Home Forums Fishing Saltwater Sea sickness cure?

I have been lucky in my llfe, so far at least.... to never have been seasick. There was one time or two I have not felt 100% while out at sea but cannot contribute that 100% to being on the water. One of those times I was sick on land too, Being out on a boat way out from Westport was probably not any help. The other time I'm just not sure about. Never puked, just did not feel my normal healthy self.

This weekend my little boy and I were Fishing with friends near Neah Bay. We caught a lot of fish and I had a great time. The swells were big but the water was not really rough. My little boy who is just 3 years old was sick, never puked but he was yellowish looking and lying around the boats front seat. He would not respond. He slept and was absolutely miserable. He said he did not feel good and wispered to me that he wanted to go back to the campsite.

I felt bad about his condition but we had travelled a long way with the boat to just turn around and go back. I held him on my lap but he was like a limp rag. We returned to the pier early afternoon after catching a limit or near limit of Silvers. By the way he was fine for about the first 45 minutes. He was laughing and talking the whole ride out. He even reeled in the first fish. By the time we were on the boat an hour he was getting sick. By the time we were on the boat 2 to 3 hours there were others getting a sick feeling as well. Something about those big swells I guess.



That afternoon I knew we were going to go out in the evening and I was worried that little guy was gonna be the same way again. I was making small talk with the campground owner and I mentioned that he was not too good with the swells. She said her grandchildren also get sick from the boat and even in the car. She went to her car and brought back a couple elastic bands called seabands. They look silly with a plastic ball on the inside which you have to place properly on the wrist to eliminate the seasick feeling. She offered them to me to try out. I was in complete disbelief of this hokey looking non-perscription solution.



We left on the boat at about 4:30PM and I had forgotten that I had them in my pocket. Sure enough he started to get sick again and I knew we would fish til 9PM or later. While he was laying limp and sick, he actually fell asleep, I slipped one on his wrist to the best of my recollection with the instructions given by the camp lady. About 30 minutes later while I was reeling in a seabass I heard him say.."can I have some chocolate milk papa" !! Holy cow he's back! From that moment on he was fishing and talking and eating. It was as if his fairy Godmother waved her magic wand over him and said seasick be gone!

If I had not seen this in person I would never have believed that this seaband accupuncture like treatment would work. However I did see a 100% cure of a really sick little boy in about 30 minutes. They are 10 bucks at Walgreens, I bought a pair for him on the way home. They are now safety pinned to his life jacket for all future sea excursions. By the way he wore only one, and they come two to a package. The package said you must wear both. The Pharmisist said one should work just fine. I would agree he wore only one and it was a perfect 100% cure.

The other good thing is that should he get a bit rambunctious on the boat I can always take it off and he will sleep! Just kidding.



Prior to this photo "pre-seaband" he was totally flat and sick. This photo was taken about 3 hours later into the trip, after I put one on him. No sickness here eh!

Great story and information. I may throw a couple in the glove box of my truck. Really cute kid. Takes after mom, I'm sure. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the info. I love riding in boats and small planes but I am cursed with motion sickness. Bonine and ginger balm pills have worked the best for me. I will have to try those elastic bands. My Dad was in the navy on a destroyer and has talked about liking bad storms cause he would get more to eat in mess. I am not that lucky. Your son is a lucky boy to have a dad to take him fishing.

JJ
Great photo!!!

I get to see lots of folks responding to sea sickness on a very regular basis... I have seen the bands fail to help lots of folks. I suggest starting with them before getting sick. I think that halps a lot. The ginger ale and candied ginger is the best I have seen to eliminate seasickness.

The keys are to ensure the stomach is pleasantly full of something bready when heading out and avoiding big greasey breakfasts. Much of it is mental and keeping up the idea that there will be no problems is big medicine, IMO.
art

Thats the smallest sea bass I have ever seen. I was jigging it (unknowingly) for who knows how long. When we decided to move spots I reeled up and could tell something was not right. Then I realized I had something small on or something foul hooked. I called the little guy over to "catch" this one.

How cool it is to be 3 years old? He could not have been any happier then if it were a 30 pound lingcod. Speaking of which how did I not hook up a ling jigging that fish for so long? I think the problem with this spot was the sealions were kinda plentiful. That is why we were gonna move the boat a little ways.

I was surprised by this sesickness with him. He has been out in the boat with me 100 times this year and never once seasick. Until the ocean with the big swells. Rough lakes no problem, air travel no problem, long to very long rides in the truck never an issue. The ocean with slow moving 10-foot swells sick as a dog! He could not have had any preconcieved notion of seasickness, nor did he know I put that band on him. It's why I think it really must do something to curb the nausiousness and what ever other sick feelings so many people get. What ever the magic, I don't care. It worked and he was a whole lot more fun like this then when he was sick.

I actually said to one of my friends fishing with us. How long do you think I can stay out with him like this before it would be considered Child Abuse?

When he wore that seaband and asked for chocolate milk it was surprising. Of all the things to ask for when your sick feeling,.........milk! He might as well have asked for a hard boiled egg! I'm going out on Saturday with him. I'll report back and let you know if it works again.

I like Hershey bars since they aren't too bad when they come back up. I've been surge sick while diving underwater with good sized swells running. Some of the worst is fishing far offshore in glassy water on an overcast day with minimal horizon and medium sized swells.

Thanks for the word on the wrist bands. I tried them once on loan from a friend and couldn't tell one way or the other since I usually don't get sick. On the rare times I do, it used to be bad, but I haven't been sick in years.

As I understand it, motion sickness comes from the inner ear being out of sync with what your eyes see. As an adult, I find it helps me to try to synchronize the two, by looking at the motion the ear is sensing. Stick with the wrist bands for your son.

If I start to feel queasy, I quit looking at my rod, hands, or anything inside the boat and look at the horizon, which tilts with the motion of the boat. My rod and reel etc. do not move in snyc with the motion my ear senses. Watching the horizon can bring you back if you are not too far gone toward throwing up. Fresh air, outside of the cabin, and keep looking at the horizon. One time I woke in a bunk at sea and realized that everyone else was topside at the rail puking. "Interesting," I thought with no trace of seasickness. I swung my legs over and bent to my shoes and suddenly realized that if I took time to tie them I wouldn't make it to the rail. I sprinted to the rail and looked at the horizon for awhile and though I felt queasy all day, never did throw up. I'd have to tie a knot in two stages, part way, then back at the horizon til my stomach settled, then finish the knot.

As Sitka says, breaksfast is the starting point. Bacon, sausage or ham and fried eggs sets up most stomachs to be prone to the queasies. A light breakfast of dry or minimally buttered toast, etc. is better for most stomachs. Nibbling saltine crackers helps some folks.

What a fabulous shot of the little guy proudly holding up his fish! That's a prize winner, of a photo and a son. You are blessed. Thanks for posting it, it perks up the day.

Art

My wife has tried the pressure point things that JJ talks of. No luck. None of the over counter drugs work. She gets car sick also. Not horribly puking sick but not well. Ear patches work but have so many side effects

We've debated the ginger capsules. Whats the track record? I hate to take a chance again but info is helpful.

Also saw a wrist band that was electronic with differing settings. About 100 bucks. ANy info there?

Thanks for all input from everyone.

Jeff

I usually don't get sea sick but when I do I alwise ether eat ginger snaps, eat dried ginger or drink ginger tea. I found that if you don't think about getting sea sick it doesen't happen. My dad has a charter boat in Kodiak and he has to keep up on the ses sick remidies so he can help his clients out of sea sickness.
I have never tried the bracelets but I will tell him about them.

I was seasick two days this summer. I didn't puke, but I sure thought I was. One was huge seas commercial fishing and the stove went out and the smell of the fuel in the stove always gets me sick in big seas. I usually ride it out in the cockpit in the back of the boat in the fresh air. I try to stay busy sharpening hooks or tying leaders to keep my mind off of it if we are not fishing. The other time was in DaveAk311 and Bertrams boat. The 2 stroke kicker exhaust blowing in my face was more than I could handle........

I've had my share of clients get sick on me. They usually crawl up in the berthing and lay in the fetal position while their wife catches their fish for them...... It seems the bigger the guy, the harder it hits him..... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Still wonder if its worth 100 bucks to try the next gizmo. It was in a West Marine catalog IIRC recently.

I'm always scared to let CArolyn try something other than patches since shes' so easily car sick. Yet those patches have such bad side affects. dry mouth, blurred vision and speach, listlesness etc...

The positive thinking isn't enough for her thats for sure.

I can second the fumes thing. Thats the only time I"ve ever really felt queasy. Makes me take of my life vest(very bad idea- need and inflatable one) and try to get cooler and fresher air.

Jeff

Ginger capsules work great for me.

I'm going out on a tuna trip in a few weeks and I'll be spending two nights out there. Where do you get Ginger capsules? I've goten sea sick a few times and its not much fun.

Thanks Jamie

I bought my at Wal-Mart for a little over $3.00

Good luck.

............................CHEATER!!!!!

I'm checking your pockets this year when we hit the ocean. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I still laugh about our "battle" trying to make the other guy puke, don't know who was closer me or you.

HE he he he.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> You were closer by far.

Now ya know spikey-boy!

They sure worked when riding those coasters at 6 Flags in L.A. last week! The norm for me was one ride and I'm done for the day. Not this time.