Sick, Sick, Sick at Sea

05/05/2009

A journal excerpt from Josh's time at sea:

It’s official -- I am seasick (well, still seasick, I guess). Three weeks in and I am still vomiting every day, 10 times a day, and it is crippling. I have already lost 10 pounds and will end up losing 6 more before we hit land.  I feel so sick that I can’t stand up straight without getting that lump in my throat.  One good thing I guess when you’re sick on a boat is that you can just throw up wherever you want.  No running to the bathroom; it's pretty convenient actually.  Anyways, I’m working hunched over shooting, then throwing up, then changing camera tapes. I have it down to a routine.

Josh and Jake keep telling me that the seasickness will go away soon or that I’ll never get better.  Never get better?! What the heck? Now I keep thinking I’m going to die out here, and another five or six weeks sounds like hell.

I’m just frustrated that all this barfing is getting in the way of, well, everything.  I’ve heard stories of guys being so sick that that they actually have jumped into the ocean in an attempt to make the seasickness go away.  Todd Stanley (my deckmate) told me this story about how a guy he used to work with got so dehydrated from seasickness his organs started to shut down.  It got so bad that the Coast Guard had to come and save him.  Now Todd is afraid the same thing will happen to me, and he’s on the phone with L.A. to see what the possibility is of flying another producer out to take my place. 

I don’t want to leave.
I won’t leave.
I cannot leave.

I would never leave this place.   I’ve been working to get on this boat for five years.  I don’t care how sick I get, how much weight I lose or how many waves are going to knock me over.  As long as I continue to do my job at a high level, I will not leave this boat.  I don’t care what Todd says -- I will not leave this boat willingly!

---

Got questions for Josh?  Post them in the Comments section below.  He'll be checking in from time to time and may respond to you in a future blog entry.

Comments

[Vicki Linn]

Josh, you can't get too sick, I love your blog and this show. Its my favorite! Its the only show I actually make time for each week. Hang in there and get better.

[Wendy]

I have just one question. How do they count the crab? It seems everyone is just throwing them around and who is keeping count of how many are kept. I know they give them the count but I was just wondering how they determine what the count is. I hope you feel better soon!!

[Liza Ank]

I know it's probably a little too late, but did you consider dramamine or other related OTC med.
Promethazine is supposed to help with mausea too.

[Amy]

Liza,
Please refer to the 04/21 blog, answer # 2. The patch didn't work. Have you noticed the size of the waves? I get sick to my stomach just thinking about the boat moving :{

[Jennifer Pierquet]

Josh- I admire your courage and determination, but the bigger picture is your illness becomes a liability to everyone around you. Not everyone is meant to do your job. Hang in there, but be careful not to put yourself or others in danger because of personal pride. It is not worth the risk.

[Jafia]

I admire your work. Be patient. Everything's gonna be alright. :)

[Joelle]

Hey, did you know you can get drugs from you doctor for seasickness...works wonders :) Best of luck, hope you do get better.....

[Jon]

Thats really bad man. I figured that after a few days that it would go away. I can only imagine how bad it is. You guys make an awesome show, but its not worth you dieing or being permanently injured for. Hope you get better.

[Scott O]

hang in there, man! Your part of the best show on tv and your comittment WILL be rewarded with a tremendous amount of satisfaction.

[TimeBanditFan]

Ask if there is any ginger root on board. Ginger beer, ginger snaps, candied ginger, ginger ale, anything with ginger. Ginger absolutely helps with nausea. If you're desperate you can peel some root, slice off a thin slice, and chew it up. Go easy with it if you're using straight up ginger root; don't take a whopping dose but go with small slices over time.

Here's an excerpt I found from U of Maryland:
Motion Sickness

Several studies suggest that ginger may be more effective than placebo in reducing symptoms associated with motion sickness. In one trial of 80 novice sailors (prone to motion sickness), those who took powdered ginger experienced a significant reduction in vomiting and cold sweating compared to those who took placebo. Similar results were found in a study with healthy volunteers. While these results are promising, other studies suggest that ginger is not as effective as medications in reducing symptoms associated with motion sickness. In a small study of volunteers who were given ginger (fresh root and powder form), scopolamine (a medication commonly prescribed for motion sickness), or placebo, those receiving the medication experienced significantly fewer symptoms compared to those who received ginger.

Conventional prescription and nonprescription medicines that decrease nausea may also cause unwanted side effects, such as dry mouth and drowsiness. Given the safety of ginger, many people find it a welcome alternative to these medications to relieve motion sickness.

[ZaftigWendy]

Dude! Are those reindeer on your hat doing what I THINK those reindeer on your hat are doing? How appropriate for the Discovery channel!

[Drina Black]

I just had to chuckle when I read about your seasickness. I don't know if you have kids but you are one of the few men who can understand morning sickness. So I do hope it has gotten better for you but just think when some poor lady complains about morning sickness (which can actually be 24 hour sickness for some women) you know what it's like. Keep up the good work!

[doreen moore]

Josh I as a female worked on a shrimp boat out of FL. for 3 weeks a month(2 years)so SEASICK I understand. but yet I made it, LOTS of crackers and FLAT COKE hope you have some on board? Stay up side of the engine room sometimes the smell of the diesel does not help. every time you up,go for the crackers 2 or 3 bites, as to dehydrated if you going then you are not dehydrated. Hang in there!

[wesley lynam]

hey bro im dying to get into that perfesion but i cant find anything online, i want to work as soon as i can. what do i need to get to be qualified and where do i go to apply. thanks, feel better

[Packers12]

MAN, you are one tough dude. Don't kill yourself out there!! Look forward to more of your blogs.
Those deer on your hat are, ummm, having a good time!!!

[Deege]

I was sea sick in a big storm on AK seas for 3 days. (I know only 3 days) I earned the nickname "pillowface" for obvious reasons. Take the craker and flat coke advice and remember sips and nibbles. It does help to relieve the heaves and stave off dehydration. And if it doesn't work, at least you have something to heave! Like you... I wouldn't want to leave either, so hang tough!

[Nikki34]

Who does most of the cooking on the boat? CM is my favorite boat!! I hope you feel better, sorry about your unfortunate seasickness. Also, I would like to see some Bios of the CM crew, not just captains. I havent seen anything like that on the site. Thanks, and cant wait to see more Deadliest Catch my most fav show.

[maria]

You seem to have gotten over the idea of this "sea sickness". What a trooper you are. Truly, to know what it took to get you on board, become one of the Deadliest V.I.P.s,and to take it all with a grain of (sea) salt, I believe you will "view" us through. Don't forget you are on this rig with Pros,so roll cameras!....by the way I over heard one of the guys on deck mention something about how "whining was like sittin n a rocking chair," or somthin like that....all of you guys keep safe.

[BattleShipTennesse!]

I was thinking whats the number of coast gard cuters and air base's there wear the fishing is? are there many or few? and are there old ww2 hazerds like mines? b/c i heard the japs attacked up there. Also what are the season weather like in fall summer and winter? oh and how many feet long is the northwestern? And the fireworks on the northwestern must due it next year that was Rocking out!\\!..!,

[LIZZY]

WHATS UP WITH MIKE ROWE, WHY ISN'T HE ON THE AFTER THE CATCH SHOW?

[midget14]

josh to combat sea-sickness get a roll of tape (electrial works best) find the pulse below your wrist and start with the tape. don`t wrap it too tight or too loose just a bit of pressure make it comfortable to you worked 4 me 25 years ago
lake erie madman

[Annetta]

You go Josh, you are one brave and determined person. Knowing your dedication increases our level of appreciation for the work that you do. My prayer is that you will find something that will help with the seasickness.

[Tom Turbiville]

So many times the captain's main concern is navigating through thick ice. In WW II, they had Coast Guard Cutters (One of the most famous was called the Bramble). They had hulls especially made for cutting through ice in the Bering Sea. Would it be possible or too cost prohibitive to renovate your crab boats to replace the hulls with the same material that these CG Cutters used?

[TLC]

HEY IS CAPTAIN PHIL SINGLE

[brenda]

hay do ya need a cook?