Motion Sickness Remedies?(slightly OT)

[pipervali]

I've never been a very good flier. Like at all. I'm scared of heights for one thing, and also as I've gotten older, I've become more prone to motion sickness. I literally am a control freak and always have to drive when going somewhere, because more often than not, if I'm in the backseat, I get queasy. The last time we went to Disney, I ended up sick to the stomach for two days because of turbulence on the flight down.

Now in five weeks I'm getting on a cross country flight, double the flight time than any trip I've ever taken. And I'm incredibly nervous about feeling sick, both in flight, and after the fact, thus ruining my vacation to LA. I've gotten to the point that I don't get scared so much of the flight, but of how the flight makes me feel.

Does anybody have any special tips or tricks on how to remedy the type of stomach sickness that flying can induce? I'm also a high blood pressure sufferer, so I don't want to take anything prescription oriented just because I'm often wary of drug interactions with my BP meds.

Suggestions would be most helpful and appreciated!

 

[sillylily]

I've never been a very good flier. Like at all. I'm scared of heights for one thing, and also as I've gotten older, I've become more prone to motion sickness. I literally am a control freak and always have to drive when going somewhere, because more often than not, if I'm in the backseat, I get queasy. The last time we went to Disney, I ended up sick to the stomach for two days because of turbulence on the flight down.

Now in five weeks I'm getting on a cross country flight, double the flight time than any trip I've ever taken. And I'm incredibly nervous about feeling sick, both in flight, and after the fact, thus ruining my vacation to LA. I've gotten to the point that I don't get scared so much of the flight, but of how the flight makes me feel.

Does anybody have any special tips or tricks on how to remedy the type of stomach sickness that flying can induce? I'm also a high blood pressure sufferer, so I don't want to take anything prescription oriented just because I'm often wary of drug interactions with my BP meds.

Suggestions would be most helpful and appreciated!

I know you said nothing prescription, but maybe get the doctor to write you a prescription for a scopolamine patch? They don't interact ( I've taken both simultaneously, very recently) and the patches REALLY work.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Try Sea Bands. They are these bands that go in your wrist the push on a specific pressure point on your wrist. Got mine at Walgreens and helped on my cruise.

 

[jdcthree]

Since you are looking for natural remedies, have you heard of Sea-bands? Many people have success with those. You wear them on your wrist like this. Ginger and peppermint are supposed to help. You can even buy ginger gum.

 

[jdcthree]

Try Sea Bands. They are these bands that go in your wrist the push on a specific pressure point on your wrist. Got mine at Walgreens and helped on my cruise.

Lol - you posted while I was getting my link ready!

 

[pipervali]

Thanks for the suggestions

I've actually tried the Sea-bands on a previous trip, and they didn't seem to help any. I double and triple checked to make sure I had them on correctly and still nothing. So I think I might just be immune to pressure points unfortunately.

 

[Friendly Frog]

I am like you with motion sickness.

The patch worked for me, but it is not for everyone and is prescription only. Bonnie ( I think that was what it was called.) worked ok. Just old fashioned dramamine works the best for me. I take it about a hour before my flight time, sometimes a little longer as it seems to take a while to get into my system well.

Don't drink alcohol or eat a heavy meal, but a completely empty stomach is not good either. I never attempt to read! I try to just close my eyes and nap. Sometimes just a sip or two of a carbonated beverage helps me as does nibbling on crackers. I find that it is important for me not to be too tired but that is mostly because in addition to motion sickness, I can get migraines if I am not well rested. NOT a good combination on a trip!

I find the best place to sit on the plane is over the wing or further forward, and I normally try to get an isle seat, just in case I need to make a dash for the bathroom. ( So far I have never had to do this, thank goodness!)

One last thing, I find that directing the cold air vent onto my face helps a lot! You might even want to bring a wash cloth and some water to dampen your face a bit.

Hey, I made it to Hawaii, so there is hope.

 

[ShiPooOwner]

Ginger! It was a Godsend on cruises for both DS and me.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I get motion sickness as well, but have never had problems flying. Being sick for two days after a flight might be due to something else. You sound really anxious; anxiety might be your real problem. I suggest you consult your physician before your trip. A different type of medication rather than one for motion sickness might be more appropriate.

 

[buzz2400]

A long time ago someone told me on a cruise that green apples help with motion sickness. Never tried. I have also heard ginger but I never could find any to try. Tried the bands but they really didn't help. Now when I go on a cruise, I use the scopaline patches. The only bad thing about them is you can get cotton mouth. They are also a little pricey. I think 7 patches cost me like $35. I don't like draminine because it makes me drowzy (even the non drowzy stuff). Usually when I go on a plane I take a valium to calm my nerves (I don't get sick on plane, just on cruise ships and roller coasters). Basically everyone is going to tell you all of these remedies because I have any post re: motion sickness. There is also some kind of watch you can buy but I never bought it because it was also pricey. The patch does work however.

 

[Dopey420]

I know you don't want a scrip, but my wife gets a prescription of Ativan from the doctor. One for each flight. Solves the problem.

 

[momof1princess]

OP, i have HORRIBLE motion sickness, to the point that, if it occurs, i am sick for at least a day or two afterward. whenever i need to prevent it, such as a trip to wdw, or a long car ride, i take meclizine. it's a generic form of bonine, and it's available at any pharmacy. i get mine at wal-mart. you just go up to the pharmacy counter, as for a bottle of meclizine, and it's about $5.00 for 100 pills. a box of bonine off the shelf is much for expensive, for about 10-12 pills.

for my upcoming trip, i'd like to try the scopalamine patch, but i'm not sure i want to spend $25 on a co-pay, then pay for the patches, when i could just take the meclizine i already have.

 

[bjscheel]

My kids have had success in the van (I don't remember if we've used it on any flights) with Motion-Eaze. You can buy it at Walmart. It is a scented oil that you dab behind the ears. Smells like peppermint and pine to me. My kids wouldn't take a pill so this is what we tried.

 

[Karenj2]

The original version of this used to be "over the counter", but they now make you get a prescription (not sure why). The product was/is called a Relief Band, and it basically is like a watch worn on your wrist that sends an electronic pulse through your arm which disrupts the nerve that transmits the nausea. It's FDA approved for nausea, and on the link above, it's sold for pilots & pregnant women.

We still have the original, and it's the only device that has enabled my husband - who turns green on a rowboat in calm waters - to go cruising in seas that were so rough that I (the natural-born boater) got sick.

 

[TheRatPack]

I'm going to have to look for the sea bands and motion eaze. Just recently my youngest ds has started getting car sick. We moved him from the back seat to the middle seat so maybe that along with these suggestions will help us get to Disney without an incident of car sickness.

 

[jdcthree]

I've never heard of Relief Band before, but I might have to try that! Thanks! Yikes on the price, though. I wonder if insurance helps pay for it...

 

[stm61]

I have a form of vertigo and get motion sickness very easily. I can't even watch the kids on the swings at recess while I'm standing/sitting still without feeling sick. I take a daily cocktail of meclizine, valium, and ritilan, and still get occasional motion sickness driving home. What works for me is ginger. The only place I can find it is a larger health food store. I live in a rural area and could not find it anywhere. I had a friend from work who lives in a large city pick it up for me. He said he also found it in one of the health food grocery stores (that's what he called it). It's cheap, he paid about $3.50 for a small bag. It's crystalized, so it's got sugar all over it, and comes in round pieces about the size of a half-dollar. When I start to feel sick, I grab a piece and nibble on it. I can't just pop it in my mouth, the flavor is way to strong for me. Another place I've found it is World Market. I went looking for foods from Australia for an International night at school. It turns out ginger must be very popular in Australia because I found ginger beer, ginger gummy bears, and several other candies and cookies. I kept some of the candy in the car until it was gone, but it's easier to keep the small pack of crystalized ginger in my work backpack. As long as the ziplock bag it comes in is kept sealed it doesn't go bad or get to stale to eat.

 

[tasha99]

Motion sickness is miserable. I went on an overnight halibut charter last weekend, and ended up barfing over 20 times. It was awful, and I'm not getting on a boat in any weather again without a patch. I thought I'd be okay with over the counter meds and ginger snaps but omg no.

 

[TheRatPack]

Doesn't Cracker Barrel sell Ginger gum? Probably wouldn't be strong enough to head off motion sickness though.

I did a quick search though and found some Sea Band brand at Drugstore.com. I am going to stock up on some of the stuff recommended here....and now some ginger gum LOL

 

[TheMorgans]

DD used to have horrrrrible motion sickness -- even on a 15 minute car ride. A friend recommended preggie pops. They are lollipops with ginger in them that were designed for pregnant women with morning sickness. They tasted great and worked great for her. I bought them at Babies-R-Us.