I have competed in a handful of short ocean races - and love them. This summer I attempted to swim around Key West (12.5miles) but was pulled out only a 1/3 of the way around because I had been throwing up for over an hour. I felt like I was motion sick - nothing seemed to help settle my stomach. My kayaker tried giving me water, soda, solid food, jelly food, and we even tried Zofran. We had encountered this problem in the training but I was hoping I could just make it most of the way around before I got sick. The waves had another plan for me, and I started feeling sick within 20 minutes of the swim (projected to take me 6 hours).
Was I sea sick? Was it anxiety that turned my stomach? Is there a certain food I should be trying? How do I fix this so I can make it around next year?
I appreciate any advice. Thank you!
Nicole G
I have had really bad sea sickness as well. My first 10k i thew up the hole race. One man on the message board that I talk with a lot and is very wise told me to take ginger. He said to take some the night before and then before you race. I talked with my doc also about this and he said the only way to be safe is to take the ginger. He said you can prevent it but once it happens taking medication once your sick will not do anything. so prevent is the way to go. now every time even when I am doing pool stuff I take ginger just because I have gotten sick in the pool. I have been also trying things in feedings because next year I am doing the English channel and they will pull you out if you get sick . With all the feedings one thing i learned is always eat the same thing you will one your race. So every morning before I swim I eat the same thing. It boring but you know you wont get sick. You can do coke or pop but you have to make it flat. All the fizz can cause you to throw up as well. I also found these things called ginger chews and I suck on them when I feel the sickness coming on in a race. The other thing i some people say to eat fruit before you swim. I cant, I can only do carbs. the Fruit has to much acid in it that makes me throw up. I took me a while to figure that out so it might be something your eating before you swim. Also with gels if you don't drink them with water they don't break down as easy and can make you really sick. I cant even do them with water. My body dose not do well on gels. Good luck to you! this is the worst thing to get sick. but the ginger really works. I am one that always runs to meds first and though there was no way ginger would work but it does. Hope your next swim is throw up free!:)
I have had really bad sea sickness as well. My first 10k i thew up the hole race. One man on the message board that I talk with a lot and is very wise told me to take ginger. He said to take some the night before and then before you race. I talked with my doc also about this and he said the only way to be safe is to take the ginger. He said you can prevent it but once it happens taking medication once your sick will not do anything. so prevent is the way to go. now every time even when I am doing pool stuff I take ginger just because I have gotten sick in the pool. I have been also trying things in feedings because next year I am doing the English channel and they will pull you out if you get sick . With all the feedings one thing i learned is always eat the same thing you will one your race. So every morning before I swim I eat the same thing. It boring but you know you wont get sick. You can do coke or pop but you have to make it flat. All the fizz can cause you to throw up as well. I also found these things called ginger chews and I suck on them when I feel the sickness coming on in a race. The other thing i some people say to eat fruit before you swim. I cant, I can only do carbs. the Fruit has to much acid in it that makes me throw up. I took me a while to figure that out so it might be something your eating before you swim. Also with gels if you don't drink them with water they don't break down as easy and can make you really sick. I cant even do them with water. My body dose not do well on gels. Good luck to you! this is the worst thing to get sick. but the ginger really works. I am one that always runs to meds first and though there was no way ginger would work but it does. Hope your next swim is throw up free!:)
