Ways to combat sea sickness

[MikeandMegan]

I apologize if there are other threads about this topic but I could not find them.

My wife has been known to be somewhat sensitive to sea sickness on smaller boats. We are going to Negril in 9 days and were wondering what some people to not get sick and enjoy the excursions. The only thing we've heard is dramamine and then an energy drink to fight the drowsiness.

Any tips would be great!

Thanks

[MikeandMegan]

Also heard about a patch you can put behind your ear. Anyone else done this? Thanks again.

[RubiGal04]

We did the glass bottom boat ride/tour at CSS and it made us SICK. We were told later it was due to looking down through the glass, the looking up, and with the rough waters. Almost all of the other guests when we went were green around the gills just like us. We've went snorkeling, cat cruise etc... with no problems, but for some reason that glass bottom boat really did us in for the rest of the day. We sat on the beach and didn't move for hours after that, trying to get our bearings again. Really surprised us because we've never had any trouble before.

[IACouple]

Go to your doc, tell them you get seasick, and get zofran. It is wonderful, they make one that melts on your tongue. It only takes like 20 min to kick in. It is generic now too, so it should only cost a few bucks at walmart/target.

You could probably just call your family doc and ask for a script, they might not even need to see you.

[Vee]

Aside from the regular stuff (dramamine) you can try both ginger capsules (from the local health food store) and/or seabands. Seabands are bracelets that put pressure on a point on your wrist which inhibits seasickness. Actually they inhibit nausea in general. I used them when pregnant, and they made a difference in the amount of morning sickness I experienced.

Also, if you go on the cat cruise, don't drink anything as alcohol can increase the nausea for people who get seasick. And sit at the back of the boat where it rocks less.

Good luck.

[ddeitterick]

There are little patches that you put behind your ears. You have to get them from your doctor, but I hear they work really well, and do not have the drowsy effect.

[Shari and James]

Get a sea sickness patch from your doc they are the best of all!!!

[bonz1962]

Hi, I myself experience motion sickness of any kind. I have found that if you take Ginger Root, from a health store ususally gel caps a week before you start your trip you sould be all set. It's all natural and no drowsiness....

Bonnie

[cypresspeeps]

Great thread. I suffered last year on the Cat cruise. ::shudder::

[Redsoxnation]

I take Bonine and do not get drowsy. There is also a non drowsy Dramamine.

[karinjim]

I too get sea sick very easy. Have been to CN 3x and have done the catamaran cruise 2x without any problem. Did not have to use anything and did not get sick. The Catamaran is a little bigger boat and I think that helps. The glass bottom boat on the other hand could maybe make me or your wife a little sick if you were to go when it is a little rough out. Usually the area of Negril is not as rough as it is on the Ochi side of the Island. I have used just the "sea bands" and they seem to help. That way you do not have drugs on board and can have the rum punch which alone makes things good. The other thing you could do is before you leave, ask your own physician for a perscription for a scopalamine patch. You put it behind your ear and it lasts for 3 days. I used it when I went on a cruise once and I did not get sick.
Have a good trip. You will love CN. Make sure you see Franklin for a good pina colada.
Karin

[Barko]

I use something called Bonine, you can find it at Walmart. It really helps me with sea sickness.

[Brynn]

MikeandMegan, I get sea sick too. I have heard that if you get car sick you will most likely get sea sick too. I've gotten a prescription patch from the doctor before that goes behind your ear. It works great, had no side effects or drowsiness. The only drawback is that you cannot drink while it is on. Come to think of it, mixing alcohol with dramamine probably isn't a good idea either! You might get an RX from your doctor to have it just in case!

[Hikingirl]

bonine (meclazine) works well without the drowsiness. Usually found next to the dramanine in most pharmacies.

[Beergirl]

Hi -

We take ginger capsules, available anywhere, in preparation and during our vacations. We find they aid sea sickness and air sickness discomfort, as well as helping to digest the rich and frequent food and drinks we indulge in.

We start 3 days before we travel, to get the good effects in our system in advance. No side effects, either!

Enjoy!
Beergirl

[louieandsusie]

Ginseng is known as a good motion sickness supplement besides the other health benefits it provides.

[Amy]

Buy Non-Drowsy dramamine - it works for me. Others have worn those wrist bands. I get vertigo, and when we just went out west at a high altitude, my doctor gave me a prescription patch that I wore behind my ear and it worked perfectly!

[Justin_and_Lizzy]

I've heard from a few other people on the message boards that Ginger Root works. I wouldn't know from experience, but it may be worth looking into.

Have a great trip!

[brandonesha]

The patch has worked ok for my wife in other places, but in Jamaica it wasn't really necessary because the water was pretty calm. Just sit near the front of the boat so you don't get the engine fumes, that can be just as bad as the waves to people who are sentitive.

[Lindad]

They also have wrist bands with a button for your pressure point on your wrists. My husband & I used them when we took a couple of cruises. They even worked well when on our last cruise we had some really windy weather (couldn't even do anything on the deck). My daughter who gets motion sickness also used them with great results. I think they also sometimes suggest them to pregnant women for morning sickness. They are only about 5-10 dollars, and can be reused by anyone.

[dirtleg]

mrs. dirtleg swears by ginger capsules. Also if you keep your eyes on the horizon and look out off the boat you will keep your equilibrium better and avoid the nausea caused by the motion of the sea, that's how I avoid it. Lots of good advice above as well. This question comes up a couple times a year and the same remedies are usually posted, I think most of them work pretty well. As mentioned the cat boat is pretty large and does not roll a great deal, pretty steady and the sea is usually very calm and smooth. Good luck, have a great trip!

[MikeandMegan]

Thanks to all for their input! My wife decided we will for sure do the Cat cruise, snorkeling but might skip the glass bottom boat. She has Bonine and already took it (with a couple glasses of wine after to make sure she can handle it), and did okay!

We leave on Monday!!