What works again seasickness?

This week, we answer an e-mail we received from Ása and Einar, an Iceland couple who wondered what we have found works against seasickness.

Before we start answering, we really want to make a point that we don’t pretend to be experts, nor to have all the answers.

If you think that we get something wrong, or that we missed something, let us know in the comment section, and help the community in the process!

My seasickness has told me a lot more about it than I wish I knew…

Being seasick makes me badly nauseous and drowsy. But in the worst cases, it also affects how I think. I start being very irritated, self-loathing, and sometimes I want to jump overboard to make it stop.

Seasickness is a problem we take very seriously onboard. Being badly seasick means that Ryan may have to single-hand the boat. In some situations, we’ve found that it is better to turn back to port, rather than having the both of us suffering conditions that we cannot handle (or to be accurate, that my stomach cannot handle).

Before I set sail, I make sure I have my 4Fs in check. The 4Fs are a French thing that goes: Faim, Froid, Frousse, Fatigue. Translated it means: Hunger, Cold, Fear and Tiredness.

To that, I had “Hydration”.

It is said that having two of those parameters off balance puts you in the risk zone for seasickness, and I’ve found that in my case, it is true.

My problem with that is my lack of experience. My anxiety is very easily triggered by waves a little higher than usual, big ships or darkness.

So, unfortunately, seasickness happens. When I start to feels the first signs, I try to not make it worse. Things that can make seasickness worse are:

• Bad smells (toilet smells for example…) we’ve found that flushing with some fresh water now and then, as well as servicing the toilet pump has helped us keep the toilet smells in check. But watch for any other strong smell too! When Ryan starting to wax the cockpit while I was trying to get better, my seasickness violently took over.
• Reading, looking a the chart plotter, logging, looking at my phone or laptop will make me considerably worse, it goes without saying.
• Nagging crew members or being perpetually asked if I am going to vomit makes seasickness worse and turns me into a boatzilla. Don’t even think about it…

When seasickness kicks in, I go straight to the helm, I make myself a little snack (and stay away from sugar), I drink some water or some tea, and I stare at the horizon while trying to not get myself psyched up about seasickness.

Ginger works well for me, and I try to stock it in various shapes and forms on the boat: Ginger tea, ginger juice, ginger pills (Antimetil, that I found in France), fresh ginger, ginger cookies or gingerbread.

Sometimes, I don’t get it right. And right after starting to feel better, I have gone straight to my phone, and I ended-up in seasickness hell again.

Ever since I started talking about my seasickness on this channel, I got tons of tups and recommendation one what to do when I’m bad (thank you!!!!). Those include:

• Laying by the center of gravity of the boat
• Sitting on a gumtree, or a picture of a gumtree (I am so confused by that one! Someone please explain! Hahaha :))
• Using essential oils of Lavender, Eucalyptus or mint.
• Putting a earplug on your non-dominant side

While in France, I found “boarding rings”, that are some sort of glasses that somehow…. I can’t even describe it! I should really have bought those and tried them :)

I have previously tried the Sea bands, those bracelets that activate an acupressure point on your wrist, but they haven’t worked too well for me. They seem very widespread, so maybe they help a few seasick fellows out there!

Being nice to myself, and having Ryan being nice around me when I am seasick really helps calming me down. Never underestimate the power of a small hug!

What works best for me these days are the transdermal patches of scopoderm. It destroys my nausea and doesn’t make me drowsy, but the side effects can be nasty and unpredictable I am not a doctor, and this medication can only be obtained upon prescription (at least in the US and Sweden), so talk to your physician!

Those patches almost always consistently dilate my pupils and blur my vision. They leave me with a very dry mouth and a terrible taste on my tongue.

Someone even mentioned to me that his wife got really disoriented on a night watch while having the patch on. She fortunately caught it, but it apparently took her several days to come back to normal. I was also advised to make sure I was peeing correctly with the patch on.

Ultimately, I hope I won’t have to always rely on those patches. I hope that learning more about my seasickness and what works for me will help in the long run.

I wondered if seasickness could be cured. I found that opinions about the subjects are divided. Ryan insists I get a run on the spinning chair that the American army uses to desensitize its pilots. I REFUSE :)

But there is apparently a seasickness rehab facility in Brest, France, not to far away from where I am from, where they successfully treated quite a number of patients with their 3 months program. So there should be hope for all of us!

Let me know if you like this type of video, and I’ll try to do one of those every month, on top of our weekly updates!