Motion Sickness on a plane

[WillFlyToDisney2]

I have never really experienced true "motion sickness" on a plane before until last nite. I was on the first leg of the nite from BNA to CVG (Nashville to Cinci) and was sitting in an aisle seat (I usually sit by a window) on the front row of the plane (I usually sit over the wing). I had a full tummy of healthy food so I doubt it was related to anything I ate.

From the moment we pushed back from the gate until we were cruising I was nauseous to the point that I couldnt read my magazine (felt like I do when I tried to read in the car). Thank goodness for the 10K foot "ding" when I could finally close my eyes and listen to my music.

Anyone else get "airsick" on planes? As much as I loved the free upgrade to first I think I am better off further back in the plane!

Kelley

[MadScientist]

If anything, sitting in the front row would be less likely to cause nausea. You see far less movement of the plane up front. The fact that it hit as soon as you pushed back tells me it had less to do with the seat selection and most likely due to something else. Anxiety caused by a change in your routine?:dunno

I've never been sick on a plane but have seen plenty of others who were. But then again, I usually don't eat anything if I'm expecting a rough ride. I see it most often with people on the prop planes.

Look on the bright side Kelley, at least you didn't :barf

[noflyingfan]

I myself have never gotten sick on a plane; I've been plenty nauseous, but it was never due to the actual flying.

I've often told tales of my sister, though, who knows very well before every flight that she will get sick. Dramamine does nothing for her. The last time she flew, she was on a really turbulent flight on a little prop plane, and everybody was throwing up. They landed late, and she had no time to sit and rest before she had to run to her next plane. When she got on the next plane, there were no barf bags. She asked the FA for one, and the only thing she had was an industrial sized garbage bag, which my sister then had to use the whole flight!

[mkahanek]

While I have never "chummed the fish" there have been a couple of times that I have been nausiated on a plane. Generally it happens if it is fairly bumpy and I can't see anything but white out of the window because of thick cloud cover. If I have nothing to focus on visually that is a problem.

[Disney fan]

Similar to Mark. I need something to focus on!

Sometimes staring at the fasten your seat belt sign works.
For me if there are high clouds outside the window and I see them move it will cause motion sickness.

I now have bought relief band, a watch like device that sends impulses to the vomiting center of the brain. It works great for me.

They have recently started to prescribe the band for nausea due to Chemotherapy.

Lynda

[jfox790]

I am plagued by motion sickness of EVERY kind I think and have been since a kid. The last plane ride I took from Hattiesburg, MS airport to MEM (Memphis) I threw up the ENTIRE way.... it was horrible. I was so sick that I didn't think I could be sick anymore.... but I was!

I have tried Dramimine and it doesn't work....

I am fixing to fly to Orlando from New Orleans in March, and I am calling tomorrow to make a dr. appt to hopefully get some STRONG medication!!! I am excited about my trip but do not want to spend it getting sick to and from locations on the plane.

For all of those out there that do get motion sick--I feel your pain!
GOOD LUCK!!!:rolleyes:

[Passenger Mark]

Hi Jfox!

Welcome Aboard Taking Flight!!!!

:welcome2:

Great to have you here!

You are already doing what I was going to suggest... go to your Doctor!

I'm sure they have something that can work better than over-the-counter stuff.

I know some others here have similar difficulties, and I am sure they will come along and offer more suggestions.

Take care, and again... Welcome!

[Simon333]

I have a four-hour flight to Turkey coming up. It's not till May and I'm already worried about it! I suffer with motion sickness a bit and have never liked flying. I'm determined to fly though, because if I don't it would be like giving in to the fear. I was on the coach (National Express) some weeks ago on my way to London and two people threw up. One of them had a supply of plastic supermarket carrier bags, which came in handy. Lol. I've never been sick on a coach, so I suppose that counts for something! I'm glad that some people seem to be doing okay with the relief bands. I might give that a try. I think focusing on something during the flight might help too. Do many people use those relief bands?

[Lynda]

Simon,

I have used mine for a few years now with sucess. I tried the ones that you wear on both wrists but they they do not work as well for me as the Electronic versionhttp://www.reliefband.com

[EyesSkyward]

...and was sitting in an aisle seat (I usually sit by a window)
That might have been it right there. You're used to having visual cues as to the movement of the plane. When those are removed or lessened, there is a conflict between what the inner ear senses and what the other senses are telling you. Next stop... barf city. :barf:

The nervousness about the "change in routine", and/or the full stomach could be contributing factors too.

Anyway, for what it's worth, I used to get nauseous all the time when I was first taking flying lessons. Granted, I was experiencing G's in ways and amounts that you'd seldom feel on an airliner. Still...

Anyway, Dramamine is not really an option for pilots. What worked for me was having a little something (somewhat bland) to eat. Too full is bad, and totally empty isn't that great either, as it turns out.

The other thing that helped was ginger. A handful of ginger snap cookies, or, better yet, some candied ginger (found in the spice aisle). If you're on a commercial airplane, you might try asking for ginger ale.

Eventually, my body adjusted and I didn't need to take these steps. I suspect that, if you keep booking aisle seats, you'll get used to the change no time.

- Jeff

[WillFlyToDisney]

Actually for me ginger ale does the opposite. The high sugar content adds to my nausea. :barf:

I'll have to try the candied ginger though. Sounds good. I love the ginger you get at the sushi bar. YUM!

[Simon333]

Simon,

I have used mine for a few years now with success. I tried the ones that you wear on both wrists but they they do not work as well for me as the Electronic versionhttp://www.reliefband.com

Thanks Lynda...I'll give it a try!

[Barb-SAN]

I also eat candied ginger...here I can get it at Henry's (Natural Food Store...not sure what other states they are in) in bulk (much cheaper than the branded spice version). It seems to work...at least I haven't been motion sick in any planes yet. I've had motion sickness while at sea years ago (hadn't tried ginger then). Henry's also has a good store brand of ginger snaps...very easy to consume a bag at one sitting...
:eek:
Barb-SAN

[CaptainStark]

In flight school, the trick to keep your student from barfing was to make him fly the plane. It kept his mind busy and off his/her discomfort.

The method I recommend is to sit by the window. Keeping a reference of the actual aircraft motion relieves the brain of the gross aircraft movements and helps it ignore them.

During flight school, I found I got nausea during high G loads. Doing aerobatics was tough at first. Once I got my G-tolerance up, I was fine but that took flying a few times a week and pulling 6-7 G's. After a two week break over Christmas, upon my resumption to training I would lose my vision (grey out) for a few seconds but the nausea portion was still pretty much in check. People sensitive to motion need visual cues to help them ignore their sensory cues. That is why I always recommend the window seats.

(Early on I used to arm my stomach with 2 Pepto Bismol tablets and two packs of Twinkies, often at 5:00 A.M. I was bullet proof! Another friend got "pimped" by his friends and followed their suggestion of eat crushed pineapple before his first ride -a total disaster! The instructor was horrified :shocked: to see his passenger pull his oxygen mask away and out flew yellow chunkules -everywhere! They had to hose out the jet.:rotflmao: )

Time for breakfast!

:ray:
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[EyesSkyward]

Another friend got "pimped" by his friends and followed their suggestion of eat crushed pineapple before his first ride -a total disaster! The instructor was horrified :shocked: to see his passenger pull his oxygen mask away and out flew yellow chunkules -everywhere! They had to hose out the jet.:rotflmao:
LOL!

My instructor made a point to let me know that, if I did actually hurl, to never try to do it out the window. Not unless I wanted to spend some time cleaning out the back of the plane. :tongue:

I've since heard stories of people trying to scatter ashes that way, and winding up with "Uncle Phil" all over the inside of the cockpit. :eek:

- Jeff

[Lynda]

Ray,

What are Twinkies?????

[EyesSkyward]

All about Twinkies! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twinkie)

They're also a fine subject for groundbreaking scientific experimentation (http://www.twinkiesproject.com/).

- Jeff

P.S. They're waaaay better than Fig Newtons. :)

[Barb-SAN]

I can't stop laughing....:lol: Just what I needed this morning!

Barb-SAN

[Insert Clever Name Here]

That's hilarious Capt Ray. Absolutely hilarious. Friends are great, aren't they?

Also about the motion sickness, if Dramamine doesn't work, you may want to try scopolamine. You need a prescription for it, but it comes as a patch and some folks finds works better than over-the-counter dramamine. You're mileage may vary, but it's worth a shot for many people. Costs about $30 to get in the US. For the overseas members, there are others that are the exact same thing but with different names - a couple that probably work better. Anyway, it is a doc visit - but it can really help.

Just remember put it on at least 4 hours before you have to fly (or whatever event triggers it). Takes more time to work than the pill version.