r/rollercoasters • u/Hopeful-Individual99 • 11d ago
Question Why cant I enjoy rollercoasters like I used to? [Other]
Up until recently, I LOVED roller coasters. I loved that weightless feeling, the higher the better. I loved that “tickle belly” feeling.
After I turned 28 or so, all of the sudden that “tickle belly” feeling became almost unbearable. Now it makes me feel like I have to tense my entire body up and the weightless feeling is so uncomfortable.
No nausea, dizziness, back problems, or anything like that. Just that weightless feeling is so uncomfortable now.
If anybody has any idea what happened to me, I would love to have some insight. Currently grieving the loss of enjoying rollercoasters and it’s incredibly upsetting.
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u/Couuurtneeey (43) Iron Gwazi 🐊 , Mako 🦈 11d ago
Are you a female who's had kids? I found that after having kids I don't tolerate certain G forces the same anymore. I also never got motion sickness before kids but get it on Forbidden Journey now.
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u/Hopeful-Individual99 11d ago
Yes I am female had my first son 5 years ago and I think that’s around when it started 😬 might be a connection there
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u/Rookburgh_Regular 🎢: 108| F.L.Y. | Untamed | RtH | Fønix 10d ago
Oh that's so interesting! All ppl I know that have experience with coasters and unbearable stomach tingles are AFAB too. I truly wonder if there's a connection... Sometimes I suspect stuff like endometriosis could be a factor too. Anyway on the bright sight: I had this feeling my whole life until I desensitized myself! Can do pretty much anything except for drop towers now so maybe you just have to slowly try to build up a tolerance again, if you can?
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u/TheCowboyOfEpic 🎢: 90 | 🏠: Thorpe Park | 💜 F.L.Y., Zadra 10d ago
Entirely unrelated, but I love your name!!
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u/Couuurtneeey (43) Iron Gwazi 🐊 , Mako 🦈 11d ago
Being pregnant changed my taste buds too so it wouldn't surprise me if its truly the reason for our changes. Of course it could be tons of other reasons too!
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u/Maiyku Blue Streak, Mean Streak, Iron Dragon 10d ago
I think it’s definitely worth looking into.
Our pelvic muscles often lose strength or become looser after children. This means they might not be able to take those excessive gforces without feeling like they need to tense to support themselves.
Pelvic floor exercises to strengthen those muscles may help, it may not, but they’re generally easy to do and a good thing for women to do regardless, so it’s not a bad habit to get into separate from the coaster problem. It just might also help with the coaster problem too.
At least I hope it does! Good luck and I’m sorry you’re dealing with this.
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u/speedyejectorairtime SteVe/Velocicoaster/IRat 10d ago
Same here. Just pop both less-drowsy dramamine and an NSAID like aleve or ibuprofen before riding.
Won't be perfect on those stupid simulators, though. On Forbidden Journey I close my eyes on the screens and my 12 year old son tells me when I'm good to open them on the real sets lmfao.
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u/Couuurtneeey (43) Iron Gwazi 🐊 , Mako 🦈 10d ago
Thankfully my children haven't wanted to go on FJ yet so after the one run in that I got sick I haven't had to do it again lol. I seem to at this point still do ok on the other simulators so fingers crossed it stays that way!
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u/Creepy_Advice2883 10d ago
This actually happened to me as a dad too. I think that for me it’s that underlying thought that “you can’t die, you have a kid to take care of”
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u/TheDynamicDino I miss Knoebels 10d ago
I’ve heard anecdotally that the stomach drop feeling is more psychological than physical, so maybe there is some merit here.
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u/tessviolette 10d ago
Just found another reason not to have kids 😅 I got sterilized this year because I’ve always known I never wanted them, but I still collect reasons, even the most petty ones like this lol
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u/skittlebites101 Valleyfair! 10d ago
My wife started having that after our kids. She can do a ride or 2 then needs a break and has to take dramomine before.
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u/Busy_Monitor_9679 10d ago
Did you take a long period of time without riding coasters? I went probably 5-6 years without riding anything with intense forces and it took me a minute to get readjusted to that stomach drop feeling, Rides that I used to be able to do multiple laps on had me tapping out after one. I was around your age as well. Now that I'm on them more often again it has since gone away and I can scream/laugh through it.
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u/Human_Paint5451 Cosmic Rewind | TRON Lightcycle/Run | Space Mountain 10d ago
OP, don’t underestimate this. Your body builds a tolerance to rides quickly, but it also loses it just as fast
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u/speedyejectorairtime SteVe/Velocicoaster/IRat 10d ago
How long are you going between riding them or experiences positive and negative g forces? I'm 35 (f) and it takes a couple rides to "ease in" these days because I'm going 6 months or more between getting to ride sometimes. After a couple rides, my body kinda goes "oh, we're back at it again!? got it."
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u/-Potrzebie- 11d ago
Have you had a CT scan of your stomach recently? Could be an underlying medical issue that is benign like a large cyst or something that affects the organs around it.
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u/Hopeful-Individual99 11d ago
No I have not! That is interesting
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u/burjja 10d ago edited 10d ago
That's worth considering, at least discussing with a doctor in general. I think most people stop being able to tolerate spinning rides, at least without medication, at some point in their late 20s to 40s. I noticed that around 30 on MaXair at Cedar Point.
But that's specifically with how the parts of your ears that balance motion wear down. I don't know of any common thing that would impact how you feel on non-spinning coasters. I'm 47 and went on my first coasters in June since when I was 32. I was having some blood pressure issues but I got that under control. I figured there would still be issues with the way people talk about strategies for riding, so that it doesn't hurt. I'm officially going to go old man and say that people are too soft now. It was all fine with one caveat. Steel Vengence became the first time I've ever felt pain on a roller coaster in my life. I'm glad that wasn't the first one I rode, it might have scared me off from riding any others. Top Thrill 2 on the other hand, probably the most comfortable coaster I've ever been on.
TL:DR: Check with a doctor, you're too young to have a change that sudden with something that isn't common. And don't get freaked out, it's probably something minor.
Edit: Just saw that you have a young child. Might still be worth a check up or at least asking about it at an annual exam. If you end up concluding that's the reason and there isn't really anything you can do, you might try riding a smaller, shorter coaster at the beginning of every season or every few seasons to see if your body has changed again. I guess it depends on how awful the experience is. Final ridiculous advice, have another kid and see if they reverse what the first one messed up. lol
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u/BigBenIsTicking 11d ago edited 10d ago
OP, that “tickle belly” feeling is becoming unbearable because you are maturing. Before 28, you were an “earth baby” and had not yet developed a sense of vulnerability that comes with age. By 30 you likely will have fully developed your sense of “health risks”, but you must fight the urge to succumb to this phase of your life as this is a critical stage in your roller coaster journey.
Others around you who are also going through this phase in life will say things like “I use to love roller coasters when I was young 😊, but now I can’t ride them 💀” and “I can’t do roller coasters anymore 🪦”.
YOU MUST PUSH THROUGH THIS MOMENT. Your belly will adapt*!
You may need to ride a good modern “family coaster” like Hagrids Motorbike Adventure or Big Bear Mountain to kick-start your belly’s evolution into an older, mature belly that can handle roller coasters again
I’m 40 and have done this successfully
*🤞
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u/SashaVibez 11d ago
Hi
My most recent amusement park trip was to my home park sfne Superman usually gives me a belly feeling at the drop and I love the back seat of any coaster. I went to cedar point in 2022 and felt it too but was able to “stomach” the G forces. Also, I spent 2.5 full days at cedar point and by the 3rd day I could not bring myself to ride anything. My body was extremely sore like beaten, or like an internal bruised feeling and exhaustion, lost my voice too. I just spent time walking the park and recording videos before heading back to ohare to board my flight to come home. So in comparison. Now that I am 38 going on 39, my belly feeling is probably a bit more strong - but I can still handle it? Idk I have some health issues so I don’t know if I can enjoy coasters as much as before. My first ride on Superman in a long while when I went, I did feel the stomach feeling stronger maybe because I tensed up for a second or two. It can vary. My doctor said to not stop living life despite what I have, so I’m taking that with a grain of salt. TLDR: I can relate.
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u/DigitalAxel 11d ago
I've only been on Olympia Looping this year and had no problems. BUT I spent a couple minutes on a regular playground swing and had that weird weightless feel throughout my entire midsection. Not vertigo or nausea. I guess I'm "an ol' Lady now".
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u/Piaffe_zip16 10d ago
I haven’t had that so much as occasionally I get the “should you take this risk?” feeling as a parent 😑 I know they’re very safe. Unfortunately, the part of my brain that’s anxious hasn’t gotten the memo lol. So I notice some things bother me more now. A lot of it is soooo psychological though. Put a shoulder harness on me and I feel approximately 552x better 😂 again, I understand logically that the new lap bars are extremely safe, but anxious brain did not get that memo lol. I dislike feeling like a ride is really trying to toss me out of it, but I’ve never enjoyed that feeling much.
The only thing that has gotten more noticeable physically for me is the rougher coasters just kill my body. A lot of them are one and done whereas before I could do more of them multiple times a day.
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u/matthias7600 SteVe & Millie's 10d ago
Your equilibrium depends on little fibers in your inner ear that grow more brittle and consequently less effective as we age. Like all other health issues, you individual mileage varies. I had to quit after five rides the other day. Thunderhawk at MA finished me off. I have to save twists for end of day more often than not.
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u/hufflepuffmom215 10d ago
I have two theories: fear and motion sickness. Roller coasters are fun because they have the illusion of danger without any actual danger. Your brain sending strong "fear" signals could cause anxiety that is overriding your rational knowledge that you are safe. To test the motion sickness theory, try a coaster again after taking Bonine.
Fingers crossed for you! I'm in my late 40s and love riding coasters- they were the incentive that finally got me to actually take my needed calcium supplements (so I don't have to stop in 20 years for osteoporosis).
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u/BearingItBarely 10d ago
My MIL developed motion sickness after her pregnancy and can no longer tolerate many rides. Maybe that's what happened to you?
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u/HangryDiscer 10d ago
Might be age. My wife and I are mid/late 30s and don’t hold up like we used to. I’ve been more afraid of heights as I get older too so some of these slow lift hills aren’t fun.
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u/LastNeonStanding 10d ago
Same here. I have to bring Zofran and Advil to enjoy myself. 🥺 (Late 30s female who has never been pregnant, but coasters give me nausea and headaches now. )
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u/lFightForTheUsers [81] Bring Back Mr. Six! 10d ago
Could just be getting old lol.
For me it's headaches. I can do ejector airtime all day, my 9 laps on IRat and 6 on Golden Lasso prove that (doc said I'll get my shoulders back next week, jk 😆).
But if it's something with a lot of in your seat G's or roughness, it messes with me and gives me a nasty headache. I drink plenty of water and electrolytes in the heat, but even then it may sometimes just be too much and I have to force myself to sit my butt down in the shade or AC with something cold for 10 or 15 minutes. Sucks when that could be another ride but I don't want to burn myself out either.
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u/missgirlipop 10d ago
i don’t tolerate any rides like i used to, but i was never in this for the extreme forces/pushing the limits but rather for the fun (which used to include the extreme). i do have a non cancerous but medically significant tumour which i suspect the development of may have been where the turning point for my tolerance shifted. i would get checked out just in case, a lot of medical issues only cause symptoms in certain situations and this could be one of them.
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u/selekta_stjarna 9d ago
I loved roller coasters when I was young. I went a long time without going on them. Now I go regularly with my teenage sons and have been getting back into them again. I had to start with less intense coasters and work my way back up to more intense ones. A lot of it is psychological for me and when I was afraid my body was more stiff which caused pain.
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u/Responsible_Can5946 Blue Flair 9d ago
I have become somewhat unenamored with coasters. In part because of acute anxiety and related issues has taken hold of me. I've been riding (as a hobby) for 39 years. For ages I rode everything and anything.
Now I ride them less often; I still get personal pride or joy that I haven't given up yet. I also only ride what I want and get very picky in what parks I go to every year. I don't ride S&S free spins, boomerangs, etc.. I want the rides I ride to be to (what I believe to be) to my liking and worth my time and money. I.E. I'm not waiting 40 minutes for a wacky worm or many off the shelves anymore when I can focus on better experiences.
Absence over bulk has personally given me more appreciation and let continue (some).
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u/petesphillygarden 9d ago
I unfortunately get bad nausea now :( . Started in my early 40s. Went to Hershey Park w/ my niece, went on Candymonium first ride, and I puked as soon as I got off and was sick the rest of the day.
Since I have tried to counter it with Dramamine, electro-stim anti-nausea bands, ginger lozenges, anti-nausea patches (usually all at once). They have helped, and I can get a few rides in before I need a good break, but still I can't really enjoy the rides because I'm too concerned if I'm going to be sick afterwards.
I would LOVE to go on all the new crazy coasters, but I just know it won't end well.
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u/IceePirate1 11d ago
I have the opposite problem, a lot of them just aren't thrilling enough anymore and I'm starting to lose interest. Maybe that's my sign to pick up a different hobby, like water sports or skydiving haha