Dreading a holiday

[Kangaroobrain]

I've got an upcoming holiday booked which I'm actually now dreading. I absolutely love visiting other places, but suffer from horrendous motion sickness which makes me feel panicky and claustrophobic when it comes on - not good on a plane, and creates a vicious circle of making me feel more nauseous. I always take travel tablets religiously but they obviously don't seem to work.

I've had some journeys that have been fine, but on a recent flight (only two hours, after visiting a relative abroad) it was dreadful. I was ill on the plane and all through the terminal - so embarrassing. The flight for this next holiday is four hours, and I'm now losing sleep worrying about it. If it's bad on the way there it'll spoil my holiday worrying about the return journey.

I've spoken to two pharmacists but they can only offer what's on the shelf, most of which I've tried. I mentioned it to my GP last year and he prescribed something, but I realised it was the same ingredient as the OTC travel tablets. I don't feel I can bother my GP with this again as it feels somehow frivolous.

I just want to look forward to my holiday like normal people!

Hypnotherapy may be worth a try. Hope you manage to get sorted and have a good holiday x

I’d go back to your dr and explain they don’t work and ask for anti sickness tablets instead of travel tablets

My mum was,panicking before a whale watching trip , she was already on some pills for dizziness due to menopause, the doctor said to just take those as usual as they were what was prescribed to women with severe morning sickness, glcould you visit your gp and ask for something stronger?

Thanks for the replies. I ended up trying Avilon last night (same ingredient as Phenergan - promethazine) to see how I would react to it, as I didn't want to try it for the first time on the journey, just in case. Knocked me out, I slept really well! No idea how it will affect the nausea, but it might mean I'm too drowsy to worry about it 😂

I should really try the doctors but it just feels like I shouldn't be bothering them with it, when so many people are struggling to get appointments.

I completely understand why you don't want to bother your GP but I do think this sounds like it's a bit beyond the usual travel sickness, especially as there have been times when you've carried on being ill in the airport after you've landed. Usually, travel sickness disappears almost as soon as you set foot on the ground, but I have a friend who continues to be ill for ages afterwards and she does have prescription medication for it. I can't remember what, but it's certainly not something you can buy OTC. I think it's for severe sickness and vertigo - similar to the medication you get for inner ear disorders that make you dizzy, or for the kind of sickness people suffer on chemo.

Do you get migraines, by any chance? My friend is a migraine sufferer and although they aren't triggered by travel, her doctor suspects that the severity of her travel sickness might be connected with her frequent migraines in some way, maybe all part of the same spectrum of issues. My friend does have similar anxieties to you as well.

Yes I do get migraines - not often, but every few months I'll get a few. I've also had bouts of labyrinthitis (inner ear infections) in the past, so maybe that's affected it.

I'll try and speak to the GP if I can - I'm running out of time and I know it's hard to get appointments.

@Kangaroobrain I know this is not directly linked to the original post but I’m wondering if someone (please!) can help.
I too am dreading a family holiday…..My family and I are off on an impending Europe trip invoking a high speed train journey from Paris to Madrid (with a change in Barcelona.) I suffer from severe anxiety and so this is a big thing for me to do!
Can anyone tell me if these trains are going to be the tilting trains as I’m worried about motion sickness.
Ive posted on another thread and some lovely people have given their advice. I’m just hoping that other people can inform me also. Thank you

I second hypnotherapy, it sounds debilitating and like it really takes the enjoyment out of holidays for you

@Hi1985
I'm not sure about trains, I've always been ok on those. I think it's any kind of up and down motion (boats, turbulence) that starts me off.

FWIW, my experience of trains in Europe has been great - they're usually very clean, comfortable and a great way to see the country. If you're anxious perhaps just concentrate on the changing landscape - Paris to Madrid should take you through some really interesting places. I'm envious! 🙂

Try hyoscine hydrobromide - ingredient in Kwells.

The only one that works for me without fail. @Kangaroobrain

You can get it prescribed as tinypatches to stick behind your ear- last longer.

Definitely try different ones. Stugeron is cinnarizine. Worth trying if the hyoscine doesn't work.

Take it a good hour ahead of the travel though. Not the 20 mins it's says.

Thank you

I went on a cruise this summer and was seasick the entire time. Kwells did nothing and nor did those stick on patches. I'm pretty sure it was mind over matter, because the Mediterranean wasn't exactly choppy, it was just all that sea. I found peppermint tea helped combat the nausea but no more cruises for me.

I hope you find a solution. Happy holidays for when you get there.

Have you ever tried those travel wrist bands?

I have no idea whether they actually work, but we all wore them on a fairly rough ferry crossing recently and were all fine.

It sounds like you start the stress even before you go. Ask your Dr for propranolol if you haven't tried it already

Defo get some travel bands - I can't use tablets as they make me feel woozy but I swear by travel bands. Get the official SeaBands ones.

Thank you.
I hope that you’re able to find something that works for you and you have a lovely holiday-I am sure that whatever happens will have a wonderful time.