princess]

you can also get meclizine over the counter by asking for it at any pharmacy counter. it is generic bonine and it works WONDERS. it is also really cheap-about $5.00 for 100 pills. i get horrible motion sickness and i couldn't take a trip or ride anything at wdw without it.

 

[pixiedustaholic]

I haven't tried the motion sickness patches or the pills. I will look into them. I just don't want to be too tired to enjoy anything either. I know, I will have to choose motion sickness or the meds...any of them not make you drowsy?

 

[tazdev3225]

I get motion sickness every now and then because of an inner ear problem. I actually get it watching my kids play certain video games. I took candied ginger with me when we drove to WDW quite a few years ago or I make sure I have ginger ale with me. That has always worked for me. There is a property in ginger that actually does work on motion sickness.

 

[momof1princess]

I haven't tried the motion sickness patches or the pills. I will look into them. I just don't want to be too tired to enjoy anything either. I know, I will have to choose motion sickness or the meds...any of them not make you drowsy?

the meclizine does not make me sleepy, and i always double the dose, b/c my motion sickness is so bad. i usually start taking it about 1 week before my trip, just to be safe.

 

[momrek06]

Here you go, OP. These are available at Wal-Mart, Target, Wal-Greens, CVS, etc. They cost roughly $10.00 and they are AWESOME!!!!!! You just put them on each wrist about 30 minutes before travel and they work wonderfully. I have been using them for flying forever. I even used them on my Disney Cruise. They will be perfect for your lengthy bus trip.

SEA BANDS!!!!!!!!

For Morning Sickness & Travel Sickness

For All Forms of Nausea - Including Morning Sickness
No Drugs, No Side Effects
Used by Doctors and in Hospitals
The only Clinically Tested Wristband
One Size Fits All

Accupressure is a safe and effective way to prevent and ease the nausea associated with morning sickness.
Scientific studies have proved that one of the most effective drug-free treatments is based upon the ancient Chinese principle of acupressure - effectively acupuncture without needles! This is available as the Sea-Band.

The Sea-Band applies continuous pressure on the P6 (or Nei-Kuan) point on each wrist using a plastic stud. The product comes with instructions on how to find this spot on your own wrists. The fact that acupressure can prevent and ease morning sickness was first scientifically proven in the United Kingdom by the late Professor John Dundee from Queen's University, Belfast. In 1988 his report in The Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine showed that the women in the trial who used acupressure had suffered significantly less nausea and vomiting than those who didn't.

Sea-Bands can be worn on each wrist whenever you feel nauseous. The Sea-Band is comfortable, washable and discreet. One size fits all.

 

[Cindy F]

I agree with the PP, those sea bands work well.

 

[lovetoscrap]

I am the poster child for motion sickness. Just watching things move makes me ill!

I second the Bonine (generic name Meclizine) for it. Regular Dramamine causes drowsiness but the Bonine/Meclizine doesn't. I take it the night before I travel or several hours before we leave. When we are at Disney I take it before bed every night. If I have a very long day of motion then I will take another dose after 12 hours.

The patch for behind your ear is intended more for constant motion, like on a cruise. I will never ever go on a cruise without them again! But if you are just going to be in motion for a few hours, then stationary (walking) for much of the day and then in motion again, the patch isn't the best option.

I have Sea Bands, and they are helpful for short trips or as an added measure for extreme motion ( cruise ship with high waves) I find they don't really prevent the extreme problem like the meds do. They are also not very comfortable since they work by putting pressure on a point on your wrist. I find them painful after about an hour or so.

Bonine is a chewable in a raspberry flavor (I swallow them since I don't like chewing pills) found at most every drug store. They should also have the store brand generic. Just look for the active ingredient to be Meclizine.

You can get Ginger Capsules/Pills in the herbal section of the drug store but if you really have motion problems they aren't much help as long as you are still moving. They mostly help once you get stopped. Peppermint is also a great herbal remedy for upset stomach, but won't help the dizzy head. Also won't help much if you are still moving.

And no matter what I take, I can NEVER read in the car/bus/train/plane. I bring my i-pod or plan to talk to others.

 

[KSchwagg86]

Also try rubbing a lavender smell behind your ears every half hour or so--it really helps!

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Ginger pills work wonders and odn't have any side effects! I got the idea from Mythbusters. They tested them with other motion/seasickness remedies and they were the only "alternative" that performed as well as the actual medicine, but without the loopy side effects. My parents used them on the Disney Cruise to combat motion sickness and they felt fantastic! They truly work for our family.

My father had tried dramamine in the parks once and while it helped, he ended up without clear memories of what he was doing because he was so loopy. The ginger pills became his staple from then on and they have worked like a charm!

I would keep something like dramamine or another proven medicine as back up just in case they don't work for you. 10 hours is a long time to be miserable.

 

[Just Jan]

Like Lovetoscrap I get motion sickness VERY easily! I get seasick eating sphagetti LOL. I won't travel without taking Bonine. It will not make you tired like Dramamine will.

Good luck.

 

[RNMOM]

I have had issues at different times and being able to see the road ahead of me helps. I don't do well in the back seat of a car.

As for reading, can't do that either. Try books on CD's instead. I get mine from the library. A portable player is same size as a book to carry around. You can even download books onto an IPOD or MP3 from a lot of libraries now. Then you can relax, close your eyes and just concentrate on the story.

 

[shortbun]

warning, meclizine knocks me out. Definitely sit in the front and at a window. Take ginger candy to chew and some spearmint candies or gum. Get yourself an IPOD shuffle, download some great music and don't read. I also love the wrist bands that use a pressure point to keep me balanced. The patches and pills just overwhelm me with side effects.