OK, I'm not sure how to keep somebody from getting seasick without drugs, but I do know how to practically guarantee a person gets sick.

When I was little, I used to get sick every so often while going out with my father. It took me at least 5 years before I figured out what the cause was. I mean, why did I do ok some days, but others, I was puking and stuck sleeping down in the cabin?

Turns out, everytime I puked, I puked up purple. Yup, those were the days my mom gave me grape juice. I kept it to myself, though. When I got older, I tried an experiment. I put grape juice in the cooler on a couple of fishing trips. The people who drank the purple grape juice got sick!!!

Sidewalk, if I were you, I'd start eliminating certain things from your diet on days you're underway. You might get lucky. The other thing is to walk around like a zombie. In other words, unless you're on deck, don't focus on any one thing. I know for me, I don't get sick these days, no matter what the conditions are. However, if I have to work on something up-close and have to concentrate on it for a length of time, it will get my stomach churning.

 

Sidewalk, Have you tried Meclazine? (brand name Bonine) Like you, I tried everything, I'd be sick as soon as we cleared the breakwater and got over 5 knots. They're little pink pills you can chew up without water and you take one every 24 hours, but you have to start before you get underway or they won't work. I'd usualy take 2 the day before and one a day for the first week. You feel a little drowsey, but its a lot better than being sick!

 

I only tried the drugs the Doc had on the boat. There were 3 or 4 differenent kinds. All I know is that the $350 a bottle stuff didn't work, and it was a pretty small bottle. As for diet, it didn't make a difference what I ate. At first I didn't eat and drink at all, because, I was sick Eventually I forced myself to eat anyway, because something coming back up feels much more painless then dry heaving (I did that a lot). I ate the healthiest stuff they were serving, to try and get as much nutrition I could before I lost it. I also started to drink as much as possible, I would carry a water bottle around with me and drink constantly. I almost never took a ****, because I either sweat it out, or puked it up. I eventually gave up on the drugs, since I didn't notice a difference, and there was no change off of the drugs. I learned that trying to deal with it was the only way to cope. Once I begin getting more responsibilities, it made it easier to deal with, because I had more on my mind. After a while, I made it into a game. I made sure I was never the first one to toss it up. Then I would also walk around the different areas where the ship rides worse, and stay as long as I could. I would leave once I knew I was boarderline.

In the end, i just gave up trying to prevent being sick, and just did what I could to not let it interfere with my job.

Then again, I doubt I will be getting underway anymore. I am stationed on land right now. I have only been underway twice in 2 years, both for only a few hours, and both times in calm seas. I get out soon, so I don't worry.

 

sidewalk: you make it sound as though there are a fair amount of people within the coast guard who get sea sick. did you ever consider just getting out and not having to deal with it.

funny i though after some time you would eventually get used to it. apparently not huh?

when we went out on the 33 footer (it was a fishing boat) the captain told us the worst thing to do was drink alcohol and sit down. he said to keep standing and not fight the motion of the boat. out of 5 of us only one lost lunch. (no it wasn't me)

 

I would guess that 1/3 to 1/2 get seasick to some degree. 1/8 will puke in moderate weather. You don't have to puke to already feel like crap.

I am getting out, but that is not related to being seasick. As you might know, being underway is one of those things you miss. You get a real understanding of why those people in the movies always want to go to sea. There is no way to explain it. If I wasn't getting out soon, I would request a ship for my next transfer.