Seasickness

[FlyingDutchman]

Somewhere in the next few week I will probably have to stay 2 days on board a frigate on the north sea. Although I am trying to avoid having to do this, I will probably have to go as it is job related (don't ask).
One of my concerns is seasickness. What precautions can I take? Food, drinks, medication, something else? Maybe not eating for two days?
The whole thing worries me.
Any help highly appreciated!

 

[CraigB]

Apparently ginger works as a natural seasickness preventer. Don't know if it works, but my partner often takes it before sailing, just in case. I think it's preserved (sugared) ginger.

 

[Gordonmc]

Ginger.
No, Jimmy, not Irn Bru.
Ginger as in root ginger, ginger snap biscuits, candied ginger.
I don't know why, but it works for me.

 

[RupertW]

See if you can get on a boat or ship (2-way ferry crossing?) to get yourself used to the motion before showing yourself up in front of colleagues and naval types - or just get slaughtered the night before and blame it all on the hangover.

 

[FlyingDutchman]

I will get some candied ginger (although I hate the stuff).
Rupert: As I don't have time for a ferry trip, I will remember your second suggestion!
Does the forum think a 130 meter frigate on the north sea is a stable platform (movement-wise)? Do they have stabilizers?
The only thing I know to prevent seasickness is steering the boat but I don't know if they let me...

 

[andy_wilson]

Eating Ginger

Bit of a double edged sword for me. On the one hand, I have very fond thoughts of two former red-headed girlfriends.

On the other hand, eating ginger for sea-sickness has never worked for me, and tastes revolting on the way back up.

Tomato soup however tastes exactly the same later.

Just pick a type of tablet and start taking them a couple of days before. By the time you get aboard you will be on top of the side effects, and your senses will be suitably numbed for the task.

 

[gandy]

Re: Eating Ginger

I've been on fisheries research vessels where I was the only one seasick. I think a frigate will roll like a pig.

You need a thick skin to shrug off the patronising comments, but at least there shouldn't be a queue for the bog if you need to throw up. Don't go hungry before hand, 'cos if you're feeling sicksea for a period of days, you'll be starving. After a week or so on a rough trip I used to dream of food.

Tony S

 

[duncan]

ginger does help on the borderline for me but when the chips are down everything's back up.

if you can get it the scopolomine patches are reckoned to be worth trying and are extrememly successfull for many people - there have been big delays in supply recently (my Chemist is still waiting 3 mionths later).

boots tablets work well for some; stugeron for others

worrying about it will simply guarantee it happens. Always be prepared by keeping the body very very well hydrated and carry a few bottles of Lucosade sport /isotonic still lemon which is the only thing I have found any appetite for when 'close to death'.

ps the only thing that tastes the same coming back up is Newcastle Brown Ale.............IMVHO

 

[Talbot]

If it is a proper frigate (i.e. not just a patrol vessel, then it will probably carry a helicopter, and thus will definitely have stabilisers. The rolling will not be a big problem, but pitching may well be. The vertical acceleration up forward always used to trash me. If you have some, the sea sickness tablets from a liferaft are by far the best and are much stronger than available from a chemist. The sick berth attendent will have access to these as well, and will be happy to provide.

 

[pcatterall]

Spent some time on survey boats in the North Sea.
I always felt a bit queasy on the first day out but was never sick.
I was careful about what I ate or drank 24 hours before boarding.
I usually took motion sickness tablets before boarding.
My 'trick' was to have a supply of dry biscuits (digestive and ,yes, ginger biscuits) which seemed to hold things down OK!
Some people swear by those wrist watch type things, certainly worth trying.
The usual advice about watching the horizon will apply.
Strangly I have often felt sick on my boat before setting off on a long or difficult sail. This may be to do with..lack of sleep....early starts...apprehension....what is going to go wrong...what have I forgotten etc!!!
If all else fails just find that Oak tree!!
Good luck

 

[Evadne]

The usual advice of not worrying 'cos after 2-3 days you'll be alright is not of any help, obviously. I can only suggest two things from experience:
1) If you worry about it, it will happen. So try and act normally, think about the job in hand and not anything else, and if you feel queasy, try and get outside quickly. And if all else fails, its better out than in. Never stand downwind of a cigarette smoker.
2) the symptoms of hunger and seasickness are the same (a gnawing in the belly and a slight dizziness). Eat as well as possible, bread rolls, digestives, bacon butties, milky tea: anything that fills you up. Not eating will make you feel ill.

SWMBO is worse than me and now hates candied ginger with a vengeance. If you don't like it now, you definitely won't after you huweyed it up.
Have a nice trip.
/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[H4B]

Unless theres a gale blowing it will be pretty stable. Yes they have stabilizers, motion will depend on course vs wave direction . Take a good sea sickness pill and think positive .

 

[kengill]

Eat lots of pineapple. It tastes the same coming up.

Drink lots of water,

Get horizontal.

 

[anglo_saxon]

we will be bringing a much smaller boat across the north sea around the same time. do me a favor and check over the side first to make sure were not underneath you. gingernuts do it for me and boots own brand are very good.

 

[gjbentley]

Keep yourself as near to mid-ships as possible where the least amount of movement will be felt.

Take with you sachets of Anti-Dhydration power that you can mix in with some water if you are unable to keep food down otherwise the next problem will be you feeling tired and exhausted, preventing a speedy recovery.

If sea sick tell the person who you are reporting to onboard about it.

 

[gag]

I get seasick but find stugerons help.
Don't forget , if some wag asks if you'd like a nice greasy egg sandwich , just say " yes, right down the back of your neck, mate ! "
And ignore any advice about eating loads of strawberries beforehand.
As we all know , they don't stop you being sick , they just make it more interesting for those having to watch.

 

[guernseyman]

There's only one certain cure - go to sleep.

 

[Hermit]

I can promise you that the Frigate will be a fairly stabilised platform. It is fitted with Active Roll Stabilisers which are linked to 2 Gyros providing constant corrections. There are also large bilge keels to improve stability and, if it is the one I think it is going to be, will have a large Bow Dome which helps aleviate pitching.
Nevertheless - nothing is perfect and my Wife sewears by the Relief Band (electronic device found in Chandlers).
Trust me - there are plenty of 'Naval Types' who suffer....
Rob

 

[l'escargot]

[ QUOTE ]
There's only one certain cure - go to sleep.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not necessarily, because you can still feel sick when you wake up. The only failsafe cure is sitting under a tree. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

If you are genuinely worried and need to be sure that you aren't sick because you need to work in that first day or two, Stugeron is probably your best bet. But the must be taken an hour or two before you even set foot on a boat.

 

[whisper]

Stugeron has worked for me in extremis but so has ginger cake.
Sounds like an interesting trip, I'm envious. Good Luck.