OW swimming and motion sickness

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2005-10-11 9:15 AM

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Subject: OW swimming and motion sickness

Here's my dilemma.  I really want to do a 1/2 IM next year, with the ultimate goal of a full in 07.  The problem I have is that I get very, very motion sick on the water.  Boats, roller coasters, fast cars...any of it makes me dizzy and sometimes physically sick.  I can't snorkel because the motion on top of the water is too much for me.  I am really scared that a long OW swim will make me sick.  Anybody else have this issue, or better yet, are prone to motion sickness but has never had a problem with a long OW swim?  I can probably stick to a lake swim, but I am really considering the Eagleman which is a swim in the Chesapeake Bay - very choppy! 

Thanks, Marcy

2005-10-11 9:56 AM
in reply to: #263312

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Subject: RE: OW swimming and motion sickness
I competed in the Virginia Beach Sandman tri a few weeks ago and the waves and chop were terrible. I generally don't get motion sickness, but the combination of swallowing saltwater and getting rolled in the surf had me feeling a little queezy at times. I found that a few seconds of breast stroke helped clear my head.
2005-10-11 10:11 AM
in reply to: #263312

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Subject: RE: OW swimming and motion sickness
I haven't tried it but I heard if you use ear plugs it will help while swimming. Usually the only time I feel motion sickness is training in my wetsuit in a local spring. You could also try motion sickness pills but train with them first to see if they dehydrate you.
2005-10-11 10:28 AM
in reply to: #263357

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Subject: RE: OW swimming and motion sickness
Also note that motion sickness pills can also make you very drowsy.
2005-10-11 10:48 AM
in reply to: #263312

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Subject: RE: OW swimming and motion sickness
dodgersmom - 2005-10-11 10:15 AM

  I can't snorkel because the motion on top of the water is too much for me. 

When people  snorkel they tend to stay stationary and let the waves move you around as you try to focus on the aquatic life. I , like you get motion sickness on the ocean when I scuba dive. On the deck of the boat as I try to get suited up and concentrate on the task at hand. But whenever I OW swim ( All my swims are paralelle to the beach) I don't have this problem. I am moving  and looking forward. The worst side effect I have experienced in really rough surf is a bit of dizzines only once I reach the beach.  That lasted only a few minutes. But that's me, results may very.

2005-10-11 10:58 AM
in reply to: #263312

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Subject: RE: OW swimming and motion sickness
I take the non-drowsy form of Dramamine a few hours before the swim.  Haven't had any problems in training or racing with it.


2005-10-11 11:44 AM
in reply to: #263312

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Subject: RE: OW swimming and motion sickness
I found ear plugs solved the problem for me.

Details... on one pretty choppy two mile swim I wondered if I'd finish I got so dizzy/sick near the end. I had to actually crawl out of the water..pretty unpleasant. Never happened before swimmming. But motion sickness on an airplane or sea sickness on a boat have. The problem continued on every OW swim after that. Tried simple foam ear plugs suggested by others here and problem solved.

One warning. Use new plugs every swim if you use the cheap, foam hearing protector kind. Tried to use a pair a couple of times and lost one on a training swim. Motion sickness was back before I hit the beach.

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