28 replies to this topic

[WreckWench]

One more thing...if you go with the patch...try it before the trip...make sure you do not have any allgeries to it or it causes skin irratation..Last thing you need is to get out there and find out you cannot use it. Most people do not have any problem with it.

GREAT SUGGESTION!!! The patch is often TOO MUCH for many people and they will feel sick to the stomach while using it so trying it in advance is a good idea. OR test the Meclizine (much cheaper and can be resold to me in T&C if it does not work for you.) The way to test if you can is the car example or another place where you often feel motion sickness.

It used to come in 25 and 12.5 mg sizes (same price for either bottle by the way) and now I can usually only find it in the 12.5 mg size. FOR THOSE WHO GET VERY SEA SICK TAKE 50mg am and pm and you will feel fine!

This med is widely available as its used to stop nausea with cancer patients AND it is what most of the cruise ships hand out when they hit storms that toss those big boats around like toys!

Oh yes...and Meclizine IS the active ingredient in non-drowsy Dramamine....ONLY CHEAPER!!!

[Landlocked Dive Nut]

It used to come in 25 and 12.5 mg sizes (same price for either bottle by the way) and now I can usually only find it in the 12.5 mg size. FOR THOSE WHO GET VERY SEA SICK TAKE 50mg am and pm and you will feel fine!

Might re-phrase it to: "For those who get very sea sick take 50mg multiple times per day and you MIGHT feel fine!" But, I can feed the fish in Bonaire, so I could just be an anomaly! [translate that to weird if you must...]

I get the 25mg chewable Meclizine through Amazon.com.... here is the link and it's been marked down to $2.22 per 100 count bottle!!! You should have time to stock up.

[scubabug]

One word of advice on the patch, besides trying it on dry land first to be sure you don't have side effects. Do NOT touch your eyes after handling the patch, until you have washed your hands thoroughly. You will dilate your pupils for the next three days if you do. Not a problem if you're careful washing your hands, but a known side effect (to those of us in the medical field). I did have a companion on a cruise ship who did this and unfortunately spent a day at the eye doctor's office learning that her patch was the culprit before running into me and hearing it for free!
Janet aka scubabug
PS if you have that much trouble with seasickness, by all means plan on the patch if you can use it. Ginger works for some people, but not consistently. Some do good, and some..............

[ch20diver]

OOOHHHH Ginger ...tried it once..it was recommended and I followed directions...it was not very fun puking ginger out through my nose...still can't eat chinese food. However, do know a couple people who do fine with it.

[dolphinswimmer]

tip if you are going to use the patch is to get super sticky bandaids( or adhesive tape) to place over the patch. Remember you will be diving everyday and they are ment to stay on for 2 or 3 days. But I have seen people who use them come back from the dive and it be missing.

[WreckWench]

I find that ginger helps out but I don't rely on it. But I usually have it! Will be trying to find before the T&C trip! (Normally T&C is so flat but with possible storms on the horizon we may be a bit more choppy!)

[shadragon]

While most of the recommendations so far are for medication. That is only a small part of avoiding Mal de Mere.

Good overall article on sea sickness here The article is written for a sail boat, but the tips are still applicable for liveaboards and fit in with diving as well (hydration, rest, no alcohol, etc.)

[WreckWench]

Thanks Simon...great stuff!

[Bubbles]

I used the Transderm Scop patches during last week's Turks and Caicos liveaboard trip and NEVER felt any seasickness or any of the side effects mentioned above. The first patch was put on when I boarded my flight in Atlanta on Saturday morning and then I applied a new one Tuesday evening. I never had any problems with the patches staying in place even after four dives a day. In fact I used a bandaid the first day based on the feedback in this discussion thread and it didn't survive the first dive!

Anyway, I highly recommend these patches to anybody that experiences problems with seasickness.

[lynnlchan]

My experience with the patch didn't go quite as well. My mouth turned into the Sahara and I felt like I'd downed a six pack (no bloat though so that was good.) After I walked into a table on dry land and slurred 'woohoo table!' I decided it was time to take it off. I instead moved to meclizine and then tapered off to nothing.

[secretsea18]

My experience with the patch didn't go quite as well. My mouth turned into the Sahara and I felt like I'd downed a six pack (no bloat though so that was good.) After I walked into a table on dry land and slurred 'woohoo table!' I decided it was time to take it off. I instead moved to meclizine and then tapered off to nothing.

The body is designed to gradually accommodate to the vestibular disturbance caused by the conditions that result in "sea sickness'. That is a good thing in nearly all cases.... something we call "accommodation". Most folks will be able to gradually taper off any "sea sickness" medicine.....

Your friendly ENT's 2 cents.

[uwfan]

I haven't tried the patch, and from Lynn's description, I think I'd be running into that table too. I need a good amount of Meclizine at the start of a liveaboard trip and can slowly decrease or even stop it. Of course I'm the proverbial "drunken sailor" for the first several days after the trip when I get on land and the world continues to rock but there's no boat under me! (Er, and if you have met me, ya know I really don't drink...LOL!)

[secretsea18]

I haven't tried the patch, and from Lynn's description, I think I'd be running into that table too. I need a good amount of Meclizine at the start of a liveaboard trip and can slowly decrease or even stop it. Of course I'm the proverbial "drunken sailor" for the first several days after the trip when I get on land and the world continues to rock but there's no boat under me! (Er, and if you have met me, ya know I really don't drink...LOL!)

Sea sickness is called "Mal de Mer".

When you still feel like you are on the boat after you have disembarked... that is called "mal de debarquement".

Isn't that nice. We ENTs have labeled both conditions.... but the good thing is that eventually and in both cases, you will eventually be back on solid ground.

And that will happen without any medicines. Even better.

[Jerrymxz]

I thought I'd repost in this topic to bring it back to the top with dive season right around the corner.

I use the Patch most of the time when a long boat ride is in the plan. I also use an anti-nausea pill Zofran with a generic equivalent Ondansetron. It is a rather high power medication given to chemotherapy patients to combat nausea. I was given some in North Carolina by a doctor while I was in a rather gelatinous state on the aft deck of a dive boat. Within an hour I was able to function and I dove the second dive. The next day I read a book in the under deck salon and ate a sandwich while at anchor on our surface interval. One thing about Zoforn is there are very few reported side effects and counter-indicators. It is a prescription medication and the first time I brought it up to my doctor he raised an eyebrow but after I explained the circumstances he was more than happy to write it for me. I use it mostly if I start to feel that feeling and not normally as a prophylactic unless the seas are BIG.

Most of the time I dive with the patch. I clean a spot behind my ear with an alcohol pad then put the patch in place the night before. I then cover it with a square of good clear medical tape. I keep the patches, cleaning pads and tiny rolls of tape in a medicine bottle in my "possible Box". I haven’t lost one in two days of diving in two years. If the tape starts to peel I just separate the patch and apply a new square of tape. As stated before wash your hands immediately after handling the patch or you can mess up your vision for hours.
As a long time sufferer of Mal Da Mur these are the things that I have found that work for me. I hope it helps someone. As an old navy guy told me when you’re sea sick you think you’re going to die then you get sicker and are afraid you’re not going to die!