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Motion Sickness

Well, in 2 weeks time I'm flying to Germany... and I really don't like planes because I'm paranoid that I'll get motion sickness. :s-smilie:

In particular I really feel uncomfortable during take off and landing - while I'm in the air it's relatively OK, except when there's turbulence or something. How could I prevent getting motion sickness? I don't really want to take tablets because I've never taken them before; plus, I think it's more of a psychological thing. I'm particularly nervous because it'll be on a small plane and they rock more :s-smilie:

Reply 1

joz12345

1

suck sweets when you take off and land

Reply 2

James

14

I've never taken tablets for motion sickness on a plane, but they work great on boats and aren't serious drugs that you need to worry about. It sometimes helps to sit by the window and focus on a point on the horizon, and as always you need to drink lots - it's easy to get dehydrated on long flights, and that does all sorts of crazy things to your body! Try to relax :smile:

Reply 3

bunnycatkid

You could get some seabands, they go on acupressure points on your wrists, no idea if its all in your head or not but they work for me and my sister on long coach trips, we get really nauseous otherwise. I got mine in Boots, theyre like black sweatbands with white plastic circles on the inside.

Reply 4

Louenn

bunnycatkid

You could get some seabands, they go on acupressure points on your wrists, no idea if its all in your head or not but they work for me and my sister on long coach trips, we get really nauseous otherwise. I got mine in Boots, theyre like black sweatbands with white plastic circles on the inside.

Just what I was going to suggest, and they come in a variety of colours. You don't have to have them in black. :wink:

(Although the ones I had were bright yellow - nice!!)

Keep your mind busy, as well, so that you don't think about being sick. And definitely keep sipping water or some kind of drink.

Reply 5

shunter7634

9

I get horribly motion sickness on boats, but not on planes. If, however, you do have problems during take-off/landing, I usually find sucking on a hard sweet is the easiest way to equalise the pressure.

Oh, and just sit back. Trying to concentrate on reading for the 2-3 minutes after takeoff never seems to help. Put it this way, I've never seen anyway be sick during the takeoff of a passenger aircraft, so you'll be fine.

Reply 6

PinkMobilePhone

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22

I agree with bunnycatkid and Louenn - try seabands. I use them on long car/coach journeys or if I'm going on a ferry. They work brilliantly.

And don't worry about not knowing what to do with them, they come with instructions.

I'm pretty sure you can buy some from the airport, but just to be sure you might as well pre-buy some from Boots.

Reply 7

James

14

I'd never heard of these 'seabands', they sound very interesting. However someone mentioned sucking sweets and I'm not sure that really helps with motion sickness. Equalisation during tack-off and landing is an entirely separate problem, isn't it?

Reply 8

PinkMobilePhone

Chat Forum Helper, Life & Style Forum Helper

22

These are seabands:

http://www.sea-band.com/seaband.htm

ETA: Bloody *****ing GRRRRRRRRRRRRR.
Only just noticed it says they are good for morning sickness.

I've had morning sickness for WEEKS. Only just finally subsided this past week!
Oh GOD if only I'd have bloody known!

*Nat kicks self extremely hard* !!!

Reply 9

James

14

lessthanthree

sucking sweets does help with travel/motion sickness - they're not just useful for equalising.

I never knew that. Thanks!

Reply 10

SFC_FOREVER!

1

James Gurung

I'd never heard of these 'seabands', they sound very interesting. However someone mentioned sucking sweets and I'm not sure that really helps with motion sickness. Equalisation during tack-off and landing is an entirely separate problem, isn't it?

They have been around for years mate, but never worked for me. My motion sickness is extreme, cannot travel for more then 10 minutes in a car or a coach (fine on planes and boats). The doctors concluded the only way it will stop is when I can drive, and that's exactly what happened!

Reply 11

Excalibur

OP

15

Thanks for the replies. I will definitely try the seabands - I've never come across them before but they seem really good. I'll get some sweets also. :smile:

Reply 12

quintsy

17

I completely sympathise Excalibur- because of my family in Germany we fly regularly, but even after literally about 100 flights I'm still sometimes nervous about getting ill! I normally have mints or other sweets, like has been suggested, or I sleep while we're in the air. Luckily it doesn't take that long to get to Germany at all, depending on which airport you're flying to (you're going to the West, aren't you?).

If it's any consolation, I have never even felt like I was going to be ill on a flight- and that's with hurricanes and turbulence. :biggrin:

Reply 13

Excalibur

OP

15

suuuuuuseh

I completely sympathise Excalibur- because of my family in Germany we fly regularly, but even after literally about 100 flights I'm still sometimes nervous about getting ill! I normally have mints or other sweets, like has been suggested, or I sleep while we're in the air. Luckily it doesn't take that long to get to Germany at all, depending on which airport you're flying to (you're going to the West, aren't you?).

If it's any consolation, I have never even felt like I was going to be ill on a flight- and that's with hurricanes and turbulence. :biggrin:

Thanks Susie - yeah, we're going to Frankfurt-Hahn so it shouldn't take that long (apparently ~2 hours) so it shouldn't be too bad. I'm just scared stiff of turbulence etc though; I had one when I was flying home from Japan and it scared the pants out of me :p:

Reply 14

claire19c

Dont worry about turbulance - I once watched a show where they showed that a jumbo jet is made to do a loop the loop. So turbulance is a not as bad as people think.

For the motion sickness, Ive tried bands and sweets and to be frank they are useless. On me anyway.

The only thing that stops me being sick on planes are travel sick tablets that are only available in the America, which is not very handy! You can probably buy them on the net somewhere though, they are called Bonine. They have also stopped me being sick on boats. I swear by them. I have tried other tablets and they didnt work, this is the only thing that has ever worked in my life. I normally buy about 4 packs when I visit the States to stock up!

However I wouldnt worry too much, youre flight should be under 2 hours, so you should be ok unless you get extremely nervous which could make you sick in itself. So stay calm and unless you have horrendous turbulance you should be fine.

Reply 15

quintsy

17

Excalibur

Thanks Susie - yeah, we're going to Frankfurt-Hahn so it shouldn't take that long (apparently ~2 hours) so it shouldn't be too bad. I'm just scared stiff of turbulence etc though; I had one when I was flying home from Japan and it scared the pants out of me :p:

Sounds about right- the quickest we ever got to Hannover was 50 minutes, and it's a bit further North. It shouldn't take that much longer to get to Frankfurt, I think.

Ahh turbulence.. :p:

we had some on the flight home from Germany at Christmas, but you'll know that it doesn't last that long, if you're unlucky enough to get any at all. The planes to Germany are also normally not very small, so they can fly at much higher altitudes where you're less likely to encounter turbulence anyway. If you have a choice of where you're sitting, then a seat in the middle could possibly be less exposed to it; so that might help a little.

Reply 16

The Guru

Hi Excalibur,

It's normal for a plane to rock occaisionally and dip during turbulence. I take it you don't like roller coaster rides either? I know they both differ but they do have the same effects on your tummy.

Yes it's psychological too. Some people take tablets to send them to sleep or slightly intoxicated. Others have a couple of pints. Some people take asparin. Some people take off their shoes and socks. The most time I've been in the air is 22 hours, hmm felt like a sardine in a very small tin.

Have fun in Germany! :biggrin:

Reply 17

Excalibur

OP

15

Thanks

Yeah, I'm not a huge fan of rollercoasters either - they make me nervous :s-smilie:

I guess I'm more nervous than usual because I'm going with my friends, as opposed to with family... so I don't know how I would react!

22 hours, now that is a lot :eek:

The most I've travelled is 13 hours (to Japan).

Reply 18

ZoomZoom

I take Gravol before I take off. Works pretty well and tends to knock me out.

Want to know a dirty little secret about Sea Bands? They don't work because of any acupressure point. They work because the body has a hard time concentrating on two things at once (pressure on wrists, nausea). You can press anywhere on your body and if it's strong ebough it'll disrupt the nausea. Or you can flex your leg, dig your nails into your palm, whatever.

Oh, and sometimes you're just going to get sick no matter what you do. I find it's not that bad if you accept it...

Reply 19

scribble_girl

14

Louenn

And definitely keep sipping water or some kind of drink.

For example, neat vodka :p:

Motion Sickness

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