Yakin in the yak... - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Cbad Mike · 07-14-2012, 05:50 PM

I know from experience that there are just a very few things that are worse and harder than the paddle back in with full blown sea sickness. I have been prone to motion sickness since I was young. While I have yet to actually throw up on the kayak it is important to know that if you have full blown sickness and start puking its better and safer to do it straight ahead onto your kayak. You should not try to hang your head over the side. Sea sickness causes intense dizziness and fatigue. You can very easily lose you balance and fall into the water while vomiting. If that happens it is very dangerous because your body is going to react uncontrollably as in you will not have control of your breathing and could easily breath in two lungs full of water. Couple that with the fatigue and your in real trouble.
Now with that said... I do own and have occasionally used the bracelets but am not sure if they work or not because I also take Dramamine. I begin taking it the night before and then an hour before I launch and as needed on the water. I've read that the bracelets can help if put on at the first sign of motion sickness but since I take the Dramamine I can't say if it's the pills or bracelets that offer relief. Myth Busters had an episode where they tried to stop motion sickness after it started and they felt that eating ginger at the onset of discomfort was the only thing that worked once the sickness started. I have not tried ginger or the patches so I can't say anything about them.
The best things that work for me are Dramamine, keeping an eye on the horizon, cheese crackers, and sipping a bottle of water when quizyness starts. Smoking a cigarette definitely will NOT help. Once I feel better its back to beer, soda, cigarettes, sandwich.
I'm heading back out on Monday morning with a belly full of Dramamine in search of my first YT.

07-14-2012, 05:50 PM	#8
Cbad Mike Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Carlsbad Ca. Posts: 1,206	I know from experience that there are just a very few things that are worse and harder than the paddle back in with full blown sea sickness. I have been prone to motion sickness since I was young. While I have yet to actually throw up on the kayak it is important to know that if you have full blown sickness and start puking its better and safer to do it straight ahead onto your kayak. You should not try to hang your head over the side. Sea sickness causes intense dizziness and fatigue. You can very easily lose you balance and fall into the water while vomiting. If that happens it is very dangerous because your body is going to react uncontrollably as in you will not have control of your breathing and could easily breath in two lungs full of water. Couple that with the fatigue and your in real trouble. Now with that said... I do own and have occasionally used the bracelets but am not sure if they work or not because I also take Dramamine. I begin taking it the night before and then an hour before I launch and as needed on the water. I've read that the bracelets can help if put on at the first sign of motion sickness but since I take the Dramamine I can't say if it's the pills or bracelets that offer relief. Myth Busters had an episode where they tried to stop motion sickness after it started and they felt that eating ginger at the onset of discomfort was the only thing that worked once the sickness started. I have not tried ginger or the patches so I can't say anything about them. The best things that work for me are Dramamine, keeping an eye on the horizon, cheese crackers, and sipping a bottle of water when quizyness starts. Smoking a cigarette definitely will NOT help. Once I feel better its back to beer, soda, cigarettes, sandwich. I'm heading back out on Monday morning with a belly full of Dramamine in search of my first YT.