Chest discomfort after pool portion of OW training - is it normal?

[scubanoob1]

After the 2 pool days of the OW class, I had noticeable discomfort at the middle of my chest near the lower part of sternum. It was not an external bruise but something internal. This has subsided over the last four days but I still don't feel like breathing is completely normal. For a while I could only take shallow breaths and I think I felt very slightly nauseous a couple of times over the last few days but it went away pretty quickly. Two days ago I was wearing a sports bra and it was extremely uncomfortable (it isn't normally) - like it was compressing my chest too much and I couldn't breathe well or breathe without discomfort (don't think what I've been feeling really can be classified as pain). Now 2 days later I can take deep breaths okay but when breathing in and out of a snorkel I definitely am conscious that I'm breathing and it feels kind of tiring after a few breaths (not sure how else to explain...). I am supposed to do the 2 ocean water dives tomorrow. Does this sound normal for someone new to scuba? With only 2 days between me and being certified, I feel like I need to just suck it up and get it done. But I don't want to end up with a collapsed lung or any of the other horrible things I've been reading about.

 

[Thalassamania]

I think you need to suck it up and get checked. It may be nothing, it may be angina, it may be subcutaneous emphysema, it may be ???, but is sure ain't normal.

 

[pafindr]

When you say it feels like it's something internal do you mean muscular or behind the ribcage, like your lungs or diaphragm?

Did your BCD feel to tight when you were wearing it (whether inflated or deflated)?

Are you engaged in any type of strenuous exercises,like pushups?

 

[TracyN]

If you are concerned get checked out by a doctor before you do the dives. If something goes wrong in open water you are in trouble. Have you talked to you instructor about this? If not I'm sure they would like to know and may even recommend that you get checked out by a doctor before doing the final dives. I'm sure they would let you make up the dives at a later date. Certification is not worth your health or your life. Just some friendly advice from a nurse.

 

[ScubaBB]

I also think you should go for a medical test. Wish you the best.

 

[Bombay High]

It sounds like it maybe intercostal muscle pain. Sometimes high breathing effort causes it.
Definitely seek medical advice.

 

[scubanoob1]

Thanks for all the replies.

It was more like just below the sternum, but yeah internally i.e. not on the surface. BCD was definitely not too tight... it was ill fitting though. I used one that was about 2 sizes too big the first day (which is when I originally noticed this discomfort, although it wasn't as bad the next day, but was worse at the end of the second day) and 1 size too big the second day. On the tightest settings it still does not fit snugly. I am trying to just deal with this because I don't think they have a smaller BCD I can use. Also my snorkel purge valve was defective so there was definitely breathing issues there. I also think I was breathing too deeply (there were times when I felt out of breath or like I couldn't get enough air from the reg) and sometimes breathing too often (if I got excited from having to do a new skill for the first time). They also were not able to figure out how to weight me properly (now this makes me a little nervous for OW) so controlling buoyancy has been a challenge. We were in 6 ft water for the most part and no one really demonstrated how fast or slow you are supposed to surface. I figured because 6 ft really isn't very deep. So maybe it is possible I was surfacing too quickly. It feels fine today so I guess I will see how it goes and see how I feel at the end of today.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Get checked out an get another shop or instructor. there is no excuse for the issues you are having due to ill fitting gear and gear that may or may not be working properly. The reg should not require you to struggle for air even with nervousness contributing to it. I also would seriously have issues with a course that did not cover proper ascent/descent rates in detail. You do know that you can embolize (or pop a lung) in 4 ft of water right? That's why you never hold your breath or head for the surface without exhaling. And that of they could not get you properly weigthed they need some help there. It takes about 15 minutes to do when done right and explained properly. There are so many red flags here that it's scary.

 

[wtcreaux]

OK....from a medical professional - GET CHECKED OUT!

If you were to come into the Emergency Department with symptoms as described above (without ANY further information) - you just bought a cardiac workup.............

Worst case scenario - heart/lung issue (yes, these can kill you, depending on the specific problem)

Best case scenario - musculoskeletal (painful, but NOT diagnosed until the cardiac/lung issues have been cleared)

How much is your life worth??

I will say it again - GET CHECKED OUT!!

(Sometimes what we do in the Emergency Department is give peace of mind, some reassurance......)

 

[pafindr]

With what you're describing I would definitely get it checked out by a doctor!
AND go to a different instructor. You should not be having to deal with the issues you are describing.