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Travel Sickness?

31 replies

Thethreecs · 12/09/2021 11:20

I'm at my wits end. Ds always suffered with travel sickness, wheeling him in his pram even made him vomit, I've always been told that he'd grow out of it but he hasn't, every trip he's had to take over the counter anti sickness tablets, we've tried them all, we've tried the wrist bands we've tried everything, the tablets make him sleepy, the anti drowsy ones don't work, he still vomits.

It doesn't matter what form of transport it is, he vomits. He's now 20yrs and recently received a really good job offer. He has to do 8 weeks training at their head office which is a 40 minute bus journey. We've done a few trial runs to the place, by car and bus and he's sick every time. It's really getting him down, he doesn't want to be sick when he'll be travelling alone, I can't give him anti sickness tablets every day as it says on the packets not to use long term. Has anyone experienced this? There must be a solution, we're getting desperate now.

OP posts:
Thatsplentyjack · 12/09/2021 11:24

Confused as to why you would be giving a grown man any medication, or doing trial runs to his new job?
Anyway he will be fine taking them for his training. I had to take 9 tablets a day for 30 weeks while I was pregnant.

YellowClouds · 12/09/2021 11:28

At 20 I would pretty much let him make the decision.

But I believe you can get long lasting patches that go behind the ear that last a few days for motion sickness. Might be worth a try?

Thethreecs · 12/09/2021 11:40

@Thatsplentyjack

Confused as to why you would be giving a grown man any medication, or doing trial runs to his new job? Anyway he will be fine taking them for his training. I had to take 9 tablets a day for 30 weeks while I was pregnant.
Hmm Well I'm not sitting him down and popping the tablets into his mouth, I was trying to include information on how bad he has been over the years from when he was a baby.

It was getting him down, he came to me and asked if there was something to stop the sickness completely. He's my son, I want to help him.

The reason we did some trial runs was because he was unsure where exactly the place was, he didn't want to be faffing about on his first morning trying to find the place. He likes to know where he's going. Dh drove him, he was sick, there was a discussion about travel Sickness and how he'd be mortified if he was sick every morning, we tried the bus to see if that would be any better and it wasn't.

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Thethreecs · 12/09/2021 11:45

@YellowClouds

At 20 I would pretty much let him make the decision.

But I believe you can get long lasting patches that go behind the ear that last a few days for motion sickness. Might be worth a try?

Thank you for your suggestion about the patches. I'll look into them.

He has asked for my help to stop the travel Sickness. He knows how travel sicknesses tablets make him feel and he's embarrassed about getting sick. He thought by discussing it with me that I could come up with a suggestion.

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FrownedUpon · 12/09/2021 11:49

He’s 20 and you’re asking for him?? Why doesn’t he learn to drive. Would solve the problem of getting to work.

Seeline · 12/09/2021 11:57

Has he sought medical advice from his GP?

Could he stay somewhere closer to the training place for the 8 weeks - just during the week?

How about cycling? Electric bike, or moped type thing?

SeaToSki · 12/09/2021 11:58

The patches are scopolamine and are prescription drugs. They work very well but have a few side effects. You also have to be very careful to not touch them once ‘installed’ without immediately washing you hands as if you get any in your eyes it can lead to blindness.

Has he thought of just not eating or drinking for a couple of hours before he catches the bus.

Has he tried antihistamines for the sickness, there is a school of thought that a lot of motion sickness can be managed (not eliminated) with antihistamines.

Has he had his ears checked for blockages/infections

Has he tried standing, not just sitting, on the bus so that he can see directly out of the front window

Has he tried ginger chewing gum

Thethreecs · 12/09/2021 12:03

@FrownedUpon

He’s 20 and you’re asking for him?? Why doesn’t he learn to drive. Would solve the problem of getting to work.
Yes I'm asking as I'm on here years and thought maybe someone would have experienced bad travel sicknesses and maybe have a solution or cure, as we've tried nearly everything throughout his childhood we're running out of ideas.I don't think he'd be interested in joining here to ask. He doesn't know I'm asking here, I was kind of hoping for some suggestions for him to try.

Unfortunately learning to drive is not an option right now. The cost of lessons is expensive, the wait time for a test is nearly a year and here were we live you can't drive alone without a full licence, until you receive your full licence you have to have someone with one in the car with you.

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PinkFootstool · 12/09/2021 12:09

I'm prescribed the patches for migraine-related sickness. They last up to 72hrs. I don't get drowsiness from them, but it's on the warning label that it can cause it.

What practical things has he tried during travel? Is he head up, sitting at the front, watching out the front of window or head down, slouched in the back seats, trying to concentrate on his phone / a book etc? Has he tried a fan or a cool pack at his face / neck to keep himself cool? Would not wearing a mask help him?

Can he break the journey up across a couples of buses to reduce the time on board each trip and build it up? Buy a day ticket, get on and off buses after a stop or two just to practice?

Is he actually worried about vomiting on the journey that this fear is now what makes him sick, rather than the motion?

Hypnosis?

Travel Sickness?
Travel Sickness?
Thethreecs · 12/09/2021 12:11

@Seeline

Has he sought medical advice from his GP?

Could he stay somewhere closer to the training place for the 8 weeks - just during the week?

How about cycling? Electric bike, or moped type thing?

We priced up air bnbs and the cheapest we are getting is 500 euro a week. Anything else like hotels are over 1k euro for one week.

Over the years when he was younger I brought him to different GPs, he was told he'd grow out of it. He also seen a herbalists and nothing worked that was suggested. He had acupuncture and hypnotherapy.

To get to the head office it's 40 minutes on the motorway, I can't imagine how long it would be by bike.

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Thethreecs · 12/09/2021 12:16

@SeaToSki

The patches are scopolamine and are prescription drugs. They work very well but have a few side effects. You also have to be very careful to not touch them once ‘installed’ without immediately washing you hands as if you get any in your eyes it can lead to blindness.

Has he thought of just not eating or drinking for a couple of hours before he catches the bus.

Has he tried antihistamines for the sickness, there is a school of thought that a lot of motion sickness can be managed (not eliminated) with antihistamines.

Has he had his ears checked for blockages/infections

Has he tried standing, not just sitting, on the bus so that he can see directly out of the front window

Has he tried ginger chewing gum

Thank you for your suggestion. I think this will be the one to buy.

Ds doesn't eat or drink before journeys, he always manages to bring something up though, if he starves himself for 12 hours he will bring up bile.

On our buses you're not allowed to stand. Also masks are still mandatory so they don't help either.

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SpamIAm · 12/09/2021 12:20

Is it possible to do it by train?

It's probably worth a trip to the GP. Presumably they're not going to tell him now that he'll grow out of it.

Thethreecs · 12/09/2021 12:25

@PinkFootstool

I'm prescribed the patches for migraine-related sickness. They last up to 72hrs. I don't get drowsiness from them, but it's on the warning label that it can cause it.

What practical things has he tried during travel? Is he head up, sitting at the front, watching out the front of window or head down, slouched in the back seats, trying to concentrate on his phone / a book etc? Has he tried a fan or a cool pack at his face / neck to keep himself cool? Would not wearing a mask help him?

Can he break the journey up across a couples of buses to reduce the time on board each trip and build it up? Buy a day ticket, get on and off buses after a stop or two just to practice?

Is he actually worried about vomiting on the journey that this fear is now what makes him sick, rather than the motion?

Hypnosis?

Thank you for that, that's the 2nd recommendation.

He's tried every seat on the bus, he has a hand held fan, masks are still mandatory here in Ireland. He doesn't use his phone, he finds closing his eyes best, he said looking out the window and the movement outside makes him feel sick

The bus goes on the motorway so unfortunately no changing of bus, it would be is ideal if he could.

I thought maybe thinking about it is not helping but we were chatting normally and he just went green in the face.

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Thethreecs · 12/09/2021 12:39

@SpamIAm

Is it possible to do it by train?

It's probably worth a trip to the GP. Presumably they're not going to tell him now that he'll grow out of it.

We don't have a train in our County, the nearest train is 2 Counties away.

YES, definitely worth another trip to the GP. I was unaware that there was a patch as recommended above. I'm glad I asked now as anyone I've spoken to in rl never suggested these.

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Elouera · 12/09/2021 14:32

Surely in his teens/late teens/now, you/him went back to the GP and asked for an ENT referral, to check there isn't an issue with his inner ear??? The inner ear controls balance, so checking for a physical abnormality as he clearly hasn't grown out of it, would be better than seeing a herbalist!

Did he start learning to drive before covid? Was his still sick as the driver? Is he sick on a moped/motorbike?

Thethreecs · 12/09/2021 14:53

@Elouera

Surely in his teens/late teens/now, you/him went back to the GP and asked for an ENT referral, to check there isn't an issue with his inner ear??? The inner ear controls balance, so checking for a physical abnormality as he clearly hasn't grown out of it, would be better than seeing a herbalist!

Did he start learning to drive before covid? Was his still sick as the driver? Is he sick on a moped/motorbike?

He was under an ENT in temple street all through his childhood, nothing showed up.

He's never learned to drive, I mentioned this above.

He can't use a moped on the motorway.

The herbalists was a last resort recommended by his OT.

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MeatPieWoman · 12/09/2021 16:10

How about a personal fan to wear around his neck, like headphones.

I'd try him with one driving lesson to see if that helps with the sickness. Many people who are travel sick are ok if they drive.
Even if he can't afford it now at least there would be a long term solution.

BlueBellsArePretty · 12/09/2021 17:48

Why doesn't he get a prescription of cyclizine from the doctor?

Strangely enough when I've felt nauseous on transport I take a good sniff of a Vicks nose inhaler, staves off the feeling.

stripeymonster · 12/09/2021 18:03

I assume he's tried stugeron tablets? I was advised by GP that it was safe to take more than the recommended dose if necessary although it may make you sleepy.
Wearing headphones to listen to music - in ear phones work the best. Lots of fresh air and looking straight ahead. Agree with no food before travel. But yes ultimately learning to drive is the long term solution.

Elouera · 12/09/2021 21:05

He's never learned to drive, I mentioned this above.

You mentioned covid being a reason for not learning, but he is 20! I asked whether he started lessons before covid? Does him driving a vehicle, stop the sickness? Does he get sick riding a bike for example?

If he can drive some sort of vehicle and NOT get sick, then surely it should be a priority to get a drivers licence. Use anti-nausea meds in the interim to get to/from work, and lessons once he has the money.

Newchances · 12/09/2021 21:16

Aw your poor son,I feel his pain the only thing helps me is talking,looking forward and not looking down but mainly driving..I know air bnb is quite expensive but could he look at a room somewhere a night or 2? Tuesday and Thursday say which would mean no traveling them days ? Or maybe he might fall in with someone who he can car share with a few days? Motorways usually help me too,its the windy countey roads thats make me sick lol

Thethreecs · 12/09/2021 21:59

@Elouera

He's never learned to drive, I mentioned this above.

You mentioned covid being a reason for not learning, but he is 20! I asked whether he started lessons before covid? Does him driving a vehicle, stop the sickness? Does he get sick riding a bike for example?

If he can drive some sort of vehicle and NOT get sick, then surely it should be a priority to get a drivers licence. Use anti-nausea meds in the interim to get to/from work, and lessons once he has the money.

I think you'll find I never actually said the word covid at all. I said driving lessons were expensive. You can't drive alone until you have a full licence, until then you have to have a full licenced driver with you, also that tests were up to a year wait. He needs a driver licence for a motor bike, he can't cycle as it would mean travelling through 2 Counties. It's something to look into further down the line, right now I was looking recommendations to stop sickness for the 8 weeks he'll be travelling. The actual job will be within walking distance. We don't have the money to pay for 12 lessons right now or a car or insurance, this is something he will do himself once earning. He's literally weeks out of college he hasn't had a chance to save up.
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Thethreecs · 12/09/2021 22:08

@Newchances

Aw your poor son,I feel his pain the only thing helps me is talking,looking forward and not looking down but mainly driving..I know air bnb is quite expensive but could he look at a room somewhere a night or 2? Tuesday and Thursday say which would mean no traveling them days ? Or maybe he might fall in with someone who he can car share with a few days? Motorways usually help me too,its the windy countey roads thats make me sick lol
He'll be in Monday to Friday. The only rooms around would be air bnb or a hotel. He's worse in cars, if he got in with someone he'd be more embarrassed if he was sick in their car that he didn't really know.
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Thethreecs · 12/09/2021 22:19

@MeatPieWoman

How about a personal fan to wear around his neck, like headphones.

I'd try him with one driving lesson to see if that helps with the sickness. Many people who are travel sick are ok if they drive.
Even if he can't afford it now at least there would be a long term solution.

He uses a hand fan I got off amazon, it's really good, he gets about 4 hours out of it. I did buy a few of the ones that were recommended on here that went around your neck but they weren't great.

He'll look into driving lessons further down the line. He does plan to learn, just right now there are not the funds to do this. Usually here in Ireland people get a job, save up and get the lessons and then a car. I have read on here that it's more common in the UK for parents to buy the 1st car and get them driving at 17. Here you have to have a minimum of 12 lessons, usually around 370 euro, then your test then buy the car. Unfortunately there's up to a year wait for the test and you can't drive without a full licence.

OP posts:
Thethreecs · 12/09/2021 22:20

@BlueBellsArePretty

Why doesn't he get a prescription of cyclizine from the doctor?

Strangely enough when I've felt nauseous on transport I take a good sniff of a Vicks nose inhaler, staves off the feeling.

I'll make note of that too. Thank you for your recommendation.
OP posts: