Two years ago I went on a cruise with my in-laws to Southeast Alaska. I spent a lot of the trip being seasick, praying we would get to land quickly. The other 17 people in the group were fine and I was the lone weakling. This year we are going on another cruise with the in-laws to the Caribbean. I'm not thrilled given my tendency to get sick but my husband really wants to go and the in-laws would be super offended if I stayed in my desert homeland so not going is not an option.
I want this trip to involve less seasickness. Any tips? On the last trip I tried the patch behind the ears prescribed by my doctor, the seasick wristbands and good old Dramamine. TIA!
Re: Seasickness suggestions
Bonine works better for me than Dramamine.
I also drink ginger ale to settle my stomach.
The best thing I've discovered is to find a spot on the boat where I can see where the boat is headed (i.e., approximate as best as you can what the captain of the boat is seeing). Pretend you're steering the ship.
Fresh air is helpful, as well.
Good luck.
I don't usually get seasick, and never have on a cruise, but staring at a landmark, or at sea the horizon, helps me. Something that absolutely does not move. If you go into your cabin, especially the bathroom, the walls sway with you, and your eyes and inner ears disagree about whether you're moving. (Your inner ears say yes, your eyes say no since you and the walls aren't moving relative to each other.) That makes you feel sicker. So alas, hiding out in the bathroom is pretty much the worst thing you can do if you're seasick, assuming you can keep your lunch where it belongs.
I never got seasick before. After the birth of my son, something has changed and I become sick very easily.
I would try ginger tablets along with the other good suggestions. Good Luck.
Dramamine, it's totally worked for me every time, and I'm very prone to motion and seasickness.
I was going to suggest the patch (I had a scopolamine patch the first time with surgery and it was *amazing*) but if you've already tried and failed with that, the pressure bands, and Dramamine, yikes!
I sometimes eat this spicy soft ginger candy (I can't remember the name, but I got it at Target), and when I had issues on my cruise eating and walking around on the deck out in the fresh air made me feel better. Also, I agree with Miso that Bonine is better than Dramamine.
The ginger diet supplements and ginger candy. Gingins are a little spicy, but there are a lot of others. Ginger beer (non alcoholic) green apples.
Talk to your doc about other prescription anti metic pills to treat the nausea after it starts if the patch didn't work.
Cancer sucks.
Also try the behind the ear oil-- I believe it's called Motion Ease. You can get it at boating or drug stores. The beauty of it is that you can use it when you start to feel sick. By then, it's too late for drugs. And you can use as much as you need to since it's not a drug. It helps if any particular smells make you sicker, like gasoline from boat engines tends to do to me.
I'm also a Bonine over Dramamine fan.
One thought-- could you have been over medicated last time? I think using all 3 things you did could mess you up.
These are the only 2 things that help my husband. Good luck!
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DH and I were both a little seasick on our first cruise, but did far better on our cruise earlier this month. We took ginger root capsules (from Wal-Mart) starting a few days before the trip. I took the less-drowsy Dramamine as soon as I boarded the ship and took the regular Dramamine when I went to sleep. I also drank ginger ale when I didn't need caffeine. After a few days, I didn't even need the ginger pills. I also recommend being careful with what you eat.
I also recommend going on the biggest ship you possibly can. Typically, bigger ship = less movement = less seasickness. I was just on Oasis of the Seas and even when the boat was rocking a bit from 40+ knot winds, I was fine.
I may have over-medicated myself the last time. At first I just did the patch but when that wasn't helping, I tried variations - never all three at once though. I had put the patch on prior to boarding the ship just like the doctor instructed. However that still didn't do it for me.
PP - how did you like Oasis of the Seas? That's the ship that we are going on. The in-laws were hoping that a bigger boat would help.
I always do well with Bonine. And the key for me is to start taking it a full 24 hours BEFORE I embark. If I wait until the day we board, I'm toast.
Also (although this may be too late if you've already booked), a cabin on a lower deck and close to mid-ship is a good choice because you'll feel less movement.
I think you took and tried too many different things.
I would take Bonine a few days before you leave. Normally 24 hours is okay, but sense you had problems, I would start earlier. You can give yourself another dose if you need too. (It's Meclizine and most docs wouldn't have a problem with you taking a double OTC but I would check with your doc b/c you had so many problems last time)
I was going to suggest 7-up or Sprite too, to settle your stomach. And my MIL who cruises once a year, has always said tried to get your room on the middle of the boat. Its the least rocky area. In Cancun last year we road this fast glass bottom boat, I have never gotten sea sick before but this was horrible. I was about knocking kids out of the way to get off when we got back to shore (not really but I wanted to). And that was only like an hour trip, so I really feel for you! Good luck!
I've heard this works great. My sister gotcar sick on a drive to Colorado, and she used this and said it worked great!
TTC #1 since 10.2011