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Motion sickness during choppy OWS
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 2009-09-13 3:37 PM |
Extreme Veteran  453   Long Island, NY |  Subject: Motion sickness during choppy OWSAnyone have issues with this? I had a race this morning and was almost DFL out of the water because I had to stop so many times to dry heave from the motion sickness. The water was very choppy. I actually almost turned in my timing chip after the swim because I was so nauseous and frustrated, but a wonderful event staff member calmed me and told me to get my head back in the game. So my question is- for anyone who has major motion sickness issues what do you do for swims like this? Bonine or dramamine? I don't want to do anything that will make me drowsy. |
| 2009-09-13 4:33 PM in reply to: #2403425 |
Elite 2553  Tucson, AZ | Subject: RE: Motion sickness during choppy OWS I use non-drowsy Dramamine (the purple bottle, not the yellow one of regular Dramamine). I've used it for every race that has an OWS, even Ironman. Works great for me. |
| 2009-09-13 4:45 PM in reply to: #2403425 |
Extreme Veteran 453 Long Island, NY | Subject: RE: Motion sickness during choppy OWS I may have to try that for my next race. Thanks. |
| 2009-09-13 5:21 PM in reply to: #2403425 |
Veteran 281 | Subject: RE: Motion sickness during choppy OWS I have this happen in my two races now. I am scared because I swim a mile in the pool but these short (500-600m) are really hurting my head. Today I had a horrible nose bleed and severe vomitting on my bike portion-I really thought I may need to stop-it was scary. I can not believe this is happening but I need to try something before my first Half Ironman in Nov!. |
| 2009-09-14 6:37 AM in reply to: #2403586 |
Extreme Veteran 453 Long Island, NY | Subject: RE: Motion sickness during choppy OWS jmholmes02 - 2009-09-13 5:21 PMI have this happen in my two races now. I am scared because I swim a mile in the pool but these short (500-600m) are really hurting my head. Today I had a horrible nose bleed and severe vomitting on my bike portion-I really thought I may need to stop-it was scary. I can not believe this is happening but I need to try something before my first Half Ironman in Nov!. That sounds pretty scary. Has it happened before? BTW I don't get motion sickness in the pool and I do wear earplugs so it is not caused by the cold water in my ears. My motion sickness has gotten worse as I get older- can't even swing on the swingset with my daughter without feeling it. Edited by elbi999 2009-09-14 6:38 AM |
| 2009-09-14 8:25 AM in reply to: #2403425 |
Regular 61 | Subject: RE: Motion sickness during choppy OWS I bought some of that natural motion sickness remedy. Can't recall off the top of my head but I think it's some herbal recipe containing something you'd recognise (like ginko balboa, or ginseng, or ginger, or something like that). I also used earplugs. Whatever worked, worked, and it cut down my nausea by about 95%. There was something still lingering during my last big swim, but it wasn't enough to force me to stop. The run up the shore was fine as well. |
| 2009-09-14 12:24 PM in reply to: #2403425 |
Veteran 272 Canton, MI | Subject: RE: Motion sickness during choppy OWS I get motion sickness too...and definitely not an ear issue, I get queasy on boats, cars that stop and go too much, etc. I tried "less drowsy" Dramamine version (purple)...there isn't a complete non-drowsy one - at least not that I could find in stores or online. I tried just 1 pill (instructions said 1-2 tablets) before an OWS in Lake Huron and did great...then promptly crashed asleep on the beach afterwards and didn't feel normal again until the next day. That wasn't going to work for IMFL... I tried candied ginger a few more times before a couple wavy OWS and used it before IMFL with good results. It may have just been a placebo effect, but I didn't care! |
| 2009-09-14 12:43 PM in reply to: #2405253 |
Veteran 1097 Elizabethtown, KY | Subject: RE: Motion sickness during choppy OWS curegirl - 2009-09-14 1:24 PM I get motion sickness too...and definitely not an ear issue, I get queasy on boats, cars that stop and go too much, etc. I tried "less drowsy" Dramamine version (purple)...there isn't a complete non-drowsy one - at least not that I could find in stores or online. I tried just 1 pill (instructions said 1-2 tablets) before an OWS in Lake Huron and did great...then promptly crashed asleep on the beach afterwards and didn't feel normal again until the next day. That wasn't going to work for IMFL... I tried candied ginger a few more times before a couple wavy OWS and used it before IMFL with good results. It may have just been a placebo effect, but I didn't care! Actually, on Mythbusters they showed Ginger to be a suitable preventative treatment for sea sickness. I would try actual ginger pills though. (Chinese sailors have been using it for centuries I guess). |
| 2009-09-14 12:44 PM in reply to: #2403425 |
Extreme Veteran 453 Long Island, NY | Subject: RE: Motion sickness during choppy OWS Hmm.. maybe I will try the candied ginger or the natural remedy. I have gotten a little dizzy before in races after the swim, but never so sick like this. It was my longest OWS so far though (oly race). edited to add: I just read the last post about the myth busters thing. I am going to google ginger pills and motion sickness. That might be the answer for race day... Edited by elbi999 2009-09-14 12:45 PM |
| 2009-09-14 12:48 PM in reply to: #2403425 |
| Member 52 Crisfield, MD | Subject: Me, too I have a terrible time with motion sickness as well, and in all situations. I've found the wrist bands to be effective, particularly if you have something else to think about, like a race. If you are just sitting in a plane seat, wishing you were somewhere else, they don't work as well :-) If you have a watch with a velcro strap, that can act as one. Pull it real tight to put pressure on your pulse. Its better if you have two, so either buy one or get a second watch. The good things about wrist bands are a) they don't make you drowsy b) they work even AFTER you have started getting sick and c) you can take them off as soon as the swim is over. |
| 2009-09-14 12:55 PM in reply to: #2403425 |
Expert 1066 Raleigh | Subject: RE: Motion sickness during choppy OWS Zofran!! Gonna need an RX though. |
| 2009-09-14 2:33 PM in reply to: #2403425 |
Veteran 393 The Beautiful San Fernando Valley in Sunny L.A. | Subject: RE: Motion sickness during choppy OWS elbi999 - 2009-09-13 1:37 PM So my question is- for anyone who has major motion sickness issues what do you do for swims like this? Bonine or dramamine? I don't want to do anything that will make me drowsy. I hope you have better luck than me. Nothing helps me in an ocean OWS so I'm just not going to do them. Lakes, pools, and rivers for me from now on. On the bright side, I don't have to fret about qualifying for Kona. :-) |
| 2009-09-15 5:29 PM in reply to: #2403425 |
Veteran 281 | Subject: RE: Motion sickness during choppy OWS Humm, I am going to test the non-drowsy Dramamine...and wrist bands. I had severe 'morning sickness' during my three pregnancies. I had to wear wrist bands round the clock in my last pregnancy-okay-I will do a few trial swims with this formula. I am not going to let vertigo keep me out of my half-Ironman! It is very annoying and really makes me mad that this happens! |
| 2009-09-15 8:59 PM in reply to: #2403425 |
| Member 23 | Subject: RE: Motion sickness during choppy OWS Ive used the Transderm Scop patch. ( i might have it totally spelled wrong) Its not over the counter. Ask your doctor. It's totally worked for me with fishing. The other over the counter stuff just made me VERY tired, even the non drowsey for some reason. I think it would stay on in a swim. You need to put it on about 24hrs before you need it. Good Luck. |
| 2009-09-15 9:40 PM in reply to: #2403425 |
Expert 838 West Palm Beach, FL | Subject: RE: Motion sickness during choppy OWS I have the same problem on every swim. Won't use drugs to train or race and all other remedies just haven't worked. I've just gotten used to it and can tread water and heave. It freaks out other swimmers and the lifeguards during races but I just relax, get it over with and start swimming again. |
| 2009-09-15 9:50 PM in reply to: #2403425 |
| 163 | Subject: RE: Motion sickness during choppy OWS It can happen. And yes if its cold and theres water in the ear it can cause it. Being excited who can not help that in a ow swim. Relax as much as you can, breast stroke , side stroke then keep the head up and take it easy till it passes. Youve got waves on you disorintation. Take it easy you will get through it. |
| 2009-09-16 7:01 AM in reply to: #2408750 |
Extreme Veteran 453 Long Island, NY | Subject: RE: Motion sickness during choppy OWS Spleen - 2009-09-15 9:40 PMI have the same problem on every swim. Won't use drugs to train or race and all other remedies just haven't worked. I've just gotten used to it and can tread water and heave. It freaks out other swimmers and the lifeguards during races but I just relax, get it over with and start swimming again. What was even more frustrating is that I couldn't actually get anything out of my stomach while I was treading water- just kind of heaved. I guess because I wasn't sitting or standing it was harder for me to brace my stomach muscles to get it to all come out. I do wear earplugs so cold water in the ears was not an issue. Does anyone know if the transdermal patch causes drowsiness? |
| 2009-09-16 8:23 AM in reply to: #2403425 |
| Member 23 | Subject: RE: Motion sickness during choppy OWS Ive used the transdermal patch a bunch of times and it never made me tired. Test it out a week or two before the race so you know. |
| 2009-09-16 11:12 AM in reply to: #2403425 |
Expert 838 West Palm Beach, FL | Subject: RE: Motion sickness during choppy OWS Elbi, I get the same thing: the heaves with no actual vomiting. The big thing is to develop confidence in your ability to "survive" in the water. I'm a long time waterman who freedives, scuba dives, surfs, spearfishes, wakeboards, etc. Despite spending as much time on the water as I have in my life I get ridiculously motion sick. I can't even ride a carousel without getting nauseous. I'm not a fast swimmer but I'm comfortable in the water under a variety of conditions and I'm confident that no matter what comes at me I ain't gonna drown. Good luck with medicating the issue. Experiment and see if you have any success. I've tried everything with poor results. The antihistamines work a bit but make me incredibly drowsy. For me the scop patch was a waste. I had my doc write me a script for oral scopolamine and it is by far the most effective drug/delivery there is. The bad news is it will make you cottonmouthed and on occasion I get a little loopy from it. For me the side effects are not what I want if I'm going to be racing. Like I said, experiment and see if you can find something that works. If nothing works it doesn't mean you have to give up tri or swimming. Once you develop confidence that you'll be OK when the feeling passes you can find a way to suck it up and continue your swim. I'm in a regular OWS group and at first I was embarrassed that I had this problem and was convinced I was freaking out all the people I swim with. Oddly enough now, I have a reputation as a hardcore guy who'll still get in and swim even though he "pukes" *every* time. |
| 2009-09-16 11:24 AM in reply to: #2405557 |
Champion 10157 Alabama | Subject: RE: Motion sickness during choppy OWS hondo77 - 2009-09-14 2:33 PM elbi999 - 2009-09-13 1:37 PM So my question is- for anyone who has major motion sickness issues what do you do for swims like this? Bonine or dramamine? I don't want to do anything that will make me drowsy. I hope you have better luck than me. Nothing helps me in an ocean OWS so I'm just not going to do them. Lakes, pools, and rivers for me from now on. On the bright side, I don't have to fret about qualifying for Kona. :-)
x2 You and me both brother! I trained my butt off for the Gulf Coast HIM and about 1/2 way thru the swim I was hurling. I had to be pulled to shore on a gurney behind a Sea Doo....very humiliating. I decided there were enough river and lake triathlons and so there was no reason to try to kill myself training for an event where there was a good possibility of DNS due to motion sickness. ~Mike |
| 2009-09-16 11:26 AM in reply to: #2403425 |
Royal(PITA) 14270 West Chester, Ohio | Subject: RE: Motion sickness during choppy OWS I bought ear plugs for 63 cents....works wonders for dealing with chop and colder temperatures! Edited by QueenZipp 2009-09-16 11:26 AM |
| 2009-09-16 3:10 PM in reply to: #2409605 |
Extreme Veteran 453 Long Island, NY | Subject: RE: Motion sickness during choppy OWS Spleen - 2009-09-16 11:12 AM Elbi, I get the same thing: the heaves with no actual vomiting. The big thing is to develop confidence in your ability to "survive" in the water. I'm a long time waterman who freedives, scuba dives, surfs, spearfishes, wakeboards, etc. Despite spending as much time on the water as I have in my life I get ridiculously motion sick. I can't even ride a carousel without getting nauseous. I'm not a fast swimmer but I'm comfortable in the water under a variety of conditions and I'm confident that no matter what comes at me I ain't gonna drown. Good luck with medicating the issue. Experiment and see if you have any success. I've tried everything with poor results. The antihistamines work a bit but make me incredibly drowsy. For me the scop patch was a waste. I had my doc write me a script for oral scopolamine and it is by far the most effective drug/delivery there is. The bad news is it will make you cottonmouthed and on occasion I get a little loopy from it. For me the side effects are not what I want if I'm going to be racing. Like I said, experiment and see if you can find something that works. If nothing works it doesn't mean you have to give up tri or swimming. Once you develop confidence that you'll be OK when the feeling passes you can find a way to suck it up and continue your swim. I'm in a regular OWS group and at first I was embarrassed that I had this problem and was convinced I was freaking out all the people I swim with. Oddly enough now, I have a reputation as a hardcore guy who'll still get in and swim even though he "pukes" *every* time. I hear what you are saying, but it is not a confidence thing. Not once did I have the thought that I was going to drown. I have been comfortable in water since I can remember. I have known how to swim since I was 4, just never very fast. I just felt like I "wanted" to die due to the nausea. Kudos to you for sticking with it no matter what. I certainly don't want to have to medicate, especially if there will be side effects. Perhaps I will start with the most benign- the ginger capsules, and see if they work. Then try other remedies if that doesn't do the trick. |
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