Bloody mucus

[cyklon_300]

Recently, I experienced tooth pain (upper bicuspid) while descending from surface to 20'...thru a series of descents until the onset of pain occurred and then slightly ascending to relieve pressure, I finally managed to work my way to the planned dive depth. The deep freshwater dive was done using trimix at an altitude of 4000'.

Following the dive, the tooth was slightly sore and cold-sensitive, but these symptoms decreased over time.

The following day, the tooth was pain-free and I made a shallow dive to ~40' near sea level and did not experience any discomfort.

At the surface, I disharged a quantity of bloody mucus. On several occassions since then, I have also discharged minor amounts of blood (dark red to the point of being black) from my sinuses.

I believe the tooth pain is related to a sinus squeeze and the blood is from broken capillaries, which I've experienced several other times in the past. Is there any need to consult a dentist?

 

[Frank O]

Cyklon, I'm just another diver, not a physician or dentist, but it sounds to me like a pretty classic case of a squeeze of the maxillary sinus. This lies just above the upper teeth, and problems often manifest as tooth pain just as you describe. I had problems with this for a while last year, but it eventually went away.

If memory serves correctly, although blood in the mask is usually alarming, most people get over squeezes pretty easily. If it recurs, though, I'd see an ear-nose-throat doctor. Good luck!

 

[The Iceni]

Also, Cyclon,

This site has many threads on this very subject. Perhaps you could do a search on sinus barotrauma?

I also take it your dental health is up to scratch.

kind regards, :doctor:

 

[Laurence Stein DDS]

cyklon_300,

Not much more to say that other posters haven't already said. It sounds more like a sinus squeeze than a tooth squeeze.

A few questions....Why did you continue the deep dive after experiencing the tooth/sinus pain? How long do you have to have pain and/or bleeding before you see the Dentist or ENT? When was your last dental visit?

Pain, bleeding are signs that something is wrong. Sometimes we just have to take the hint!

Regards,


Laurence Stein, DDS
:doctor: