Avoiding Motion Sickness

I realize this is a departure from most topics in this forum, but its something that has been on my mind for quite a while now.

When I was younger (0-12), I could ride spinning/flipping rides non-stop, literally. For example, I rode Witches Wheel 14 times in a row, without waiting in line and felt completely wonderful during and afterward. Now, if I were to watch it for too long, I'd get dizzy and feel ill. I can ride coasters with no problem, save for Raptor and Mantis, where I may or may not feel slightly dizzy for a short time afterward.

Alas, I cannot ride WT, MaxAir nor any other flat without serious dizziness issues, which is extremely frustrating. I have tried, umm, how should I say this... "self-medicating" after WT and Raptor with the same medication I use for my, ahem, glaucoma. That works very well, but obviously presents a problem as far as administration is concerned.

My question is:

How have others dealt with the sickness/dizziness problem? Dramamine? Please share your experiences, concerns and any solutions, as I would love to be able to ride a greater variety of rides next summer.

Thanks in advance for any help. :)

This season is the first year I have really had problems with being dizzy. The worst offenders are Mantis, Millenium Force (the overbanks), Undertaker U (the tunnel at the end), and Raptor. I really didn't think I'd be able to get out of Undertaker U, but thankfully was with a group of people and holding hands with someone who was so scared that he was dragging me out of the buiilding.

I've invested in Dramamine. They make a version that is supposed to be less drowsy than the original, but it works like a charm. I'm one of those lucky people who occasionally suffer from Vertigo (the illness, not the ride ;)) and usually I can ride maXair, Chaos, Witches Wheel, and other spinny stuff with no problems. If I ride any of these once the dizzy starts, it gets worse and takes a while to get over it.

So, do what I do...buy a thing of dramamine, keep it on you whenever you're at the park. I've always got it (among other various necessities in my fanny pack) whenever I'm in the park.
*** Edited 10/13/2005 1:24:00 PM UTC by raptorgrl***

So that stuff - dramamine - really does work? I've often wondered if it would do any good. I, like djDaemon, used to be able to ride anything and loved it when I was younger. Now I can't go on any "spin and puke" rides. It has nothing to do with getting sick and puking for me, which I never do afterwards. I just get so discombobulated that I feel nauseated, but not "sick" so to say, and I just feel awful. I usually need to take a few hours rest after I do anything like that. I am just fine on any rollercoaster and I can usually handle maXair once at a time, however.

Yeah, I'm a bit skeptical of the dramamine route (but I do appreciate the input, RaptorGirl), just because its a big risk for me. Don't wanna ruin part of my day if it doesn't work.

I know for some people it is also whether they just ate or haven't eaten all day. I get a bit quesy after a while if I haven't eaten. I eat and then I am fine.

I was coaching a guest through MaXair who thought she was going to get sick, I just kept yelling at her to breathe. Apparently that helped because she told me when she got off that she wasn't breathing during the ride, and me yelling at her helped her and didn't make her feel so sick. For some it is because of the lack of oxygen.

Just some ideas I know of!

Lack of Oxygen can make you sick? huh.

I've never been great with some spinny rides (scrambler, troika, swings) but others (witches wheel, chaos, matterhorn/himalaya) I do fine on. I'm not sure what it is.

When I was younger, say about 5 years ago I could ride any ride at the local fair. The last time I went to a fair I got sick (not vomit, just the feeling) from the first ride. Ever since them I've been skeptical to riding the spinners at Cedar Point. On my last trip I went on Monster and I was completely fine. maXair didn't affect me at all either. I think I'm going to try some more spinners and see how they go.

So that stuff - dramamine - really does work?

Yup, it sure does. Taking it 1/2 hour before getting on your first spinny ride usually eliminates the potential for getting dizzy or nauseous. I've never had any side effects from it, either.

raptorgrl said:

So that stuff - dramamine - really does work?

Yup, it sure does. Taking it 1/2 hour before getting on your first spinny ride usually eliminates the potential for getting dizzy or nauseous. I've never had any side effects from it, either.

Yes, but everyone reacts diffrently to medicine. As my science teacher says: "Everyone is diffrent. But you knew that!"

Thanks raptorgrl - I might just have to try that sometime.

I've heard that there are two different medicines used by people who are prone to motion sickness - dramamine (to prevent nausea) and ??????? (to prevent vomiting). Now, I'm not sure why one would need the 2nd medicine, so long as the 1st worked, but does anyone know what the 2nd one could be?

Very tight lips.

MrScott

Tight lips won't prevent it - it will just keep it in your mouth long enough until you can spew where you want.

Thanks for the tips... ;)

raptorqueen said:
I know for some people it is also whether they just ate or haven't eaten all day. I get a bit quesy after a while if I haven't eaten. I eat and then I am fine.

If you havent eaten all day, then you were dizzy because you were "running on fumes" in terms of energy levels, thus greatly reducing your brains capability to keep balance. Riding maXair (as an example) would trigger this dizzieness because it is a "sensory overload ride" and is desighned to make you dizzy. Already being partially impared because of your low energy levels wouldnt help either.

~the clean up crew~

Closing my eyes while thinking of the Lake Erie horizon helped when I rode that hideous Chaos ride. I used to waterski on LE growing up and whenever I got seasick on a rough lake, focusing on the horizon fixed it right away---so visualizing it kept the vomit in check. :) Plus I had gone on three spin rides in a row (witches wheel/maxair/then chaos), which I now would call a stupid choice, so I'd space them out if u can.

A note from personal experience: If you're experiencing motion sickness, and you drop by the First Aid station and take one of their Medi-Meclizine tablets, don't drive home! It made me severely drowsy and it was very dangerous for me driving home (God was on my side that night.) It's a depressant, numbs your senses; makes you feel drunk but definitely not as fun.

Well milleniumrider, thats a good tip - at least I know that in case I do get sick, I can find help @ first aid.

Of course, I'd have to do the unthinkable and let my gf drive my beloved truck home... ;)

Another option may be those electric shock devices that look like wrist watches. I know someone who has had great success in avoiding motion sickness while boating with one of those.

You can find them in some boat supply stores like West Marine, and I remember seeing one listed in the Continental Airlines Sky Mall book as well.

For some reason, the combination of boating (water) and an "electric shock device" is just screaming Darwin Award to me....