I wonder if anyone else has this problem. I wore my hooded 5 ml suit for the first time today (don't start with the overdressing comments; my 4 ml is shot with holes) and a continuing problem reared its head: it makes me puke. I have a pretty healthy gag reflex and over the years (surfing since the mid 80's) periodically the hood being tight around my neck on my Adam's apple area has made me gag, and even puke in the lineup. This has gotten worse in the past few years - either because I'm getting old or maybe it's my choice of suits. I'm trying to pinpoint the problem. Part of the problem, I think is that I take a size large suit, but my head is probably extra large, so maybe the hood's too tight? Or maybe it's just me? The hoods have never felt uncomfortable in any other way except for making me puke. Today it got pretty unbearable. People look at you funny in the lineup when you're wrenching between sets. I wonder anybody who's had this problem knows of suits with looser fitting necks or something. Waves were good today, though. Definitely worth puking over.
Well for starters, it's actually spelled wetsuite, not wetsuite Seriously,I have noticed that different suites have a different fit for your head. Like I have an xcel and the hood/neck is totally not as comfortable as my old ripcurl or quicksilver. Actually the top of the chest area is kinda funny too.. Also- I had a friend borrow a suite one time and it was too tight, specially around the stomach. He could hardly breathe, among feeling sick and nauseous - he sat on the beach for a while wondering why he felt that way- I thought he was going to die or something, he looked so sick...
Thanks man. I can offer no Help but I wanted to stop and thank you for the Immensely hilarious visual of some giant head dude just Losing it. Get that **** timed down for set waves...heave and paddle through it like a Boss when everyone scatters. I'm still smiling. High quality.
We used to pound egg mcmuffins and then paddle out and gag/puke and spread it around the lineup. Easy way to remove a crowd without saying a word. Not that the wetsuites had anything to do with it, just a puke story......
maybe its your ears being covered. but seriously, this is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard about issues with wearing wetsuits.
I think you are the guy that left his wetsuite in the parking lot today in spring lake, and for good reason.
Once I puked in the lineup after eating an angry whopper from burger king. They weren't kidding it was angry. My wetsuite has never made me puke though.
Sounds like you just have a sensitive gag reflex triggered by neck pressure. Maybe you can stretch the neck of the suite. Wedge something in the neck to keep it stretched when it's hanging up at home. Might loosen it up. Them again, it may cause the occaisional cold water flush through the neck. On a separate completely random note, one of my friends got massive diahrea in his 5 mil once. So, it could be worse.
Its tied in with anxiety dude. Get a hood that sits above your chin and below your bottom lip to take the pressure off your throat. Peppermint gum might help, soothes the stomach and it can keep your throat from feeling locked up. Caffeine and THC can be anxiety triggers so avoid em before you put the suit(e) on. Speaking from experience.
Thanks, all. There was actually some helpful stuff in these replies. I'm gonna try the milk jug to stretch the suit and next time I buy a suit try on a lot more types to test the neck thing out and maybe see if I can somehow match a large suit with an XL hood. The caffeine tip is probably on the money, too. I tend to surf in the morning before work and have usually guzzled a lot of coffee. Still, it's never an issue unless I'm wearing a hood. I've never been a fan of ties or even turtle necks for the same reason.
^^This I make sure my hood sits above my chin. It seems to make breathing easier. What's weird for me is that in the Summer I can eat a WaWa breakfast sandwich then paddle out with no problem like an hour later. This time of year? No bueno. I got a bacon, egg, and cheese on a bagel at 8 AM yesterday morning. I damn-near threw that sucker up about 11 AM, about 30 minutes after first hitting the water. Same thing happened this time last year as I can recall.
yeah, I already have suit that goes over the chin. I still have the problem and spend time between sets pulling it away to keep it clear of the throat. Below the chin is not even remotely doable. I'd be just puking like crazy.
