advice from sailing medics please

D

deep denial

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 Mar 2006
Messages
517
Location
Southampton
Visit site
Hello. I am competing in the Fastnet, and as a doctor myself am the medical presence on a boat with about 22 crew. But as I have no specific maritime medical experience, I wanted to ask experienced sailing doctors for their recommendation for the treatment of established seasickness. The boat carries Buccastem (ineffective I believe) and Promethazine (I haven't tried it, but sedating. I could supply alternatives if they were likely to be better - how about injectable Cyclizine, or Hyoscine for example?? What is your experience in practice of the different alternatives? Crew all young fit males, apart from me who is less young and less fit. Thanks.
 
I've done a lot of offshore racing (including previous Fastnets) on a boat which usually had several medics on board (including Mrs Salty). Consensus view was that Hyoscine (specifically Scopaderm patches, available on private prescription) was the most effective chemical treatment.

Although to be honest, a boat with 22 crew will be round the course so quickly no one will have a chance to be seasick (slight tone of envy...!).
 
[ QUOTE ]
Although to be honest, a boat with 22 crew will be round the course so quickly no one will have a chance to be seasick (slight tone of envy...!).

[/ QUOTE ]

Alternatively, if only 35ft long, it will sink before the start /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
You say established sea sickness, have you thought of Scopaderm patches which seem to be effective in preventing it in the first place?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not a medic, but a sufferer

I've used Scopderm on the Fastnet race, and combined with a lack of sleep they caused hallucinations for me, which wasn't great. You'll also have to stick a big plaster over the patch, because after 2 days of being cold and wet my patch came unstuck.

Just my personal experience, now I use Kwells (sucked or chewed which are still hyoscine hydrobromide, but last for 6 hours. Only side effect is I get a dry mouth, but at least I know when they are working

The advice we had was avoid alcohol the night before the race and give everyone a tablet (or make sure they have their own remedy) that night, and again in the morning.

The (Forces) nurse on board did have enema solution for severe cases of seasickness, but I didn't enquire any more
/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
 
Hmm, out of interest when did you use them? The manufacturers had a problem with dose size and they were withdrawn for while.

Mrs_E uses them to effect on long distance stuff but she does ccomplain of slight dizziness, although I think she prefers this to seasickness....
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The (Forces) nurse on board did have enema solution

[/ QUOTE ] Does "Forces" imply that she favoured the use of a syringe rather than gravity? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I wouldn't like to comment, it was a joint services boat, with Army, Navy and Air Force on board...the were doing it as part of adventure training, I was writing it for the magazine
 
[ QUOTE ]
You say established sea sickness, have you thought of Scopaderm patches which seem to be effective in preventing it in the first place?

[/ QUOTE ]
Yes, but as far as I know the patches are only useful in prevention. There is an injectable form of Hyoscine available, and indeed I did wonder how this would compare with other treatments
 
I have stocked up on scopderm for the fastnet this year. Only side effect I get is a dry nasty tasting mouth. On the round eddystone (i know there was no breeze but swell motion is the worst) i didn't stick the patch far enough in behind my ear and it got pulled off by the collar of my foulies. Felt very rough until I worked out what was going on and put the spare on.

They are better than stuff you have to swallow as being sick doesn't effect them. If you don't put it on before you set off expect it to take a couple of hours to kick in. Got a good deal with Loyds pharmacy online. Only 2 weeks to the morgan cup so don't wait too long. Channel races are generally upwind and bouncy or so I'm told.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Hmm, out of interest when did you use them? The manufacturers had a problem with dose size and they were withdrawn for while.

Mrs_E uses them to effect on long distance stuff but she does ccomplain of slight dizziness, although I think she prefers this to seasickness....

[/ QUOTE ]

I've had hallucinations a few times, the Fastnet was 2001, but each time I can put it down to lack of sleep. I have used them with no side effects when cruising (except loosing a bit of my sense of balance on land), but I find not being able to drink booze a big downside with them, hence my move to kwells /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]

They are better than stuff you have to swallow as being sick doesn't effect them. If you don't put it on before you set off expect it to take a couple of hours to kick in.

[/ QUOTE ]

Drannie, Have a go with Kwells for shorter distance stuff, they work within 30 mins, can be chewed or sucked (so it's not like taking a tablet and then being sick), they are cheaper than the patches, and you won't find them stuck to your cheek in the night /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Not a doctor but been at sea in one form or other for years. Personally I have only been sea sick after drinking the night before, so for all taking it easy before you sail is good. For the mild suffer a weeks sailing before the race will get them much more comfortable. If you suffer do not be brave and wait, take the pills before you go and keep going. Keep eating, mumused to swear by jacob crackers, but I suspect any dry bicuit will do. Mrs Maxi swears by the elastic wristband things and we issue them to passengers and they do seem to work.

For most getting your sea legs is the best medicine, though I have met those who never do get their sea legs and for them popping pills is the only answer, and keep eating.
 
Take it easy night before, get some rest, make sure you are well hydrated and put the hyoscine patch on night before. Worked well on a recent trip back from Sweden for a long term sufferer.
Good luck
 
You might like to talk to the European Space Agency, at Noordwijk in Holland. They have occasional "Zero Gravity Campaigns". Effective wave height 10000 ft, 33 waves spread over about two hours. Always called the "Vomit Comet".

Their treatment is a mixture of scopolamine and amphetamine, the scop to prevent air sickness and the amphetamine to ward off the drowsiness produced by the scop. Only allowed under medical supervision, but then you're a doctor, aren't you?
 
OK NOT a doc, but I work in the op theatre (anaesthetic side): we have found that the most effective preventer of post anaesthetic nausea and vomiting is either Ondansetron or Granisetron, obviously we use them in injectable form, but may be available in tablet form (we don't give tablets in theatre !). They are both VERY good if expensive, could be worth a glance in the BNF. Have fun !
 
Kevin,

I wouldn't presume when you've asked for professional experience. However....

Should you arrive at a pro consensus from a community of sailing medics, I for one would much appreciate your input. There's a great deal of Folk Medicine, conjecture and flummery around this topic, and it would be welcomed by many if you were to add some more.....

Me? I keep plastic trugs, firmly tied, one to each wrist. Stereophonic 'honking'....

/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top