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#1
08-11-2009, 02:42 AM
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Airsickness
OK, to give you a bit of backstory, the first 10 or so hours of my flight training (a bit beyond as well) were good for nothing other than getting me through pretty severe motion sickness. Even straight and level in turbulent air would cause my stomach to go berserk. Now, basic VFR is no problem and at one point I had progressed to a decent level of tolerance and was doing quite well with my aerobatics. Then, someone prop-struck the Citabria and that grounded it for a few months. Now, it's clear that I'm faced with regaining all of the tolerance I had built up as a few spins and loops brought my lunch up the other day. Additionally, I'm having some difficulty with the IFR training. After about .7 under the foggles, I have to remove them or I'll get sick.
This is driving me absolutely insane and slowing my progress as a pilot. I own the damn airplane I'm training in and my girlfriend is a CFII, so theoretically I could run the tanks dry practicing, but I can't stay up much beyond .7-.8 because of this BS. I know I should probably just be patient and let this work itself out, but I'm aggravated to the point of action. Plus, with the aerobatics, the motion sickness seems to be a bit more fierce than it was before! AHHH!!! If anyone has any recommendations, ideas, or tried and true methods that will get me through this quickly, I would LOVE to hear about them! 
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#2
08-11-2009, 01:06 PM
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I've heard good things about increasing ginger intake (powdered ginger or ginger tea) intake helping with motion sickness.
Granted, I haven't seen a clinical study proving the effectiveness, but it can't hurt.
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#3
08-11-2009, 04:33 PM
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Thanks! Unfortunately, I tried that, but to no avail. I also tried one of the electronic wristbands, but no luck there, either. Additionally, Dramamine doesn't work AND puts me to sleep (even non-drowsy). I'm sure the FAA wouldn't be pleased with a PIC on Dramamine anyway. I guess I'll just have to suck it up and get through it again. Bagels seem to work some, but I'm flying about 8 times a week right now, so I'll have to double my workout schedule to avoid becoming a fat a$$ if I go that route!
AHHHHHHH!!!!!!! :-)
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#4
08-11-2009, 06:39 PM
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You could always try acupuncture/pressure. They say it works, but, again, I can't say I've seen any clinical results that support effectiveness. Have you tried one of the wrist pressure bands? (I know you said below you've tried electronic ones, but I'm not sure of the difference, if any)
I've also heard breathing through your nose can help. You could always have your ears looked at by an ENT doc. It's a longshot, but might turn something up.
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#5
08-12-2009, 01:46 AM
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Haven't tried the pressure bands, maybe I will give those a whirl.
Actually, I thought about going to an ENT. Now that you mention it, I think I will. Thanks!
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#7
08-12-2009, 01:24 PM
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One of my buddies had a really hard time with this when he was in pilot training for the air force. He was fine when he was getting his private pilot but when he started flying tweets doing military style flying and training he started failing all his check rides due to sickness. He wanted to be a fighter pilot his whole life and so you can imagine how aggresively he tried to attack his sickness. The airforce had a anti-sickness program that they put him in where they put you in a chair and spin you around over and over while you puke over and over. He spent everyday in this chair and started shaking off his sickness and passing his check rides with flying colors. Then terrible weather rolled in and they were grounded for two weeks and the sickness started all over again. Seems like unless you are flying almost everyday it's difficult if not impossible to stay acclimated if you are prone to motion sickness. In the end he failed too many check rides due to sickness and was taken out of the program. My opinion is if you are prone to motion sickness and there is no medical cure for it (ENT saying there is nothing they can do) you are pretty much not made to be doing aerobatics. Plenty of pilots have died from motion sickness and it's something you shouldn't mess around with.
Last edited by Z06Kal; 08-12-2009 at 01:27 PM.
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#8
08-12-2009, 05:59 PM
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Well, I guess I'll be pushing up daisys before long, then. :-)
Seriously, though, thank you for your concern. From what I gather, my sickness doesn't seem to be quite as violent as your friend's. It is extremely unpleasant, yes, but neither disorienting nor totally incapacitating. I remember flying back home on one of my first solo cross countries on a hot and bumpy day, control stick in one hand, barf bag and throttle in the other. Thankfully, those days are gone. It's unfortunate that I don't have access to a program like what your friend went through ("spin and puke" school, right?) because I think I would really benefit from that. I also used to get sick while surfing, but that has disappeared nicely as well, and once the sickness goes away, it doesn't seem to matter how long I take off. If I take several weeks off from regular flying, same for surfing, I have no issues when I return now. It seems to be a progression (albeit a slow one) through comfort zones, and I think it's possible that the extra concentration required for acro and instruments (not to mention a little anxiety because I don't want to screw up) is exacerbating the tendencies I have. At any rate, I'm seeing the doctor tomorrow. Hopefully, she will offer some options that the FAA will not frown upon. If not, bagels it is...and a few more laps and sets per week. :-)
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#10
08-17-2009, 01:14 AM
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Quote:
Went OK...recommended I take an anti-nausea mixed with Sudephedrine when I'm not solo to get me over the hump. Today, I decided to try one of the anti-nausea pills just to see how I felt after using them. Since I have never tried an illegal substance I can't say for sure, but I'm pretty sure that's what Angel Dust would be like. Using that while I'm focusing on flying/learning is out of the question. I can certainly understand why these kinds of medicines are not allowed for a Pilot in Command; I took the pill at 3PM, then I could hardly stay awake to cook dinner, then I fell asleep two hours early and woke up an hour late this morning. I'm not kidding! So, bagels and time it is. On a better note I spent over an hour staring at instruments the other day with nothing but a few hours old breakfast in me, and I didn't have any troubles! Seems like I have gotten through the "eyes inside" sickness pretty quickly! Last edited by Chupacabra; 08-17-2009 at 01:23 AM.
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#11
08-17-2009, 09:16 AM
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Quote:
That's the stuff - good news! For what it's worth, I asked a friend who is frequently airsick and she reported that sucking on a peppermint helped greatly. Who knows, and if nothing else you get a piece of candy. Mostly, great to hear that things are getting better
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#12
08-17-2009, 11:23 AM
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Thanks again! I'll have to try that, too. I have acro tomorrow, so we'll see how it goes!
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#14
08-28-2009, 12:53 AM
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I'm so thrilled...
Had an acro flight today, can't even remember how many loops and rolls I did, and I had NO motion sickness whatsoever. God, I love bagels. :-)
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#15
08-28-2009, 06:00 AM
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I will have to try bagels then...Imagine owning your own charter company, but being prone to motion sickness...happened as a kid, hasn't changed.
Some good points on here gents, thanks. BJ
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#16
08-28-2009, 07:09 AM
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Ahhh...so I'm NOT the only one :-) Well BJ, bagels seem to work pretty well, especially for normal flying. I typically eat one immediately before getting in the airplane, and it seems to last for a good while. Obviously, there is a lot of bulk to a bagel, and I imagine your body has time to adjust itself without a lot of sloshing around going on in your stomach (that will make you sick very quickly!). I suppose that explains the longer effects of the bagel method.
On a healthy note, whole wheat bagels (Thomas' is a good supermarket brand) are better because of lower caloric content, slightly higher nutritional value, and won't spike your blood sugar through the ceiling. They also taste good! Final thing - kinda' gross, maybe TMI, but...make sure you do #2 before getting in the plane. That makes a big difference for me.
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#17
08-28-2009, 08:23 AM
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Roger that!
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#18
11-01-2009, 06:35 PM
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Some good info on Motion Sickness Click Here.
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#19
11-01-2009, 09:55 PM
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Quote:
It was about that time that I read the drug info and found that it takes two hours for the drug to exert it's maximum effectiveness. I had taken the pill -- you guessed it -- maybe 15-30 minutes before doing acro. Placebo, anyone? So, I laughed at myself, decided, "I don't need this $%^t, and haven't had trouble since. I had become so used to the thought of throwing up whenever the attitudes got a little unusual that my mind kind of expected it and made it a reality. Something about knowing I "couldn't" throw up got rid of the mental inclination toward puking. I'm very happy about that :-) I have been flying solo acro for a while now, and I'm enjoying the heck out of it. Of course, I still use the bagel and ginger capsules, just in case!
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#20
11-01-2009, 11:04 PM
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Quote:
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