Comments on: Slowing down motion sickness

By: Rochelle Wollman

Rochelle Wollman — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 03:05:41 +0000

For the past few months I have experienced swaying while standing still to the point of losing my balance. While sitting in a restaurant, I feel like I'm swaying and moving. This has caused me to become depressed and anxious. I feel like I'm going crazy. I've gone to the doctor and she has given me some valium to calm my nerves. This has not helped the movement. I don't feel the movement while at home. Only in restaurants, malls or in public. Suggestions?

By: karen

karen — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:57:52 +0000

Well, I went on a short drive to take a picture of a house. I passed up the address and had to turn around, back up, and then go forward. It hit me right after I started forward. I barely made it back to my office, threw up twice in the toilet; put 2 chairs together and waited an hour, then drove home thinking this must be how drunks feel; ran into the house straight to the bathroom to throw up again. Finally made it to the bed and slept for 2 hours. It took me 30 hours to feel "normal" again. I didn't even think to take the Dramamine I keep in my purse! It was just a short drive, with me driving. I am so sick of taking Dramamine!

By: Cindy

Cindy — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 20:20:46 +0000

I've had motion sickness all my life that has worsened as I've gotten older. Over the counter medicines weren't working for me. I've found the Relief Band and prescription Scopace pills very helpful. I saw a product called Queasy pops that may be an option for children. I haven't tried them myself. Fortunately my 3-year old doesn't suffer with my problem.

To the person posting Dec. 3–that school policy doesn't seem fair. Maybe you should get a written note from your child's doctor about his motion sickness problem.

By: Susan Chacko

Susan Chacko — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:25:14 +0000

This is regarding my son, who is now 5 yrs old. He has had motion sickness for quite sometime. We usually manage by giving light meals, avoiding milk right before travel etc. Just recently however, he got nauseous and threw up when he was getting out of the school bus and school nurse said that since he threw up, he cannot come to school for 24 hrs ie.the next day either. I told her, he does not have any virus. He had a big breakfast and my son said the sunlight made him sick. School nurse insisted it is the school policy. He has been fine and now he missed his second day of school due to the 'school policy'. Has anybody had a similar experience?

By: Pati

Pati — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:51:22 +0000

Suffered all my life. Here's what helps:

1. While traveling, look FORWARD or close the eyes. This will not help with a kid who needs glasses.
2. As soon as travel is over, ginger ale. The kind with calories. Followed by loud belching.

Avoid getting overly warm, or traveling when ravenous or stuffed.

My kids can manage by slowly letting gingersnaps dissolve in their mouth during travel.

By: Susan

Susan — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:06:07 +0000

I have found that the seasick bands for the wrists have worked the best for me. The key to their effectiveness is 1) make sure they are in the correct place on the wrists according to the directions and 2) put them on at least 15 minutes BEFORE you need them. This means before you get on a boat, ride in a car, etc. I have found that once the mothion sickness starts, the only thing that stops it is stopping the motion. But if you put these things on before you need them, they always work.

By: Diana

Diana — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 06:58:05 +0000

Dr. Gupta, I am a lifelong severe sufferer of motion sickness. I can't ride buses for more than five minutes, and as a child I would regularly vomit on car rides... it got better as I got older, but never completely goes away.

The only thing I don't see mentioned in your reports on motion sickness is the "Relief Band" device, which is FDA approved to treat motion sickness. It actually does work for me, although not perfectly. It works best if you start it before you get sick... and the downside is that it does deliver a regular mild shock to your wrist, which is irritating... but NOT as irritating as being incapacitated from motion sickness.

I have no affiliation with the company that makes this product, I'm just happy that there is something out there to help when I don't want to or can't take medications.

If you haven't heard of it, check it out!

By: Bonnie

Bonnie — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:54:11 +0000

The best thing I found that works is just making myself fall sleep. Bring a nice pillow and blanket, turn on the A/C high, and fall asleep. Dramamine and Bonine work for mild situations and help you fall asleep, however, I have been in bad situations where nothing worked. Then I just try to keep my mind on something else other than the sickness... doesn't usually happen, though.

By: Hugh

Hugh — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 17:23:29 +0000

As a child, I suffered terribly from motion sickness. Airplane, boat or car travel made me instantly sick. Dramamine or Bonine both worked fantastically IF taken at least a half hour before the trip. I'm surprised that people haven't discussed these more, since they are widely available. After becoming sick, nothing worked but getting off the moving vehicle as quickly as possible. Of course, you should never read and always look out to minimize the symptoms.

By: Jill

Jill — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 11:12:08 +0000

I too have had motion sickness since childhood. My advice is for young children, what worked for me is I sucked on barley sugar lollies and sang songs out loud, like bah bah black sheep and I even made up a song called barley sugar as I loved it so much as I related it to getting better!! We would drive up to the grandparents farm every weekend along a very long and winding road. We would stop at the top of the range so I could get out and be sick. Then we would walk up and down and sign a song. Eventually after a few weeks my body got used to the drive and no longer vomited, but continued to have motion sickness. Let your children who have motion sickness sit in the front until they stop vomiting! I wish my parents had of done that for me! Also keep the radio on or their favourite CD and sing songs. The walking and the music still helps me now now that I have Mal de debarquement.