Motion Sickness

[RumBum 0]

1st jump, tandem, 08/01/05... loved it, of course!
Question: I am not motion sick in the plane but felt sick once the chute was opened, due to swaying under the chute. Is that pretty typical? If I learn to solo, will this be better when I am controlling the "steering"? How about will it get better with more jumps? All opinions and input will be helpful. Thanks alot!

[jlmiracle 7]

Did you jump on an empty stomach? Eating will help.

Also when under canopy look forward and NOT straight down. That should reduce the sick feeling.

Judy

Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

[Shark 0]

Don't drink heavily the night before.

[RumBum 0]

yeah, with my nervousness I did drink too much the night before. I didn't have to ask if that reaction was typical, though!

[skymama 37]

Welcome to the forums!

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[RumBum 0]

Yes, I am prone to car sickness and sea-sickness. It is a problem I have commonly but did not expect while under canopy. I have used Drammamine and Scop patch with so-so results. I have used an acupunture electric wrist band which worked but was actually quite annoying.

[N5188U 0]

Well I don't have enough experience in skydiving to tell you but I have had similar problems with flight students. (one poor guy upchucked every lesson for like 15 lessons) He eventually bought one of those little electric pulse wrist bands. Seemed to work also I know that over time your body naturally becomes more accustomed to the motions. So it will prob get better with time but try that wristband thing it help my student out a lot.

[Orange1 0]

happened to me on my first couple of jumps - then went away, i guess you get used to it

welcome to the sport!

Skydiving: wasting fossil fuels just for fun.

[calledisrael 0]

i am prone to motion sickness too...
sick, just like you, under canopy on my first tandem. hadn't eaten, which i think was the mistake. took dramamine before the next few jumps, but never had a problem after that. even with nerves and riding backward in the plane.
so yes, i would say it will hopefully get better... i think it's like how i don't get carsick when i am driving, i don't get sick when i spiral my own canopy, instead of that guy on my back...

welcome to jumping!

life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.
(helen keller)

[calledisrael 0]

i just saw that you also live in austin, too... we need to get some more of these women skydivers in austin to hang out...

life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.
(helen keller)

[AggieDave 6]

Its very easy to get motion sickness under a tandem if your prone to it. Part of the reason could be your TI not quite getting the harness adjusted just right. I'm assuming you went to one of the 3 DZs relatively close to Austin. All three use modern harnesses with Sigma rigs, which are better then the old harnesses used with the Vectors, so maybe not. The biggest thing is that the passenger sits about 3-5 inches infront of the pivot point (the risers) which can give you a bit of vertigo in turns.

Also, for anyone else reading this, larger people tend to be much more uncomfortable on tandems, more uncomfortable means less blood flow which can mean sickness.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[monkycndo 0]

The drinking/ not eating can do it. Also, once you are in control of your own canopy, you know what to expect since you are making the turns instead of reacting to what the TI was doing. Good luck and smile. Looks better for the camera.

50 donations so far. Give it a try.

You know you want to spank it
Jump an Infinity

[RumBum 0]

I weigh 125 so I dont think that weight was an issue, but the rig I was using was waaay too big for me, we had to cinch it down as small as it would go and I still had a hard time reaching up for the parachute lines. I had tingling in my fingers before even jumping. I was also bruised on my arms and legs after. It sounds like my illness was a combo of the rig, hangover from the night before, lack of food, prone to motion sickness.... I was just asking for it! Well, live and learn. Thanks for all of your posts, this forum is helping me to learn alot about my new obsession!