Don't Sit Next To Me On An Airplane

Ever since I can remember, I've been plagued with terrible motion sickness. Just like your favorite holiday movie title, I've been sick on Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Don't forget about boats. Forcing me to sit on a boat in the waves ranks high on my top nightmares list. 

Recently, my motion sickness has been EXTRA bad. Like run-out-of-my-barf-bags tucked-in-the-fetal-position-on-the-airplane-bad. As you can imagine, this isn't a very feasible scenario while trying to manage six kids. While I've dealt with this situation my whole life, I felt like I had crossed the line of "normal" and needed to find out what *might* be wrong with me. 

My doctor recommended a trip to an ENT. I also made an appointment with a neurologist. It felt good to be doing "something" towards solving this problem just having the appointments booked. 

I walked into the ENT with high hopes that she'd have the answer. ANY answer. 

After a quick conversation explaining all of my (GROSS) symptoms, she checked my ears. 

In my head, I was chanting, "please find something, please find something". 

First ear......nothing.
Ok fine, it has to be the other ear. 
Second ear......nothing. 

The doctor said cheerily, the bad news is there's nothing wrong with you. The good news is, there's also nothing wrong with you. 

I felt my daughter's weight in my lap suddenly feel a little heavier as we both sank into the exam chair. 

Really? I asked. Nothing???? 

"Yes, nothing and I really wouldn't bother going to the other doctor, because there's nothing they can do for you. I can send you to a vestibular therapist if you ever have a bought of motion sickness you can't shake. You just have a realllllllly sensitive system and that's not uncommon. I recommend just doing anything that gives you comfort while you travel and stay well rested and hydrated". 

After letting her news sink in, I thought about how common this is. Have you ever hoped there really was something "wrong" with you in order to explain your deviation from the norm? When it comes to body size, you may have jumped on the idea that you're "addicted" to sugar, you lack willpower or strength or that you literally were born with some abnormality that has "made" you this way. 

Well, my trip to the doctor was an important reminder that sometimes there really isn't anything wrong with me and that I need to make peace with my reality.  I need to accept my sensitive system and figure out ways to bring myself comfort instead of fighting to figure out some illusive cause. As some say, this is a lesson on living life on life's terms. It just is what it is. 

Thanks to my sister, I have a new watch-like device that sends a little shock through my hand and fingers called the ReliefBand. I added Ear Planes to the last flight along with the band and it was the first time in a while that I didn't get sick. A small miracle. Over time, I've figured out how to eat before flying and what to wear. I never leave home without my little baggies either. And no, those Sea Bands don't work. Those things are for amateurs, not professional motion sick people like me. 

This week I ask yourself where you might be looking for something that *has* to be wrong with you to explain away your deviation from the norm? Maybe your time would be better spent learning to accept your deviation and find ways to make yourself more comfortable. 

While I'm hopeful my new concoction of devices works going forward, you still may never want to sit next to me on an airplane. And definitely don't ask me to sit in the backseat of your car. EVER.