How to deal with travel sickness

* I suffer from travel sickness, so instead of being excited about holidays, the thought of getting to our destination can fill me with dread.

I am travelling with my family to france by ferry later this month and i want to enjoy the journey. Have you any suggestions on how to ease the symptoms of nausea I might feel on the day? Also, is there something my gp can prescribe to ease the nausea?

>>This must be distressing for you and I can understand you want to avoid it and enjoy the travelling. Travel sickness or motion sickness is common in women and can happen with any form of travel.

The cause of travel sickness isn’t fully understood, but is thought to be related to your brain receiving conflicting signals between what your eyes can see and what the balance mechanisms in your inner ear perceive. If you experience severe or very frequent travel sickness, it may be useful to visit your gp, who may prescribe certain medications to manage this condition.

here are some general suggestions:

* sit on the upper deck or in the middle of the ship.

* keep your eyes fixed on the horizon.

* avoid a heavy meal before setting out and while travelling.

* have plenty of cool water to drink.

* don’t read or watch a film — try listening to music or an audio book instead.

* on long car journeys, take frequent stops for fresh air and a short walk.

* open the car windows.

* have some cooling wipes in your handbag.

* try distraction techniques, play travel games — ‘i spy’ has entertained generations.

* try lying down — sleep is often the best way to deal with travel sickness.

i hope that you will be able to enjoy the travel — it is all just part of a wonderful holiday.

* I had my second baby six months ago. I have noticed in the few weeks that i wet myself whenever i sneeze or cough. Is there any way i can strengthen the muscles or should i consider surgery?

>>Weakness of the pelvic floor muscles is nearly universal after childbirth because of stretching of the pelvic floor muscles. If it is severe, it can cause a type of urinary incontinence called stress incontinence. This happens when sudden extra pressure on the abdomen and the bladder — when you cough, exercise, sneeze or laugh — causes a small leak of urine because of the weakened pelvic floor muscles. however the good news is that stress incontinence can usually be treated effectively through exercises, medication and surgery as a last resort. you need to make an appointment to see your gp, who can take a full history and perform a physical examination. keeping a diary of how often and when the problem happens will be helpful for your gp.

There are a number of ways to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and stop the leaks from happening. it is important that you exercise the correct muscles. exercising the pelvic floor muscles is the same as trying to hold on when you need to pass water or stop wind escaping from your back passage by squeezing the muscle just above the entrance of the back passage. it takes practice and perseverance, the same as trying to strengthen any other muscles — it can be very helpful to get advice on how to design your exercise programme. your gp may be able to put you in touch with a nurse or physiotherapist.

In some cases it is necessary to see a specialist if the cause of the problem is not clear, or if you are not making good progress. your gp will be able to reassure you and advise you on the most appropriate treatment programme.