Your story makes me remember an ill advised whale watch out of P-Town. The Captain decided to go out because there were two bus loads of fifth graders on the boat. Conditions were rough and got worse through the trip. Despite Dramamine I spent the trip back standing on the second deck where it was narrow enough to keep each hand on a rail on both sides me while I stared out at the horizon, struggling to keep lunch down. When we rounded the tip of the Cape things calmed down enough for me to release my death grip and go down to the lower deck to use the head (sailor talk, matey). That required stepping over the bodies of dozens of listless, seasick school kids. Once docked and walking down the wharf back to the car we were treated to displays of oneupmanship only ten year olds can provide.
“Oh man, I was so sick I puked twice!” “Oh yeah? I puked four times!” “That’s nothing! I……..”
To add insult to injury, we saw a single pilot whale which was enough to let the company off the hook from their guarantee of a free trip if you don’t see any whales. Haven’t been on a whale watch since.
Oh! I went on a similar ride to Martha's Vineyard. I'd celebrate a friend getting her doctorate the night before, and I was in no shape to bounce around on a ferry. I asked and was told that trip was pretty typical. I've never been back.
You and I have the motion sickness trait in common! It made me feel validated to hear your story. It always felt like I had a weakness I should be able to overcome, but I have resigned myself that I will be motion sick whenever exposed for the rest of my life. It is true about me that I can be competent and resilient, yet can't sit in the back seat of a car, go on a spinning ride at the amusement park, or ride on a boat before being sick in moments! Dramamine helps, but not completely. So happy you made it over without getting sick. Now you can relax and enjoy!
My one trip to Block Island was marked by motion sickness and a lesson that it's not wise to have a pancake breakfast before setting out for the ferry. Ferries always make me think of my first ferry ride. I was less than a week old. My Dad was a principal on Fisher's Island. My Mom had to take the ferry to New London to have me. I don't have any memories of that, of course, but lots of memories of my parents stories of the few years we lived on the island. And some great pictures of my brother and I from those years. Good memories.
I'm sorry for your travails, not least the violation of your sense of self. As age decays me, I am finding out that things were parts of my sense of self, and feeling embarrassed.
I felicitate you on your excellent husband!
And I'm dead impressed at fellow-passengers *waiting* to throw up. Quite the gruesome party trick, that.
We were standing outside (I do better outside, usually) and a nice man walked by and said we might want to move because several passengers were preparing to launch. We moved, and sure enough...that is a disgusting image and please understand that the passage usually is not nearly so challenging. That was a uniquely rough one.
Oh Susan, I can relate. I’ve also had the inner ear dizziness that can come without being on any moving transportation. It’s awful. This summer while in North Dakota, I woke up for my early bathroom trip, and the room was spinning. Was supposed to go on an 8 hour car ride but sent my husband solo and stayed in bed for a while. Thankfully rest and water helped.
The worst was a “sunset dinner cruise” off the coast of Kauai. I used Dramamine and tried sitting in the middle of the boat but nothing helped. It was a nightmare. The captain delighted in hitting the waves as hard as possible. My husband and I only had a couple bites of fruit while some others ate a regular meal. Most kept theirs down but a few were hanging off the back of the boat, throwing up and wishing they hadn’t eaten the meal. We admitted to each other that we both considered jumping off and swimming to the Na Pali coast but knew the captain would come back and haul us on. It was not the calm ride we were promised to say the least.
I also have claustrophobia and have had panic attacks on flights. The wanting to escape and dying feeling is a force. 😥
For what it's worth, I also suffer from vertigo, and that came on kind of late in life (I didn't grow up with it). The first time, I was on vacation and didn't even know what hit me. I only knew I was dizzy and nauseated and figured I'd die in that hotel room.
I'm really sorry about that. I've never had a panic attack but I've been around when others have. Please know that your fellows are some of my favorite people.
Thank you. It’s horrible and I don’t wish it on anyone. People stare at you while you’re crying. The airline ladies looked at me like I was going to touch something in their area. They had no sympathy at all. I feel for others who go thru this.
Vertigo truly sucks. It was completely disabling to me. After much testing an astute (albeit really young) ENT diagnosed vestibular migraines as the cause. I take a beta blocker & haven't had an attack (yes I'm knocking wood & throwing salt over my shoulder) in years.
Your story makes me remember an ill advised whale watch out of P-Town. The Captain decided to go out because there were two bus loads of fifth graders on the boat. Conditions were rough and got worse through the trip. Despite Dramamine I spent the trip back standing on the second deck where it was narrow enough to keep each hand on a rail on both sides me while I stared out at the horizon, struggling to keep lunch down. When we rounded the tip of the Cape things calmed down enough for me to release my death grip and go down to the lower deck to use the head (sailor talk, matey). That required stepping over the bodies of dozens of listless, seasick school kids. Once docked and walking down the wharf back to the car we were treated to displays of oneupmanship only ten year olds can provide.
“Oh man, I was so sick I puked twice!” “Oh yeah? I puked four times!” “That’s nothing! I……..”
To add insult to injury, we saw a single pilot whale which was enough to let the company off the hook from their guarantee of a free trip if you don’t see any whales. Haven’t been on a whale watch since.
Oh! I went on a similar ride to Martha's Vineyard. I'd celebrate a friend getting her doctorate the night before, and I was in no shape to bounce around on a ferry. I asked and was told that trip was pretty typical. I've never been back.
You and I have the motion sickness trait in common! It made me feel validated to hear your story. It always felt like I had a weakness I should be able to overcome, but I have resigned myself that I will be motion sick whenever exposed for the rest of my life. It is true about me that I can be competent and resilient, yet can't sit in the back seat of a car, go on a spinning ride at the amusement park, or ride on a boat before being sick in moments! Dramamine helps, but not completely. So happy you made it over without getting sick. Now you can relax and enjoy!
It was refreshing to read a “non 45” story….thank you and hope you got a discount for not having used a barf bag😎
I always feel better when I can make the trip without getting sick. It was a beautiful day.
Great picture.
Sorry about your congenital motion sickness. 🙁
My one trip to Block Island was marked by motion sickness and a lesson that it's not wise to have a pancake breakfast before setting out for the ferry. Ferries always make me think of my first ferry ride. I was less than a week old. My Dad was a principal on Fisher's Island. My Mom had to take the ferry to New London to have me. I don't have any memories of that, of course, but lots of memories of my parents stories of the few years we lived on the island. And some great pictures of my brother and I from those years. Good memories.
Though I battle motion sickness every single time, ferried are poetic. They take you Away.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=08083BNaYcA&pp=ygUvZmVycnkgY3Jvc3MgdGhlIG1lcnNleSBnZXJyeSBhbmQgdGhlIHBhY2VtYWtlcnM%3D
I'm sorry for your travails, not least the violation of your sense of self. As age decays me, I am finding out that things were parts of my sense of self, and feeling embarrassed.
I felicitate you on your excellent husband!
And I'm dead impressed at fellow-passengers *waiting* to throw up. Quite the gruesome party trick, that.
We were standing outside (I do better outside, usually) and a nice man walked by and said we might want to move because several passengers were preparing to launch. We moved, and sure enough...that is a disgusting image and please understand that the passage usually is not nearly so challenging. That was a uniquely rough one.
Whenever I go to baseball games I always stay for a couple of days at least in the city
I found a company called sleepafloat.com
They rent houseboats and yachts like floating hotel rooms
The rocking motion puts me to sleep every time
I envy you.
Oh Susan, I can relate. I’ve also had the inner ear dizziness that can come without being on any moving transportation. It’s awful. This summer while in North Dakota, I woke up for my early bathroom trip, and the room was spinning. Was supposed to go on an 8 hour car ride but sent my husband solo and stayed in bed for a while. Thankfully rest and water helped.
The worst was a “sunset dinner cruise” off the coast of Kauai. I used Dramamine and tried sitting in the middle of the boat but nothing helped. It was a nightmare. The captain delighted in hitting the waves as hard as possible. My husband and I only had a couple bites of fruit while some others ate a regular meal. Most kept theirs down but a few were hanging off the back of the boat, throwing up and wishing they hadn’t eaten the meal. We admitted to each other that we both considered jumping off and swimming to the Na Pali coast but knew the captain would come back and haul us on. It was not the calm ride we were promised to say the least.
I also have claustrophobia and have had panic attacks on flights. The wanting to escape and dying feeling is a force. 😥
For what it's worth, I also suffer from vertigo, and that came on kind of late in life (I didn't grow up with it). The first time, I was on vacation and didn't even know what hit me. I only knew I was dizzy and nauseated and figured I'd die in that hotel room.
Reader? I didn't. But I kind of wanted to.
Same here.
The plane claustrophobia was a full on panic attack or two. I wanted to get off NOW!
I can’t ride in a backseat and need aisle seats or space beside me. Otherwise I can’t stop crying. It’s so hard.
I'm really sorry about that. I've never had a panic attack but I've been around when others have. Please know that your fellows are some of my favorite people.
Thank you. It’s horrible and I don’t wish it on anyone. People stare at you while you’re crying. The airline ladies looked at me like I was going to touch something in their area. They had no sympathy at all. I feel for others who go thru this.
Vertigo truly sucks. It was completely disabling to me. After much testing an astute (albeit really young) ENT diagnosed vestibular migraines as the cause. I take a beta blocker & haven't had an attack (yes I'm knocking wood & throwing salt over my shoulder) in years.
Beautiful!! Glad Dramamine works for you.