For those who have fibromyalgia, while they may notice the pain more than anything, there are also other side effects that go along with this.
These side effects can make an illness that is already bad become worse overnight it seems. One of these symptoms is having motion sickness.
Motion sickness and feeling the need to vomit on occasion both go hand in hand with fibromyalgia.
However, not everyone is going to experience this type of issue. For those who don’t, they can consider themselves lucky.
However, for those who are suffering from this, they find that it can make having a normal life somewhat difficult.
What is Motion Sickness?
Motion sickness is basically feeling sick to your stomach at all times. However, you may find that this motion sickness really starts to act up if you are moving.
For those with fibromyalgia, they often state:
- If they get up in the morning and start moving, they start to feel motion sickness.
- Riding in any kind of vehicle can make them motion sick.
- Being on a boat can also bring about this feeling of motion sickness.
- This motion sickness can hit all the sudden from some people.
- Other people report that this motion sickness only happens after they are moving around a lot.
This motion sickness can interfere with everyday life. For example, many people who suffer from fibromyalgia often state that the motion sickness makes it impossible for them to go enjoy amusement parks, riding on a boat or even riding in a car.
So, why does a person with fibromyalgia have a higher chance of developing this motion sickness?
Why Fibromyalgia Sufferers Have Motion Sickness?
Motion sickness is not something that has been listed as a verified symptom of having fibromyalgia.
The reason being is that there are several other things that are associated with fibromyalgia.
However, if you were to look through the various medical boards that are online for fibromyalgia sufferers, you would find that many list motion sickness. So, just what is causing this to happen? There are several thoughts on this:
- Many people believe that this motion sickness is from the pain that the body is feeling. It is a way to get a person to slow down due to the pain that they are having.
- Existing GI tract issues can also be the reason. However, many people report that preexisting GI tract issues often flare up once they have developed fibromyalgia.
- A person may have an inner ear issue that is causing this motion sickness that is due to the pressure points and their balance with fibromyalgia.
How to Overcome Motion Sickness?
So just how does a person go about overcoming this motion sickness? They are going to find that this may drastically change the way that they live their life, especially if they were a person who would once be described as a go-getter.
Here are a few methods that people are utilizing to keep the motion sickness at bay:
1- They simply avoid anything that could trigger this. It may take a while to discover what all your triggers are. For example, most people think of the most obvious issues such as long car rides or riding on a boat.
However, people have found that sitting through a 3D movie can also cause this motion sickness to flare up.
2- Look for homeopathic ways of dealing with this. For example, there are motion sickness bracelets that are meant to help give the person a center of calm. Others find that utilizing essential oils that help them to breathe and keep their nerves at ease are great for dealing with the motion sickness as well.
3- Watch your diet. Many people who suffer from motion sickness will find that their diet is not helping. Eating foods that cause a lot of acid in the stomach can make this motion sickness worse.
4- Take medication as there are many over the counter medications for motion sickness that a person can take if they cannot avoid being in a situation in which they are going to become motion sick.
A good idea is to start writing down what you are doing and when this motion sickness hits. Many people keep journals with them of what they eat and what they were doing when they noticed that this motion sickness was getting too hard to control.
This can give you a better idea of what your triggers may be. Keep in mind, many people who suffer from the pain from fibromyalgia often find that it is the pain itself that is making the motion sickness worse.
If this becomes the case, then it boils down to really find a way to deal with the pain and to lessen this as well.
Through keeping one of these journals, you can also give your doctor a better understanding of what you may be dealing with so that they can use their medical knowledge to help you.
A Few Other Tips
Here are a few other tips that can help a person to avoid this motion sickness:
- Get up slowly especially when you have been lying down or the like, as this can cause the pressure in the body to fluctuate fast.
- Ensure that you are checked for any inner ear issues as this can cause motion sickness and it could not even be related to your fibromyalgia.
- Learn your limits and take it easy if you need to. This is probably one of the hardest things for people to do, especially if they are accustomed to going and doing what they want. However, the reality is that you may have to take more breaks than you once did.
- There are several home remedies out there that you may want to give a try. Just ensure that these are not going to interfere with any medications that your doctor has prescribed.
If this motion sickness gets to be too much, then talk with your doctor. It could be an issue that is unrelated and easily fixed.