Motion Sickness Dilemmas

I recently read a novel that talked about the long and difficult journey that the Pilgrims endured as they sailed to the new world. One of the most difficult aspects of the voyage was when all the passengers endured terrible bouts of seasickness caused by the constant rolling motion of the ships. As I read this true story, I found that I could easily identify with these terribly ill passengers.

For as long as I can remember, I have always experienced motion sickness. When I was a young child, I could not play on the swings or merry-go-round without getting very dizzy and sick to my stomach. So, I had to avoid these fun activities.

I recall a time when I was about twelve years old. My family took a trip to Michigan, and we crossed Lake Michigan by way of a ferry. It was my first ride aboard a large boat, but I was not prepared for the constant motion of that large vessel as it crossed Lake Michigan. It didn't take long for me to develop a very upset stomach, making my adventure less enjoyable.

When I was 18, a friend invited me to take a drive to Eau Claire to visit where he would be attending college. While driving by a K-Mart, we noticed a carnival in the parking lot. So, we decided to stop and go on some rides. Big mistake, and needless to say, it was a long and miserable ride back to Dorchester with several sudden stops along the way.

As bad as all these experiences were, none compared to my motion sickness experience aboard a jumbo jet five thousand feet above the Atlantic Ocean.

My wife and I were flying to Sweden, and it would be my first experience with flying. I hadn't given motion sickness a thought until we suddenly hit some turbulence upon approaching Amsterdam. And then, when the plane began its descent, I grabbed the 'barf bags' and headed to the bathroom. It wasn't long before the flight attendant was pounding on the door, ordering me to take my seat for the landing. I will leave out the details about what happened next, but I will say one thing: I embarrassed my wife. The flight from Amsterdam to Stockholm was even worse.

I spent the first two days in Stockholm confined to my room. But slowly, I returned to normal, and we had a delightful two-week stay with our Swedish families. Upon our return flight home, I made sure to visit a pharmacy where I bought an ample supply of Dramamine. What a difference a few little pills can make.

It wasn’t until several years ago that my doctor told me that all my motion sickness is a result of some significant vision issues I have had my entire life. My severe astigmatism was the culprit that to this day prevents me from doing some fun activities.

G UEST