OMG, a serious scuba question. :11: It's been a while.
A Vacation Diver who accompanies me on some trips is very bald headed, and in his early dive days - he'd remove his mask leaving bloody snot smeared across he high forehead. On our first trip, I thought the physician sitting across from us was going to faint, but she went into anesthesiology as she can't stand the sight of blood.
I'm in the PSE (generic Sudafed) group for preventing equalizing problems, but PSE is not for everyone. I take it every day, year 'round but - it is chemically similar to speed, and it can have similar effects on some. Here is a link to some cautions:
here It's more difficult to purchase with new restrictions, as Meth cookers use it in their unlawful production. I noticed that the local Walmart has replaced most of the PSE products with others that don't work well for me. So I stand in line with my drivers license to register my purchases.
I like mine combined with the antihistamine found in today's
Actifed brand. The latter part helps prevent motion sickness, btw.
Said buddy did some practice dives with me last June, after being dry for a year, forgot to take his pills, had hell equalizing. I screamed at him!
"How can you - with your history - ever forget your PSE?!" And next week, his daughter is doing her first dives with us.
And from
this DAN article (
bold emphasis mine...
Q: I have noticed that beginning scuba divers frequently have nosebleeds. Could you please tell me what causes them?
A: New divers frequently report nosebleeds after diving primarily because they are unaware of the importance of equalizing the sinuses and middle ears (via the Valsalva method). The barotrauma that is produced when the sinuses are not cleared can cause blood vessels in the lining of the nose to burst. These vessels lie very close to the top of the mucous membrane lining in the nose and sinuses, and the blood can come from the lining in either. This type of barotrauma, generally the result of air being trapped within the sinuses, is not always painful, though the presence of blood can be disconcerting to a new diver. With this type of injury, blood can run down the back of the throat or pool in the sinus below the eye and emerge at a different time. It can also act as a growth medium for bacteria and result in sinus infections.
Individuals with a history of sinus trouble, allergies, a broken nose, or deviated septum, as well as divers who currently have colds may find the clearing procedure difficult to accomplish and may experience a problem with nosebleeds. It's always best not to dive with a cold or any condition that may block the sinus air passages.
We suggest a slow, gentle descent with frequent equalizing to help decrease the risk of sinus barotrauma. Divers who are unable to clear their sinuses or have frequent nosebleeds when scuba diving should see their personal physicians or ear-nose-and-throat specialists for evaluation.
You might ask your doc about irrigating your ears gently with warm water before diving to ensure that they are clear of wax build up, and use 1/2 alcohol 1/2 white vinegar after diving.
