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Original poster

Anyone else still waiting to 'grow out of' travel sickness?

33 replies

Geoffreythecat · 22/02/2020 11:12

Dont think it's going to happen now sadly, but would be interested in others' experiences of severe travel sickness. Anything more than about 5 miles and I have to take medication, and even then I might still throw up. Anyone else suffer similarly?

We're off on a road trip for a month soon and other than scopolamine patches, am not aware of anything else that will help. This level of nausea is way beyond ginger, looking at the horizon, sitting in the front etc, have any of you found something that works?

Also, as a migraine sufferer and someone who gets severe post-op nausea and vomiting, I'd be interested to know if any fellow vomiters have the same combination of symptoms.

OP posts:
Whatsnewpussyhat · 22/02/2020 11:15

Have you tried the pressure bands you put on your wrists?

Original poster
Geoffreythecat · 22/02/2020 11:18

Yes, no effect at all sadly.

OP posts:
pinknsparkly · 22/02/2020 11:28

I'm exactly the same and have tried everything you've already mentioned. Depending on your situation, this may not be a helpful suggestion but the only solution for me is to be the one doing the driving..... Which I don't particularly like doing but is definitely the preferable option!

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pinknsparkly · 22/02/2020 11:31

I assume you've tried all the over the counter oral medications? I assumed you had but realised that I'd misread "patches" for "pills"

MuscatelGrapes · 22/02/2020 11:34

I thought I'd grown out of car sickness in adulthood after a childhood spent miserably throwing up on verges on car journeys.

Then I spent some time visiting my parents recently, and was driven places by my father for the first time in years and years. Right back to car sickness, but now I realise that it's largely my father's driving style.

I'd never noticed it before, but he's a very speed-up-slow-down kind of driver, continually braking and accelerating, rather than someone who maintains a smooth, fairly constant speed, and it seems to be that which is/was largely responsible for my car-sickness.

But it's not just that -- I can't sit with my back to the engine on trains, am made violently ill and dizzy by even simple little playground carousels, and the only time I've had a GA I was very sick after I came around.

pooriver · 22/02/2020 11:35

Mine has come back sadly. I medicate myself whenever I'm travelling but not driving.

LER83 · 22/02/2020 11:39

Have you been to the dr for tablets? Only ask as had horrendous morning sickness with my 3 pregnancies and I was put on cyclizine which can be used for travel sickness - I once got it over the counter. Mines not so much travel as motion sickness. Ok in the car as long as I don't read or look at my phone, can't go on boats, springy floors/some lifts and escalators set me off and cannot watch any tv that is like a handheld camera type/moves around a lot - can't sit close in the cinema etc. I've found it getting worse as I get older.

thecapitalsunited · 22/02/2020 11:39

DH always moans that I don’t travel well and thinks I haven’t tried everything. Over the counter pills do work for me but they have a strong sedative effect which make them impractical for things like sightseeing tours unless I take a 24 hour pill right before I go to bed. Trying so many pills has also given me a Pavlovian reaction to travelling which makes me uncontrollably sleepy alongside the nausea. But at least that stops when I get out of the car! The pills knock me out all day.

Musicalstatues · 22/02/2020 11:45

I suffered terribly as a child and as an adult although I very rarely now vomit I feel horribly nauseous within minutes of setting off as in eyes closed, willing down stomach contents for the rest of the journey.
I discovered Dramamine on holiday in USA. It’s been life changing. I can even spend car journeys reading stuff on my phone and don’t even get a little bit nauseous. If you have any way of getting hold of this then I can not recommend it enough. It has completely changed car travel for me.

Original poster
Geoffreythecat · 22/02/2020 12:03

Thanks everyone. Hyoscine tablets (Kwells and Boots Travel Calm) do work as they have the same ingredient as the patches, but they don't half make me sleepy and I struggle for words which is apparently common. Interesting to see cyclizine mentioned as the GP used to prescribe that for me as a child. You could buy it over the counter but it became difficult as apparently drug addicts use it with something else. Might try that again and will also look at dramamine. It's a horrible thing isn't it, sympathies to fellow sufferers.

OP posts:
Seventyone72seventy3 · 22/02/2020 12:06

I second the post about driving styles! Start stop driving makes me very sick. If you are not driving you need a good driver!

JustPickleRick · 22/02/2020 12:11

See if you can get your hands on some Dramamine from America. My DS uses the kids version and they're great. I had a friend who visited New York and she bought me a few packets whilst she was there - we're going to run out soon and don't know how I will get more 😩 They honestly work so much better than the stuff over here.

Original poster
Geoffreythecat · 22/02/2020 12:20

We'll actually be in America for some of our trip so I'll pick some up then, thank you. It's a shame there isn't something which works brilliantly and is non drowsy AND you can get easily otc. It's a miserable thing to live with isn't it.

OP posts:
BigTeaCup · 22/02/2020 12:21

I can't even go ten mins in a car without getting a headache, nausea, and overheated. I have the pressure bands but imo they do not help. The only thing that helps is travel sickness medication and even then not by much.

Twickerhun · 22/02/2020 12:22

I get horrible travel sickness with certain drivers only, it’s miserable

formerbabe · 22/02/2020 12:24

Yep still get it...It's why if we're going out, i'll always drive rather than dh. Last time he drove us both for an hour, I vomited as soon as I got out of the car. I'm fine if I'm the one driving. Took my dc to a fun fair recently. I was so ill after the waltzers but didn't want to vomit in public with my dc there...I managed to hold off until we got back home then I threw up. It's hideous.

joffreyscoffees · 22/02/2020 12:25

In nearly 32 and still waiting. My brothers all grew out of it but I never did. I try to be the driver as much as I can as I don't have it that way.

TW2013 · 22/02/2020 12:29

If you get other visual disturbances it might be worth looking into Irlens as tinted glasses might help. I agree too with the driver and the route. Country lanes are not good for me. I am better if I drive.

cannotmakemymindup · 22/02/2020 12:36

Yep never grew out of it either. I'm 34 now. Definitely would categorise mine as motion sickness to. Spinning things are the worst. Even watching people/children spin I cannot for the life of me understand how people enjoy it.
I do most of the driving to, to make sure I am not ill. Plus keep crisps in the car to help with the sickness/nausea. I could swear it's why I suffer from such bad sickness in pregnancy.

Original poster
Geoffreythecat · 22/02/2020 12:44

Yes to watching spinning, even on TV. Also watching a train whizz past at a level crossing can bring it on. And the sun flickering between trees when we are driving along.

Definitely better if I'm driving. When DH and I went on our first holiday together, we had to stop for me to throw up in a field (how romantic) and then I took over driving and was OK.

Another hyperemesis in pregnancy sufferer too - 35 weeks of throwing up multiple times daily.

OP posts:
SwedishEdith · 22/02/2020 12:44

I've grown out of it but don't know how or why - sorry, I know that's not helpful but might give you hope. I've even had vomit-inducing vertigo but still don't get travel sick anymore. Have been on two very rough ferry crossings in the last 12 months and I even quite enjoyed them. Can easily read my phone in the car. I do think - but have no evidence - that some of it is expecting to feel ill. My eldest (in their 20s) still feels terrible at all travel but talks about it before travelling. Almost thinking themselves into it.

loutypips · 22/02/2020 12:49

If I'm driving I'm fine passenger in the front 99% I'm okay. In the back it's risky. Different cars affect me too. I was always ill as a passenger in my dads Meriva.

I thought by now I would've grown out of it!

VirtualHamster · 22/02/2020 12:50

I've grown into travel sickness. I can just about manage as a passenger on a motorway but anything wiggly or stop start is awful. I'm fine as a driver or on trains or planes. Buses and trams are the worst, especially in the winter when they have lights on inside so you can't see out the window. Luckily the OH doesn't drive so it's not an issue generally

Babdoc · 22/02/2020 12:51

Stugeron was a complete game changer for me. I used to be sick on coaches, boats, you name it.
Now I’ve been on cruises, coach tours through twisty mountain roads, stop/start crawling in city traffic - all sickness free.
I use Stugeron for my labyrinthitis too - it’s brilliant at stopping the nystagmus and vomiting that come with that.
You can buy it over the counter in the U.K., so very accessible.

VirtualHamster · 22/02/2020 12:53

Oh yes, and on trains i can't travel backwards. Which is a right pain as one of the journeys i do goes into a station and then back out the same way so it's not possible to stay in one seat and be forward facing the whole way.

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