deviated septum/mucus/ear infection and diving

[polyrandom]

I did some shallow dives years ago and can feel a little pain in ear but can be equailized slowly with Valsalva Maneuver. I am planning to do more dives recently. After I read some books I found that maybe I am not suitable for diving. But before I go to a possibly non-diver ENT doctor I would really like to hear from you first to get a brief idea on what I should do. It looks like I have many problems and each of them is enough to stop me from diving:

1. allergy in trachea/lung. I am not sure exactly where it is but it made me cough slightly and constantly. After I saw a doctor I started to inhale medicine twice a day to stop that. Now I still cough (very) mildly sometimes, but not so frequently as before(in worse time I would cough once every 5 minutes or less). When I say mild, I mean the people around me cannot know I am coughing, but I do know that I have 'cleared' my throat a bit.
2. Deviated septum. I can still breath through both side and don't feel anything wrong usually.
3. Sinus mucus. I always get a bit wet in my nose. If I don't make them out, sometimes they will accumulate and obstruct the sinus. It is ok in daily life but I guess if it happens when I am diving, it will become a problem.
4. When I was a child I had middle ear infection. It takes pretty long time (months) to cure but I have been fine after that, I am not sure if it will still be a problem for me now.
5. I take plane every year ( 8-20 times/50k-100k km a year) and I sometimes (rarely, 4-5 times in my whole life) can feel equalizing problems like headache and Valsalva Maneuver doesn't help. Sometimes it is serious however I can do nothing but wait.

Can I still dive? Any recommendation would be highly appreciated even if asking me to stop diving forever

Thanks!

 

[doctormike]

Can I still dive? Any recommendation would be highly appreciated even if asking me to stop diving forever

Thanks!

Hi..!

The answer to your question is that if you can equalize your sinuses and your ears when diving, then it is OK to dive. No one will be able to tell you that based on a written description of your symptoms, but you haven't mentioned anything that would absolutely prevent you from diving.

Maybe give it a try in a pool...! Look at this video if you haven't already seen it.

Mike

 

[firerescue434]

hey,

I would suggest going to see a Dr. You might be ok to dive, however you might not be ok either. Your health is a little more important then a rec. sport. I wouldn't risk it.

 

[cutlass]

... After I read some books I found that maybe I am not suitable for diving. ...

That's a pretty strong conclusion. I'm a bit curious as to what it's about because otherwise, I agree with doctormike: If you can equalize, you've no other breathing/oxygenation problems, and your cough is under full control (gasping, overdriving your reg, or accidentally inhaling a slug of a water could make for a big time bad day), then with what you've described so far, diving doesn't seem to be absolutely ruled out.

 

[doctormike]

That's a pretty strong conclusion. I'm a bit curious as to what it's about because otherwise, I agree with doctormike: If you can equalize, you've no other breathing/oxygenation problems, and your cough is under full control (gasping, overdriving your reg, or accidentally inhaling a slug of a water could make for a big time bad day), then with what you've described so far, diving doesn't seem to be absolutely ruled out.

Yes, and this question illustrates the limits of our little forum here! Not that I don't love these threads, and I certainly want to encourage everyone too keep asking questions. However, every "condition" in the OP's post is pretty much on the normal bell curve for just about any human being.

No one has a completely straight septum, most children have had a few ear infections, runny nose and allergies are common, as is occasional problems with equalizing during air travel. So unfortunately, it would be impossible to tell you you could or couldn't dive based on this sort of description - it is always going to come down to whether or not you can equalize, and a good place to figure that out is a swimming pool. Seeing a doctor is a good idea as well for more context and background, and to make sure that nothing is being missed.

There are some conditions that are more clear-cut when it comes to diving, and we can have some detailed discussions citing specific references. For example, inner ear fistula, pneumothorax, seizure disorder, congenital heart abnormalities. But even in these cases, each person is different, and nothing substitutes for a doctor who has experience in the area and has had the opportunity to see the patient.

Keep asking, though!

Best,

Mike

 

[tstormdiver]

But before I go to a possibly non-diver ENT doctor I would really like to hear from you first to get a brief idea on what I should do.

Forgive my ignorance, but why would you go to a non- ENT Dr. If at least most of your problems seem to be ENT related? Are there none within a reasonable driving distance? A Dr. specializing in these areas (better yet, one who is also well versed in diving medicine) would be your best bet. Why not go to an ENT? Get some referrals from your primary Dr., friends, family, coworkers. When you find a physician to your liking, then see if he is familiar with diving issues or is willing to learn or seek further guidance on the issue(s) with (conferring with a colleague, versed in diving medicine, on the matter).
I had horrible sinus problems about 8yrs ago (about 5yrs before I started diving). I had constant congestion, chronic bronchitis because of the congestion, frequent headaches, difficultly breathing. I went to an ENT & we tried the conservative rout (meds for allergies & such). When that didn't work, we then looked at surgery. In the surgery I had my deviated septum straightened, & basically some of the folds of tissue in the back of my nasal cavity removed. This extra tissue that was removed was constantly swelling & irritated due to allergies, but was already overgrown to the point that it needed removing. It would close off my sinus passages causing pressure to build, swell enough to cause some of my headaches. After recovering from the surgery, I now breathe much easier, have fewer headaches & have absolutely no problems with equalizing. I'm not saying I couldn't have done so before the surgery, but I can imagine it would have been much more difficult.

 

[doctormike]

Forgive my ignorance, but why would you go to a non- ENT Dr. If at least most of your problems seem to be ENT related? Are there none within a reasonable driving distance? A Dr. specializing in these areas (better yet, one who is also well versed in diving medicine) would be your best bet.

I think that the OP was asking about an ENT doctor who did not specialize in dive medicine, rather than a non-ENT doctor...

But you are right, and ENT doctor would be the one to see about these sorts of problems...

Mike

 

[tstormdiver]

Makes sense, Thanks.

 

[polyrandom]

I got my idea from PADI's Encyclopedia of Recreational Diver. It mentioned that "That’s just fine for taking balloons underwater, but not for a human with a cold, allergy, deviated septum, large adenoids or simply poorly functioning Eustachian tubes". Though it also says "If one attempts to dive, Boyle’s law becomes a real pain when you can’t equalize ear or sinus pressure."

So if I can equalize, I would be fine. But after read those, I just thought that my chance for not being able to equalize is high.

Before I read about that, I went to my GP to check my coughing and asked him if I can go diving. He said no to me because he said I might cough underwater. I am not sure what will happen if you guys cough underwater? Or never?

I will definitely check with a ENT specialist this October. I won't risky my life for diving, but I do want to go diving if I can.

 

[thogooo]

when you cough under water, all that you need to do is to hold your reg and do whatever you want.
i go with the rest,
visit ENT and try in a pool 1st.
cheers