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Hi,
Does anyone else suffer with nausea while driving their own car? Any cars that have helped with that? Any tips to reduce it?
I have worsening digestive problems, and suffer from vertigo as well as agoraphobia, so transport is also going to be an issue. But it was fairly ‘manageable’ locally in a comfort spec car on chunky tyres until more recently (current car is an older Golf Match on 16″s).
After a major fail buying a sporty Leon FR (blinded by the thought of adaptive suspension!) I then settled on a Focus Active Vignale, the Active is the higher riding, chunky tyre, crossover version for anyone that doesn’t know. It is also the only spec to retain independent rear suspension with a petrol engine in the hatchback model.
Had to wait ages for it due to the chip shortages, finally got it this week but it’s making me even more nauseous than the Golf was. I knew the first couple of days would be bad (can’t test drive cars due to this) but it’s nearly been a week now a I still can’t even get to a supermarket 2 miles away to buy shopping, obviously a major problem.
I can’t think of a better model for my issues on paper, and at this point honestly don’t know whether this is something to do with the car, or whether it’s something to do with me. My old car is no longer insured so I can’t try that again to check at the moment.
I have tried ginger before a drive btw, makes absolutely no difference. Can’t take motion meds as the driver due to drowsiness side effects.
Any help or advice appreciated!
Thanks
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Hi Smoothrider. Whilst many people can feel motion sickness whilst a passenger in a car (particularly if in the rear), I haven’t heard of anyone feeling sick whilst driving themselves. I would therefore think that it is more likely an issue with yourself than the car. One obvious thing that comes to mind is your eyesight. I think a sensible start point might be to have an eye test and explain to the optometrist the symptoms that you are experiencing. You may need glasses (if you don’t already wear them) or a change in your prescription (if you do). Vision problems can cause nausea whilst moving. Failing that an appointment with your GP may be wise but in the current climate you may be able to get an eye test quicker and a GP will probably advise an eye test anyway. Good luck.
Thanks Glos Guy,
I did have an eye test around 18 months ago but the optometrist didn’t understand what I meant (I’m terrible at verbal situations). In the end I was just told my vision is still good enough to drive without glasses but was prescribed some for use with screens due to astigmatism instead. Sadly they caused the same nausea issues as the car though, despite repeated attempts at short-term wears to get used to them so I gave up in the end. I think it’s something to do with being able to see around the rims, as I can wear wraparound sunglasses ok.
I’m no longer in a position to travel to an optician until I can get some improvement in the car situation though, which may be a contradiction! I haven’t been able to use any form of public transport, taxis, lifts or even escalators for several years now. My car really is my only form of transport unfortunately so I need to try and find a way to make this work.
That’s a shame. It does sound from what you are saying as though your eyes might be the root cause, but you obviously need a professional to confirm that, not me! I’m surprised that you say that you aren’t good in verbal situations, but your written posts are extremely articulate and easy to understand, so might it be an idea to write down your challenges and hand it to the optometrist? Depending on your age, your eyesight can change significantly in 18 months. As I say, if you can’t get a satisfactory response from an optometrist I would see your GP as it’s obviously having a big impact on your life and there will be a solution somewhere. I wish you well with it.
Smoothrider,
Have you tried sea sickness bands, they press on a pressure point on your wrist, I have not used them but the family all wear them when on the ocean.
I know it is not a medical solution and may seem a little silly but they do apparently work for some people with travel nausea.
Could be worth a punt for a couple of quid.
Hi wmc, good idea, I have tried the sea bands but they didn’t help either sadly.
I’m most likely on the autistic spectrum but unable to get a diagnosis due to my verbal issues ironically. I can type all day long but struggle to deal with people face to face or on telephones which has ben a huge barrier to any medical help so far. I have written letters for my GP recently which didn’t really work but may try one to the optician as suggested.
Try sea sickness tablets
Sturgeon are cheap and available from most chemists and supermarkets take one before you go to bed and one in the morning with a light breakfast before a lunchtime drive and see how you go the next step up is two tablets (recommended dose)
Get someone else to drive you in your car and try a scopdoderme patch this is for when you are so sea sick you are unable to hold down any tablet formed medication and are in danger of loosing to much fluids due to sickness.
This could train your brain that the car is ok as it should remove the motion sickness and get you used it
Always check with your doctor/ pharmacy first
If you need to drink take small sips multiple times rather than a good swig of something not too sweet
Also turn the radio off
The first time I sailed to France overnight in a gatefold 8 in a 36ft yacht I was very badly ill so bad I did not want to come back but I was advised to try Stugeron and I have never been sick since and don’t need to take them now
Hope this helps
I do get the motion sickness when I drive my own car & usually crank the window open an inch to help alleviate it. Cause for me is sinuses, & it’s always worse when my hayfever is bad.
Cars with a harder suspension help me.
I never suffer motion sickness on a motorbike, there’s no rolling motion, just pitch & yaw.
If you go to the doctor he might think you have anxiety driving. I have anxiety and it is worse when driving. Although you having nausea that badly maybe it could affect your licence se if the doctor finds its everytime you drive or are in a car that you feel that way. So feeling like that driving might affect your driving licence
Try sea sickness tablets Sturgeon are cheap and available from most chemists and supermarkets take one before you go to bed and one in the morning with a light breakfast before a lunchtime drive and see how you go the next step up is two tablets (recommended dose) Get someone else to drive you in your car and try a scopdoderme patch this is for when you are so sea sick you are unable to hold down any tablet formed medication and are in danger of loosing to much fluids due to sickness. This could train your brain that the car is ok as it should remove the motion sickness and get you used it Always check with your doctor/ pharmacy first If you need to drink take small sips multiple times rather than a good swig of something not too sweet Also turn the radio off The first time I sailed to France overnight in a gatefold 8 in a 36ft yacht I was very badly ill so bad I did not want to come back but I was advised to try Stugeron and I have never been sick since and don’t need to take them now Hope this helps
Another vote here for Stugeron. My dad was a submariner for 27-years and, believe it or not, he got sea sick every time the sub left the dockside! He swore by Stugeron tablets – even when he was on big nuclear subs later in his career. I followed his footsteps for 12-years and luckily, I never got sea sick. That was probably because I was on surface ships (aircraft carriers, destroyers) because like I said to my father; “Dad, the sea is for sailing on – not under!”.
Worth a try. Apparently they work for all sorts of travel sickness & vertigo, etc.
Hi not sure if any good but maybe worth a try
https://www.maison-berger.co.uk/aroma-travel-car-diffuser-refills.html
will need a holder for it or could at first tie a piece of string and hang in front of air vent
Very interesting point about the sinuses…I do seem to have near constant sinus issues myself so that may be partly to blame.
I took my old Golf out today and it did prove that it’s the car at fault which is both good & bad. Good that I can still get my shopping tomorrow as I was genuinely concerned about that. But bad that I have no idea what car to go for now. The Golf seems much smoother at handling, not jarring or bouncing, and it has soft cloth seats (with 100,000 miles of wear on the foam lol) which both seem to add to the ‘planted but smooth’ feel…I wish I could explain it better.
Does anyone have a Mk8 Golf Style that could comment on ride comfort? I’ve asked for an extended test drive but apparently they’re not doing test drives at all at the moment.
Smoothrider – I seriously doubt that the car is the issue. I think it’s far more likely to be a health issue that you need medical intervention with. I would worry that you could change the car and have the same issue. As previously stated, I would urge you to see an optometrist and / or your GP. I fear that you might be barking up the wrong tree by debating which car to get.
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