motion sickness while swimming--any solutions?

RE: motion sickness while swimming--any solutions?

Former Member — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:12:17 GMT

yeah, it was a bit of a long-shot, but I'd tried everything else--Dramamine, Ginger supplements, those pressure-point bracelets, earplugs, drinking water while I was swimming to hydrate myself--and nothing seemed to work consistently. The therapist also did a few physical manipulations on me during my appointments with her, but I don't remember exactly what those were. I THINK that the idea behind them was to re-set some inner ear imbalance, but it's been so long ago that I could be mis-remembering that. All I know is that I haven't had a recurrence of the motion sickness and that's a good thing!

RE: motion sickness while swimming--any solutions?

Former Member — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:35:55 GMT

Actually, I ended up going in to a physical therapist who had me do this exercise where I focused on an X in the middle of a checkered pattern (picture an 8.5x11 sheet of paper with about 1" black and white squares in a checker pattern) and while not taking my eyes off of the "x", shake my head back and forth as fast as I could for as long as I could and try to work up to 1 minute. When I started, I couldn't do more than about 15 seconds without getting dizzy/nauseated, but after a few weeks, I was able to do a minute. I also began focusing on a spot on the bottom of the pool as I swam over it if I started feeling dizzy. I also stopped trying to breathe on both sides and breathe only on my right side (the easier side) and at least one of these methods seems to have re-trained my brain sufficiently well. I can now swim without problems!

RE: motion sickness while swimming--any solutions?

Betsy — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:37:30 GMT

That is truly amazing! I never dreamed that physical therapy could help in a situation like this. Thanks for the follow-up.

RE: motion sickness while swimming--any solutions?

Former Member — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 07:12:21 GMT

I was searching for this issue and was wondering if there was any resolution for you. Did you try Dramamine or change your breathing?

RE: motion sickness while swimming--any solutions?

Betsy — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 09:56:48 GMT

I get motion sickness when swimming in the ocean. I have solved the problem by taking dramamine before swimming. It works for me. I do not get drowsy from dramamine or anti-histimines so that is not a factor.

RE: motion sickness while swimming--any solutions?

Former Member — Wed, 11 Jan 2006 11:44:30 GMT

This is the first time I heard about motion sickness related to swimming. I am very allergic to motion myself. I have car sickness but I don't have it when I drive. I also have ship sickness but I don't have it when I swim. So my point is you shouldn't get motion sickness when you can control the motion because the motion is expected. I wonder in your case if there is other factor causes the sickness.

RE: motion sickness while swimming--any solutions?

Former Member — Wed, 11 Jan 2006 10:56:31 GMT

i am not actually doing any flip turns (i'm very novice), but i'm curious about the focal point concept. i'm considering hiring a professional trainer for a few lessons--maybe they could offer objective opinions about the rotation of my head? thanks for your responses!

RE: motion sickness while swimming--any solutions?

PoulsboH20 — Wed, 11 Jan 2006 09:34:21 GMT

forums.usms.org/showthread.php Otherwise see an ENT physician to rule out inner ear problems.

RE: motion sickness while swimming--any solutions?

nkace — Wed, 11 Jan 2006 04:12:12 GMT

I imagine there are flip turns involved? Sometimes that can be an issue as well.

RE: motion sickness while swimming--any solutions?

Jim Clemmons — Wed, 11 Jan 2006 03:27:34 GMT

2 quick comments: I don't see that you are eating anything before your swim and sometimes peoples stomachs get upset without having something in them. Of course, sometimes peoples stomachs are upset WITH something in them too - so - I'll bet you're severly rotating your head prior to breathing, during breathing, and after breathing - never getting to a focal point or holding your head steady enough to let the "inner workings" settle down after breathing. An ENT specialist can comment on what this does to the inner ear workings which, I belive, is causing this "discomfort".