Subject: Re: pelagic trips
Date: Oct 20 09:05:41 1996
From: Burton Guttman - guttmanb at elwha.evergreen.edu



Fred Bird replied to Judith's request for information about seasickness
with some advice that contradicts what I told her privately and what I've
read elsewhere. Of course, Fred is right when he says, "what works for
one often doesn't work for others," but I wonder about some of his points.
For instance,

> Wear an ear patch prescription device. I forget the name.

I understand the scopalamine patches aren't available anymore; but they
definitely worked for some folks and not for others, and they had side
effects such causing a very dry mouth. Dramamine is readily available
and is very effective.

> Eat lightly the night before and not at all in the morning.

I've followed the advice to get a good night's sleep and then eat a
solid, non-greasy breakfast, emphasizing such things as toast, cereal, and
milk. Debra Shearwater has said that an empty stomach is a loose stomach
and that it's important to keep eating and drinking. Experienced pelagic
trippers seem to bring lots and lots of sandwiches, and I've found
oatmeal cookies to be great stomach-fillers.

Above all, I strongly advise people to buy the sea-bands, available at
drugstores, that put pressure on an acupressure point on the wrist. I
tried them out on two trips out of North Carolina, and I'm convinced I
would have been sick as a dog without them.

Burt Guttman guttmanb at elwha.evergreen.edu
The Evergreen State College Voice: 360-866-6000, x. 6755
Olympia, WA 98505 FAX: 360-866-6794

Reunite Gondwanaland!