80 DAYS TO GO . . .

     WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2011

     SEASICKNESS.  PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY WORRIES ABOUT IT, EVEN THOUGH VERY FEW ACTUALLY SUFFER FROM IT.  FOR THOSE THAT HAVE SUFFERED FROM SEA OR MOTION SICKNESS BEFORE, BE THANKFUL THAT YOU ARE SAILING ON A LARGE MODERN CRUISE SHIP IN SOME OF THE CALMEST WATERS IN THE WORLD.  TODAY MODERN CRUISE SHIPS HAVE TWO GIANT STABILIZER FINS THAT PREVENT THE WORST WAVE ACTION FROM ROCKING THE SHIP.  AND MODERN MEDICINE HAS PROVIDED MORE THAN ONE REMEDY.
     ONE OF THE FASTEST AND EASIEST WAYS TO DEAL WITH FEELING QUEASY ON A SHIP IS TO GET OUT ON DECK AND TAKE SOME DEEP BREATHS OF FRESH AIR.  LOOK OUT AT A FIXED AN UNMOVING POINT LIKE THE HORIZON.  STAYING IN YOUR ROOM CAN SOMETIMES MAKE IT WORSE.  SEASICKNESS IS CAUSED BY THE CONFUSION BETWEEN WHAT YOUR INNER EAR SENSES AND WHAT YOUR EYES SEE.  SO LOOKING AT SOMETHING STEADY DURING THIS MOTION CAN CONNECT THE TWO, AND HELP YOUR BRAIN GET USED TO THE MOTION SO YOU CAN GAIN YOUR "SEA LEGS".  ALSO, DRINK WATER AND AVOID EATING FATTY OR SALTY FOODS.
     GINGER IS REPORTED TO HELP REDUCE SEASICKNESS.  IT COMES IN PILL AND COOKIE FORM, AND I'M SURE EVEN MORE BY NOW.  I CHECKED MYSELF AND FOUND PILLS IN THE SUPERMARKET, NEXT TO THE VITAMINS, AND THEY SAY GOOD FOR MOTION SICKNESS RIGHT ON THEM.  THESE ARE BEST IF TAKEN JUST PRIOR TO YOUR TRIP AND CONTINUOUSLY THROUGHOUT.
     BONINE, OR THE WELL-KNOWN "DRAMAMINE" (LESS DROWSY FORMULA) ARE NAMES FOR MECLIZINE.  THIS HAS FEWER SIDE EFFECTS THAN ORIGINAL DRAMAMINE.  MANY HAVE SAID THE ORIGINAL PUTS THEM TO SLEEP ALL TOO QUICKLY, WHILE HELPING THE PROBLEM, YOU MISS YOUR CRUISE.  SUPPOSEDLY THE ON-BOARD MEDICAL FACILITY PROVIDES FREE CHEWABLE MECLIZINE TABLETS FROM A DISPENSER NEXT TO ITS DOOR.
     SEA BANDS ARE A NEWER VERY POPULAR CHOICE.  THEY ARE ELASTIC WRIST BANDS WITH A STUD THAT APPLIES PRESSURE TO THE ACUPRESSURE POINT ON THE WRIST, WHICH IS SAID TO PREVENT SEASICKNESS.  SOME SWEAR BY THEM, SOME SAY THEY'RE TOO ANNOYING, SOME SAY THEY DON'T WORK.  AT LEAST THERE'S NO SIDE EFFECTS AT VERY LITTLE COST.
     THERE IS A SEASICKNESS PATCH THAT THOSE WHO HAVE TRIED IT SAY IS FULL PROOF.  BUT YOU CAN ONLY GET IT WITH A PRESCRIPTION AND IT DOES HAVE SIDE EFFECTS FOR SOME INCLUDING DRY MOUTH AND DIZZINESS.
     IF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT SEA SICKNESS, YOU CAN ALSO HELP PREVENT IT IN YOUR ROOM SELECTION.  IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE WAYS A SHIP CAN ROCK IT'S: SIDE TO SIDE, FRONT TO BACK, AND UP AND DOWN.  MOST OF THIS IS ELIMINATED BY THE SHEER SIZE OF THE SHIP.  BUT BEING MORE TOWARD THE MIDDLE OF THE SHIP FROM THE FRONT AND BACK AS WELL AS FROM THE SIDES WILL MAKE YOU MORE TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE MOVEMENT, MEANING LESS OF A "SWING".  A LOWER DECK WILL ALSO HELP PREVENT THE MORE DRASTIC MOVEMENTS AS YOUR ROOM HAS LESS DISTANCE TO MOVE, LIKE THE MIDDLE OF A PENDULUM.
     ODDS ARE OVERWHELMINGLY IN YOUR FAVOR, BUT PLANNING AHEAD CAN HELP YOU BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.  THERE'S ALWAYS A STORY OF SOMEBODY THROWING UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DINING ROOM.  USUALLY THE STUBBORN.  ASK A DOCTOR BEFORE YOU GO IF YOU'RE CONCERNED OR JUST START A REGIMEN OF GINGER PILLS DAYS BEFORE AND FEEL BETTER . . . AND DON'T SIT AT MY TABLE!  ;-)
     SEE YA REAL SOON!   ºOº