Overcoming motion sickness

[SkydiveNFlorida 0]

I get motion sick on roller coaster rides, and in the cabin of small boats. I was wondering if anyone has been able to overcome this through skydiving, mainly canopy exercises? Like, if I do a few hard spirals under canopy every jump, might I eventually be able to work this up to being able to ride a roller coaster without feeling quesy (sp?).?

Any thoughts?

Thx.
Angela.

[Nightingale 0]

only thing that helps me:

scopolamine patches (Rx)
or
Ginger pills

try the ginger an hour before you're going on the coaster. LOTS of water.

[SkydiveNFlorida 0]

That's cool, and another consideration. But, I guess I was hoping for something more permanent. I mean, we can adapt to all sorts of things as human beings... why can't my body gradually overcome motion sickness like an allergic person can become immune to an allergent through injection of allergy shots?

Am I explaining this right? Is this unreasonable?

Angela.

[Aviatrr 0]

Go spend a few months on a small boat. The first few weeks will suck, but you'll build up an immunity to it after a while. Sorry, but it's the only way I know of....a good friend of mine went through it in the Coast Guard.

Mike

[flyangel2 2]

I think what makes me sick on rollercoster rides is the jerking motion. When my head gets jerked around and starts pulling on my neck, that's what I don't like, then I get sick. I tend to just stay away from the rollercoster rides.
Seasick? I've only been on boats a few times, and have never experienced being sick.
Good luck.

May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

[Nightingale 0]

ginger will probably help you... give that a shot. its cheap too!

[councilman24 37]

Living in MI my jumping is mainly seasonal. At the beginning of the season it doesn't take much to get me motion sick. I get motion sick pretty easily anyway. Later in the year I can get by ok. But hard, long spins I usually save for the last jump of the day because they'll make me queazy. Meclizine HCl (trade name Bonine) solve it for me for anything. I don't take it all the time but early on, jumping on bigger plane where I can't see out a window, etc. I take it just so I don't have to worry. Once a day and I've never had any side effects. But try it out before jumping while taking anything.

I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE

[hipgnosis 0]

Some of it will carry over.

However, what I suggest is to use one of these FDA approved devices :

http://www.sportys.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?&did=19&product_id=4170

The band has different power levels, so you can turn it up as needed to help control your queasiness.

I used one when I was getting my pilots license and found that little by little I was able to get by with it less and less.


Bill

[SkydiveNFlorida 0]

The point here is that I hate relying on pills or devices. I am hoping that I can actually overcome this altogether by getting myself dizzy regularly by spiraling under canopy. I'm wondering if anyone else maybe used to get quesy, then started jumping and doing spirals and such, and it eased up for them. Mike's reply was the closest to what I was thinking.

Mike, do you think the same logic could be applied with spiraling and making myself semi-dizzy/nauseous? Or, do you think that doing this one day a week wouldn't be enough and that you really need an all day everyday think like a long boat trip?

More thoughts?
thx!
Angela.

[jumper03 0]

Quote

I think what makes me sick on rollercoster rides is the jerking motion. When my head gets jerked around and starts pulling on my neck, that's what I don't like,

Keep your head pressed against the head rest as if your life depends on it and I garauntee you a different ride

Jump

Scars remind us that the past is real

[SkydiveNFlorida 0]

Ok, i'll do that next time. But, let me appeal to you here as well. This is not only with roller coasters. Boat cabins, backseats of cars. Hell, front seat if i'm riding with my girl, Noelle, lol! I even get a bit quesy if I do too many spirals under canopy, which is why I am thinking this may be a good way to get over it. Maybe do spirals, but not so many as to get quesy, just enough to *almost* get quesy.

what'dya think?
angela.

[hungarianchick 0]

Motion sickness is a real pain in the ass...
On my first tandem I felt really quesy during the canopy ride, but I had no issues during AFF since I was in controll.
I believe that motion sickness is partly phsycological, and I think you should try some relaxation techniques or even hypnosys (or try the accupressure armbands)
However, if your equilibrium is really sensitive there may not be permanent drug free solution.

Good luck!

"I love cooking with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food."

[jumper03 0]

Quote

Ok, i'll do that next time. But, let me appeal to you here as well. This is not only with roller coasters. Boat cabins, backseats of cars. Hell, front seat if i'm riding with my girl, Noelle, lol! I even get a bit quesy if I do too many spirals under canopy, which is why I am thinking this may be a good way to get over it. Maybe do spirals, but not so many as to get quesy, just enough to *almost* get quesy.

what'dya think?
angela.

I really have no clue. I've been on ships, boats, planes, trains, automobiles, roller coasters etc and I've never even come close to motion sickness. Is there any correlation to having eaten or not eaten anything prior? I know some people do well by eating something right before and the motion sickness is attenuated. For other people that is a recipe for insta-hurl. Ever tried any of that motion sickness stuff?

And we're sure alcohol is out of the equation right?


Jump

Scars remind us that the past is real

[bch7773 0]

I don't think that a few seconds of canopy spirals every few days would be enough to do it.

I know that with air and sea sickness that people can get over it, if they are constantly exposed to it. I do get very sea sick, and something that I noticed that helps is keeping your eyes on the horizon. Since motion sickness is nothing but your eyes and brain argueing over whether you are moving or not, you can force your eyes to notice you are moving by looking at the horizon.
If you want to prove this works, next time your on a boat, stare at your feet for a few minutes. if you normally do have sea sickness, you'll be puking in a few minutes.

MB 3528, RB 1182

[Aviatrr 0]

Quote

Mike, do you think the same logic could be applied with spiraling and making myself semi-dizzy/nauseous?

Unfortunately, no. It would take total immersion for a long period of time. Think of it this way....if you drink a 12 pack of beer within an hour once a week, will you ever be able to function as if you were totally sober shortly afterwards? Nope. How about an alcoholic that drinks that much, or more, on a daily basis? More than likely. Of course, we may need to test my alcohol theory....once, maybe twice a week should be sufficient.

Mike

[hipgnosis 0]

I hate relying on pills or devices as well.

However I used the device I described to get rid of the motion sickness I had. Now I don't use one at all.

Bill

[SkydiveNFlorida 0]

wow, that's an expensive device. Do you really think it helped, or do you think you just got used to flying?

Thanks:)
Angela.

[kallen 0]

I hope this helps but I have battled a little bit of motion sickness over the years, sea sickness on an ocean fishing trip and motion sickness on some theme park rides and it appears to me as if it is nature and not nurture. My 8yo son does not have it but my 13yo daughter does. I don't know if continually subjecting yourself to the conditions will "cure" it but I have found something that helps: Look at the ground.

I have found that looking directly at the ground while you execute canopy spirals or when the pilot cranks a big turn in the airplane seems to help me a lot. I believe that the ground reference reminds your brain that your body is in motion. Of course, before you initiate canopy spirals, be sure to check the air around, above and below you for other canopy traffic to make sure you don't spiral down into someone or their flight path.