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If you have ever experienced the stomach-churning feeling of motion sickness, you’ll know that it can strike when you least expect it, and often at the most inopportune of moments. Although sufferers can be consumed with embarrassment at the time, some motion-sickness stories are laugh out loud funny in hindsight, like the following stories:

About 8 years ago we took our two girls on a family holiday to Qld. Girls Lisa then aged 5 and Cindy then aged 3. We went on a lovely cruise to Dunk Island and then to an uninhabited coral island for a day. Seas were calm, but I got seasick. The boat people asked everyone to go to the back of the boat so we could board the smaller glass bottom boat and be taken to the coral island in small groups. Everyone was gathered at the end of the main boat and Cindy decided she wanted to do a wee. We went to the toilet and as soon as I saw the bowl, I pushed her out the road and chucked big time!! Cindy opens the toilet door (mid-chuck) and yells to everybody “Don’t come in, Mummy’s being sick!!”

That was pretty bad, but it got worse. Because the boat was stationary, when I flushed everything just floated past all the people waiting at the rear of the main boat. Not good. (It took 3 days to get my balance back! Talk about pollution at the Great Barrier Reef!!)  Jane Buscumb 

There is the time when I was about 6, and my brothers (4 and 2) and my Mum and I were flying from Hamilton down to Palmerston North (both in NZ) to see my Grandmother and the snooty hostess had completely ignored my Mum and the hassle she was having trying to “control” 3 small kids. Right at the end of the flight she came past to tie us into our seats for landing and said “is every thing alright?” with her supercilious smile and in a move for which my Mum is still grateful (22 years later) I promptly threw up on the hostess’s beautiful blue shoes. Brendan

Riding the metro in Washington, D.C. can be quite experience, packed in, armpit to armpit with 200 of your newly found friends. It was a warm autumn day and everyone was tired after a long day at the office. All of a sudden the lady behind me started coughing and then I felt this strange, moist, warmth on the back of my suit coat. I turned to the lady who tried to apologise but only more vomit came out, all over my shirt, tie, and face. I was riding to the end of the line and got really odd glances by the time I got there. It was another pizza crime as I was still wearing most of that lady’s lunch. I burned the suit. Anonymous

“My friend and I were at a local carnival and decided to ride the craziest, scariest ride there! I started getting sick and when we tried to get off, I puked! A group of boys saw and pointed at me laughing. I’ve been “Puke Girl” ever since.” Seventeen 

The day got off to a bad start. On the morning of the exam, I was woken by my mother informing me a snap strike had been called and the trains were out. Great! The only alternative was to get myself to Carnegie for the tram that runs along Glenhuntly Rd into the city. A long trip. The exams were being held at the exhibition buildings. The thought crossed my mind not to bother since I thought I was going to fail, but in my HSC year (as it was called then) I had studied maths very hard so in the back of my mind I gave myself some chance. If I got the tram I might just make it in time for the exam.

I bolted down breakfast which consisted of about 8 weetbix, copious amounts of milk and some fruit. Typical teenagers big breakfast. Raced to the tram stop…waited what seemed like an eternity…swore audibly under my breathe…finally one arrived. Being the end of the line I was able to get a seat, pulled out the Teach Yourself Calculus book and attempted to absorb the subject. It was a particularly hot morning, the sun was beating in through the window but I was now desperately trying to understand and memorise the information. Well, as expected the tram was packed solid, there was no air to speak of and because of the traffic it crawled. It became obvious that I would have an additional disadvantage of being late for the exam. I’m thinking I probably could handle losing 15 minutes but half an hour would be a disaster.

By now my anxiety level had hit the red zone and I realised the combination of nerves, stress, heat, lack of air and feeling of motion sickness from reading on a moving tram had made me start to feel like I was going to bring up the contents of my stomach. This sort of anxiety feeds on itself so I started to feel even worse. I knew it was only a matter of time but I was determined not to get off the tram since that would probably mean losing any chance of passing the exam. The problem was there was nowhere to throw up. Images of me projectile vomiting onto the other occupants of the tram flashed before me. Oh shit! I tried every relaxation technique possible. No good. It was just a question of when.

The tram finally reached the city. For me, there was about 8 stops to go now. Fortunately, a lot of people got off so I was able to move to a less crowded spot. And then the inevitable happened. I spewed up what seemed like my entire insides. In a closed location there is no escape it sprayed and splattered. People ran for cover. At the next stop I think most people decided to get off just to avoid the smell but of course I had to stay…I wasn’t going anywhere. So here’s this now practically empty tram going up Swanston St in the middle of a strike! Just me and the conductor. Actually, the tram conductor was pretty good. I explained I had to get to an exam. He seemed to understand but said maybe I should lay off the grog the night before a big exam.

To cut a long story short, I made it to the exam about 15 minutes late and amazingly did enough to pass. As I was standing around with my friends after the exam someone happened to notice the splashed spew on my shoes and bag. I said, “Yer, some idiot threw up on the tram this morning”. Everyone laughed. I was too embarrassed to tell them I was the idiot.

That’s my story. Its time for a confession. I apologise to anyone that might have been on the tram that morning.  John, Melbourne, Australia

About 10 years ago <sheesh, that long ago!> I went to London with a girlfriend to visit an aunt and uncle.

Because we were on a budget we decided to take the bus, Hoover craft and bus again……

So after about 3 hours in the bus, 2 hours in the Hoover thingy and another 2 in the bus I kinda started feeling queasy but kept on telling myself “we’re almost there”. We were almost at the busstation and were going to be picked up by my uncle in his canary coloured mercedes!

I had made it so far and was sitting in this mercedes, which usually is quite comfortable, but sitting squished in the corner with 3 more people squished beside you…….<get the picture>

Anyway I’m dead-tired taking a couple of deep breaths and am about to ask my uncle to pull-over, when I open my mouth and….”Oh my gawd!!!!” I spewed everything out, up and in an arch, on the floor, over the seat and worst of all…..in my shoes! YUCK!!!

We got to their house, I got out of the car…”sop..suck, suck, sop sop”

Talk about wanting to dig a hole and disappear in it!!

The moral of the story <yes folks, there’s moral to it> is…..when there’s family around, who cares! They’ve seen your diapers….!  Yasmin J. Nurmohamed, Haarlem, The Netherlands

I was commuting to the city on one of those beeaauuutiful blue trains we used to enjoy:post red rattler, pre silver bullet (ha) from glorious Oakleigh. I used to start work at about 8:30 (yecchh) so the time must have been about 8:00 am and the train was therefore somewhat chockers.

I got that wonderful cold sweats/shakes/numbness and realised how lucky we all were that the train wasn’t express to Caulfield. We pulled in at Carnegie, and while I was waiting with my cheeks puffed out and my index finger pressed to my pursed lips nature took over. I cried RUTH, enjoyed my brekky backwards, had a technicolour yawn, whatever, RIGHT IN THE DOORWAY where, being the time of day and the location there were at least half a dozen cheerful VicRail clients eagerly awaiting the beginning of their joyous day.

I gracefully alighted and made my decorous way to the Ladies where I found that I’d luckily avoided splattering myself. I waited until the train had left, then walked out and caught the next train with no-one any the wiser. Anonymous 

Natural Relief from Motion-Sickness

Sea-Bands provide drug-free relief from sea or motion sickness. If you have ever experienced that awful dizzy, queasy feeling you get when your senses tell your brain that you are moving when you are in fact motionless, sitting on a boat, or in a car etc, you’ll know that it can be more than just a little uncomfortable, and can ruin what would otherwise be a pleasant experience.

Unlike some anti-nausea medications, Sea-Bands won’t make you drowsy, so you can get back to enjoying yourself and the sights quickly, and without feeling groggy!

Scientific studies have shown that one of the most effective drug-free treatments for nausea is based upon the ancient principle of Acupressure – effectively Acupuncture without the needles!

Sea-Bands harness the natural effect of Acupressure by applying continuous pressure on the P6 (or Nei Kuan) point on each wrist using a plastic stud.

• A recent study in Italy found morning sickness was reduced by 70% in women who wore Sea-Bands.
• A study conducted by an American midwife showed that women wearing Sea-Band wrist bands also reported less anxiety, depression and hostility.

Sea-Band can be used to prevent or relieve nausea, so wear them before experiencing symptoms of nausea or at the first sign of them.

Sea-Bands are available from all leading Pharmacies RRP $17.95

Visit www.seabands.com.au for more information

This post is sponsored by Sea-Band Australia.