RE: [Paddlewise] Sickness on the Water

I have migraines every once in a while, about once a month. I experience all
symptoms Doug describes, (visual disturbances, loss of equilibrium, vision
distortion with the horizon,and nausea) but in my case they last for an hour
max. For years I've been trying to find a pattern in the occurences, without
much luck. However, I did find something: It appears that I NEVER have a
migraine in a moment of serious stress. Never while paddling in surf,
driving in the city, on my way to an important meeting, while climbing a
rock... It might be coincidence, but it also might be possible that my body
can delay a migraine until I can afford to sit it out.

I had a simular experience in Sweden last summer, during a solo kayakking
trip of 3 days. I was making diner, opening a can of food, and cut my hand
quite nasty on the rim of the can. I usually faint at the sight of blood,
but I couldn't afford to do that, not this time. I sacrified a handkerchief
to absorb the blood while I was looking for the first-aid kit. I went
through all the bags in my tent without finding it. I concluded I left it in
the kayak, a few minutes of rock-climbing away. I went there, turn the kayak
right side up, got the first-aid kit from the hatch, turned the boat over
once again, went back to my tent, turned down the stove that will still
warming my rice, took care of the wound, layed down for a moment... and
promptly fainted.

I'm not sure delaying migraines works in the same way, but I surely hope so.

Niels.

***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed
here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire
responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author.
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************