Air Sickness - Advice on remedies
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Smurph Castle
Age: 45
Posts: 498
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Know lots about this because I hate boats and don't like cars much either, though don't normally find flying a problem from this point of view.
Certain things aggravate symptoms of motion sickness that are to do with the stomach, even if they don't cause it initially: excess acid from hunger, rich food or nerves, tensing your muscles from nerves, things like that.
A good old fashioned remedy that no one has mentioned is peppermint - really soothes the stomach. I took packets of polos up with me when I was doing upper airwork training, especially the bits that involved dramatic changes of vertical motion (eg stall - climbout) and found it really, really helped.
An instructor mentioned to me that it's good to tell people to breathe through their nose (he explained why, but I can't remember). Worth a try.
Certain things aggravate symptoms of motion sickness that are to do with the stomach, even if they don't cause it initially: excess acid from hunger, rich food or nerves, tensing your muscles from nerves, things like that.
A good old fashioned remedy that no one has mentioned is peppermint - really soothes the stomach. I took packets of polos up with me when I was doing upper airwork training, especially the bits that involved dramatic changes of vertical motion (eg stall - climbout) and found it really, really helped.
An instructor mentioned to me that it's good to tell people to breathe through their nose (he explained why, but I can't remember). Worth a try.
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: London
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Opal fruits (or Starburst or whatever they are) work for me in mild bumpiness - I think its probably as much to do with chewing as anything else but the sugar presumably helps too.
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: London
Posts: 205
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I used to get terrible airsickness but after about 30 hours training it suddenly stopped and hasn't come back since. I'd advise against drugs like Sturgeron as, in my experience, they make you feel tired and crap afterwards (Sturgeron had me out for 2 days 
). Ginger has almost worked for me but i'm not sure if it was the ginger or that it was a still day. I think it's really more down to going up more often and getting used to it.
). Ginger has almost worked for me but i'm not sure if it was the ginger or that it was a still day. I think it's really more down to going up more often and getting used to it.
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: South Yorkshire, UK
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Strafer, yes you are being thick! As a sufferer (esp boats and as I scuba dive, this is a bit of a problem) I know that how your stomach feels is VERY relevant.
Yes, the theory is correct in that it is initially caused by balance issues, but the ultimate extent of it and whether you merely feel ill or actually barf depends in part on how your stomach feels. Empty stomach not good. Stomach full of egg and fried bread, even worse.
I only suffer during excess G. As a result I hate new aircraft conversion where I know I'm going to have to do steep turns and the like. 45 deg. are usually OK, but repeated 60 deg turns do it for me every time. Throw in a few stalls and recoveries with PFLs for good measure and I'll be reaching for the sick bag.
For me, only drugs work. Ginger, homeopathic herby things etc have no effect on me and have never helped the little 24Rs in cars or planes. However the drugs do cause drowsiness, so I never use them without an instructor in the RHS.
I've tried all the usual things - looking out of the window, switching on the fresh air, holding the stick (obviously, as I'm generally doing the flying at the time) but for me, if it's going to happen there's nothing I can do to stop it except land once I feel the symptoms getting worse. I have no patience for the "get a grip, it's all in the mind" merchants - they haven't a clue.
Strangely, normal flying, even in moderate turbulence or in RHS doesn't affect me and I didn't barf at all during the IMC training.
Yes, the theory is correct in that it is initially caused by balance issues, but the ultimate extent of it and whether you merely feel ill or actually barf depends in part on how your stomach feels. Empty stomach not good. Stomach full of egg and fried bread, even worse.
I only suffer during excess G. As a result I hate new aircraft conversion where I know I'm going to have to do steep turns and the like. 45 deg. are usually OK, but repeated 60 deg turns do it for me every time. Throw in a few stalls and recoveries with PFLs for good measure and I'll be reaching for the sick bag.
For me, only drugs work. Ginger, homeopathic herby things etc have no effect on me and have never helped the little 24Rs in cars or planes. However the drugs do cause drowsiness, so I never use them without an instructor in the RHS.
I've tried all the usual things - looking out of the window, switching on the fresh air, holding the stick (obviously, as I'm generally doing the flying at the time) but for me, if it's going to happen there's nothing I can do to stop it except land once I feel the symptoms getting worse. I have no patience for the "get a grip, it's all in the mind" merchants - they haven't a clue.
Strangely, normal flying, even in moderate turbulence or in RHS doesn't affect me and I didn't barf at all during the IMC training.
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Outlawed
Posts: 561
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
24Right - Yorkshireman, eh? Nice to see you're kicking against the sterotypes. 
I never said "get a grip, it's all in the mind". There is a difference between brain and mind. (Down south anyway
). My point was that the decision to hurl is taken by the brain not the stomach. Obviously a succession of +/- g is going to wobble your stomach contents and could cause barfing that way. But (for example) if you see someone else being sick, it can make you feel naseous yourself, nothing to do with your tummy. Here's a trick for you - hold your abdomen very still and shake your head violently from side to side. How d'you feel? . Thought so.
I said 'am I being a bit thick' because one would learn all this for the Human Performance exam, surely.
Still, each to his own, there's nowt as queer as folk, etc
I never said "get a grip, it's all in the mind". There is a difference between brain and mind. (Down south anyway
). My point was that the decision to hurl is taken by the brain not the stomach. Obviously a succession of +/- g is going to wobble your stomach contents and could cause barfing that way. But (for example) if you see someone else being sick, it can make you feel naseous yourself, nothing to do with your tummy. Here's a trick for you - hold your abdomen very still and shake your head violently from side to side. How d'you feel? . Thought so. I said 'am I being a bit thick' because one would learn all this for the Human Performance exam, surely.
Still, each to his own, there's nowt as queer as folk, etc
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Almost Scotland
Posts: 303
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've only been nearly airsick once, and that was early on when spin recovery was being demonstrated.
Fortunately, I went for my medical shortly after that, and the wise old AME who examined me said that the way to avoid airsickness was to avoid fighting the movement. Just 'hang in the straps' and go with the motion: that way you can see what's going on, you're not trying to tell yourself the motion ISN'T happening, and your sensations of movement match what's going on in your semi-circular canals.
It worked for me - no problems again.
(Hope that might help!)
Fortunately, I went for my medical shortly after that, and the wise old AME who examined me said that the way to avoid airsickness was to avoid fighting the movement. Just 'hang in the straps' and go with the motion: that way you can see what's going on, you're not trying to tell yourself the motion ISN'T happening, and your sensations of movement match what's going on in your semi-circular canals.
It worked for me - no problems again.
(Hope that might help!)
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wristbands worked with my 10-year-old boy.
Get her to keep it straight and level always works.
Flat shoes help, or even get her to put the shoes in the back and keep her feet flat on the floor.
Get her to keep it straight and level always works.
Flat shoes help, or even get her to put the shoes in the back and keep her feet flat on the floor.
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: South Yorkshire, UK
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Strafer,
Only a Yorkshireman by address, but still from Up North and as you noted I'm trying to fit in and not stand out too much from the natives.
I didn't suggest that you said it was all in the mind, that was merely a development of the discussion. I agree, the brain (or at least the balance mechanism - I assume they have those dahn sahf) is largely to blame, but the point I was making is that the difference between and 
in a given situation can be the contents of the stomach (before they make an appearance). If you suffer from motion sickness eating nothing or a greasy meal will not help at all.
I suppose at least the possibility of sickness will stop me trying aeros (which I'd dearly like to do) and so is likely to assist greatly in keeping me alive.
24R
Only a Yorkshireman by address, but still from Up North and as you noted I'm trying to fit in and not stand out too much from the natives.
I didn't suggest that you said it was all in the mind, that was merely a development of the discussion. I agree, the brain (or at least the balance mechanism - I assume they have those dahn sahf) is largely to blame, but the point I was making is that the difference between
and in a given situation can be the contents of the stomach (before they make an appearance). If you suffer from motion sickness eating nothing or a greasy meal will not help at all.I suppose at least the possibility of sickness will stop me trying aeros (which I'd dearly like to do) and so is likely to assist greatly in keeping me alive.
24R
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Chichester, UK
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Give aeros a go before convincing yourself that your stomach isn't up to it. I know I don't have the strongest guts, and I was worried that i'd be barfing within minutes but I don't really have problems (start to feel it at the end of a sortie while pulling G, but fine again once we're back straight and level - that's the cue to go home). Besides, I'm doing aeros in the hope that it will keep me alive - teaches you a hell of a lot about what an aeroplane can do, and how to get out of it if things go wrong. Fantastic confidence-builder, and great fun too 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Posts: 708
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'll second Evo on this.
I have a rubbish stomach, but got the aeros bug (doh!). Tolerance has steadily risen - I used to hate steep turns. Then it was just loops. Then just downlines. And so on.
Aside from building tolerance, the other great thing about aeros is that it really does alot for spacial awareness - close quarters at least. Chuck the rule book out. Horizon wrong? Stalled? Too fast / slow / too anything and you have instinctive options. Can't recommend it highly enough even if you just to the AOPA and leave it there.
As advice for a passenger though, this could be a bit ambitious
I have a rubbish stomach, but got the aeros bug (doh!). Tolerance has steadily risen - I used to hate steep turns. Then it was just loops. Then just downlines. And so on.
Aside from building tolerance, the other great thing about aeros is that it really does alot for spacial awareness - close quarters at least. Chuck the rule book out. Horizon wrong? Stalled? Too fast / slow / too anything and you have instinctive options. Can't recommend it highly enough even if you just to the AOPA and leave it there.
As advice for a passenger though, this could be a bit ambitious
