Advice Needed Urgently Please!

[Noboundaries]

Not to say that I am recommending sudafed. If you are using sudafed, make sure that it is the ORIGINAL sudafed - pseudoephrine - the ones hidden behind the counter at the drug store, and that you have to ask for it. Not the replacement sudafed - which is not the same ingredient.

I am also not recommending Sudafed, but Sudafed is an old pilot's trick to avoid having equilization problems during head colds or hay fever season. I flew in the Navy for over ten years and had a completely disqualifying condition.....hay fever. A flight surgeon buddy of mine used to prescribe the Sudafed during the two to three months I had problems. I've since found it helpful in diving too (the 12 hour tablet), but I don't have any of the problems associated with the drug's side effects.

I avoid Afrin because I get a "rebound" effect. After a day or two of use I get clogged up worse than ever. Another friend uses it with no problems for an entire dive trip because Sudafed causes him to have massive headaches after a dive. Afrin doesn't.

Disclaimer: what I've written is not medical advice, just personal experience. Every person must make their own choices what they will use or not use to dive.

 

[DEEPLOU]

I'm jealous too and I haven't the foggiest idea where Sodwana Bay is! (never did well on geography)

But, today is only Wednesday. Your body can change a lot between now and the weekend.
Good Luck.

 

[SlowRain]

May not be an issue for recreational diving...but there is apparently some evidence that sudafed or medications containing pseudoephrine can create an increased risk of OxTox reactions. Probably only a concern if you are diving numerous (4+ a day) nitrox or doing deeper dives where you are pushing the PO2 level towards 1.6. Just FYI.

This was information passed onto me taking an IANTD course...would have to run down the supporting data.

 

[b1draper]

I'm jealous too and I haven't the foggiest idea where Sodwana Bay is! (never did well on geography)

But, today is only Wednesday. Your body can change a lot between now and the weekend.
Good Luck.

It's in South Africa.

 

[Poolstok]

Morning all. well, last night slept with socks and a t-shirt. I had a tad of a sore throat during the night, and woke up with some semi-yellow slime and slight cough - all gone now (90 mins later)....typical of a cold...but my nasal cavities are clear, except for a minor sinus drip.... My head feels fine. Off to see the doc now, and hope for a miracle. She'll poke around and access better. But it is still an expensive gamble. I am not planning on going deep - more like 12 - 15m - the shallower \i stay the longer I can stay anyway! Worst to worrst, I can allways snorkel - good snorkelling site as well.... I bought an underwater camera system just for this! Just hope I can go! Thanx for the heads up on the 'unoficcial medication' - will make sure I get the right thing. I used to use celestamine for my hayfever - clears your nostrils like a 7 lane highway at 2am, but need a perscription for that. Luckily my sister in law is allergic to bees, so I usually get from her, but I won't risk taking it with a dive though. Sodwana is a popupal diving / sea fishing spot about 50km south of Mozambique - apparently one of the best sites in the word (i hear) - even better than Great Barrier reef - because it is more south, it has more species. On my qualifying trip we saw eels, angelfisg - one sleeping, one guarding, I found a black shark tooth, saw turtles etc.... But if I do go, I'll be sure to post some pics! Thanx for all the advice friends! I'll update a little more later today. Later Pools

 

[Poolstok]

Ok, Doc gave me some antibiotics, anti-inflammatory mouth spray that tastes like the oil from an old John Deere Tractor, and ---- celestamine.

Now, lets hope for the best!

 

[El Orans]

Don't forget to post a trip report for those of us stuck behind a desk living vicariously through other people's dive trips...

 

[Poolstok]

Hi people!

I am WAY overdue on this reply - my bad....:no

N E Way, i took the medicine, and felt quite stuffy, but in the end decided i am losing the money either way, so i can snorkel among the rocks, sandals and lost change, while my wife goes diving.

Took the plunge, woke up at 3am, packed the car and started the 6hr journey to the coast. Meanwhile, back at the snake ranch, a 'tog buddy who happens to be an MD gave me this prescription. I say, what the heck, take it all and hope for the best!

Get to the coast, sinus open, head stuffy.....really worried about my first dive at 18m (open water license only) and popping sinusses and wotnot.....

Guess what.... i found the cure for the common cold. I kid you not...one dive and i was fine as a pig in palestine!

is this a more common experience than not?

Pools

PS oh, and here is one of 'many' pics!

 

[iamasmith]

I was in Greece doing recently on holiday and wanted to take my AOW.

First dive out I found that I had an upper sinus blockage from a cold several weeks back. I was in agony at 10m and had to stay above that depth (like somebody driving a spike into my skull where my nose joins to form my brow).

The boat operator had a background in commercial diving and a massive amount of experience, he suggested that I snort sea water up my nose - said it was going to be difficult but it was the best thing. Took his advice, had a good coughing and spluttering fit for about 5 mins and had such a runny nose for about 1/2 hour.

Two days later and everything was fine, no blockage and I managed to do several dives over 18m including my 'deep dive'. , I think there is a lot to be said for sea water exposure to clear these things up.

-Andy