Diving congested

[BellaBeachGirl]

Here's the problem- I have stuffy sinuses, not really a stuffy or runny nose, sometimes it is but mostly I can breath just fine. But i can feel it in my face, and I sound nasally. My husband and I are planning on finishing out AOW dives this weekend. It's really important for him because he's in the military and he goes away A LOT, and it's hard for his schedule to match up with our instructors, and mine. If we don't get this done this weekend, we can't until mid-march. He's deploying in less than 6 months, and really wants time to dive. We're the only ones in our class, so it's not like he can go without me. I want to go too, but I'm not stupid and I know diving with congested sinuses sounds like a bad idea. So how bad is it really to dive like this? Will I just be uncomfortable or could I do harm to my ears and sinuses? I've read that it's harder to equalize, but I could take my time... Please give me some advice from experience if you have any. I want to hear the truth. Thanks everyone.

:sos:

 

[ScubaSteve]

Start out and read the threads in the search I just performed for you. All of your answers are there but, the very quick and honest answer is:

Do not attempt to dive if you have a sinus congestion. Remember that even if you make it down by going slow, you still run the risk of a reverse block making it painful to come up. Very real damage can be done (worst case) by diving with a cold/congestion. It is not worth it IMHO.

 

[Prostar]

I have told students that they will have a very bad time if they try to dive with congestion. This kind of sets the tone for how they look to future dives. On the other hand, if you wait another week or so you will have a great time diving and reduce the risk of injury from it.

 

[fishwife]

Okay, worst case scenario horror story is barotrauma.

When I started diving I booked a holiday and really wanted to dive, took Sudafed and came up slowly from the dive, on the surface I had blood in my mask from my nose, the look of horror on my buddies face was indescrible, I would never dive again while really congested no matter what (that's just my personal experience).

If it's really bad congestion, then wait.

If your issue is minor then have you tried the salt water up the nose treatment for your sinuses? Lots of people here swear by it.

Mix half a teapoon of non iodised table salt and half a teaspoon of baking soda into 250mL of warm water, stir to dissolve as much as possible.

Lie on your back with your head over the side of the bed backwards and place a few drops into one nostril with a dropper or syringe, let it slosh around a little (for about 2 minutes or as long as you can bear, whichever comes first) then sit up and drain onto a towel, repeat twice more in that nostril and then do the same to your other nostril, then blow your nose gently, I find this works well on sinus issues.

You need to look after yourself, if you don't you could cause some major damage, I'm lucky that I didn't.

Carol

 

[Scubi Do]

Here's the problem- I have stuffy sinuses, not really a stuffy or runny nose, sometimes it is but mostly I can breath just fine. But i can feel it in my face, and I sound nasally.
:sos:

Bella,

I had a long history of bad sinus problems and diving. Even when I was not that clogged up I was surfacing with major headaches. I am a chronic hayfever sufferer and was prone to colds at the drop of a hat. I had trouble equalising and quite often would force way too much to clear my ears.

A few years ago I had a head CT done and to the Radiologists supprise there was no black air filled cavities. Basically could not distinguish bone from blocked sinus, both around my cheeks and forehead. As a result I had a sinusotomy done where the ENT guy bored out my sinuses, cleaned them out and so on. Sounds messy but... worth the effort. Because my sinuses are not continuously clogged, they are not keeping the crap in them and thus less infection. This has also left me much more resilient to colds and thus easier to drain and no more headaches.

I am peeved that I did not get this fixed years ago as now I have, even if I have a slight cold, no problems with equalisation, to the point now that I do not even have to manually or at lease forcably equalise. Wost case now I wiggle my jaw any bingo, cleared ears.

I know it sounds radical but, if you are serius about your diving and you constantly have sinus issues, go get a refereal to an ENT surgeon and just get checked out. The difference made I cannot brag enough about and it will make your diving experience so , so much better!

 

[aascubagirl]

I've seen divers take sudafed or something similar and dive w/o problems and I myself have dove w/a cold and congestion w/o problems. BUT I know myself and my limits and congestion just never really affects my ability to dive. I will tell you this...I have had divers who had minor head colds and didn't tell me this and then while diving experienced a reverse block. It was absolutely horrible to watch them go through this pain. On at least two separate occasions, I was with divers who started to experience the reverse block and not know what was going on so they bolted for the surface which is the worst thing you could do. Naturally the pain intensified and by the time they hit the surface they were sobbing/screaming. As their DM, it was pretty frightening at first trying to figure out what the issue was and if they were okay.

So I agree w/ScubaSteve001 one hundred percent - if you have congestion, don't go. Your longterm health and safety are more important than the convenience issues at stake.

 

[LiteHedded]

i forced it once
I ruptured my sinuses and they bled for like a month
it was gross

 

[ligersandtions]

When I was taking my AOW class, we had planned to do three shore dives in one day (two boat dives the previous week). I woke up and felt okay....though I had been feeling like I was going to come down with something, I could still equalize and decided it was worth it to make the dives. The first dive was a complete non-issue....dropped down, did the dive, ascended, hung out on the surface, nothing.

The second dive, we dropped down, tied some knots, and then ascended. We were to go down in groups of two to complete the search and recovery portion of the dive. I was starting to feel worse, but I descended with only minor issues, and completed the dive. We then had to sit on the surface for about an hour while the other groups did the same task (some took way longer than others....and I'm still not sure why they wouldn't allow us to go to the shore and warm up).

By the time we got to the third dive, I was feeling like crap. I had a runny nose, a bit of congestion, and just was not feeling good. But I rationalized with myself that it was just one more dive that I needed to do and didn't want to have to reschedule the last AOW dive I was going to do....so I made the dive. The descent was difficult....nothing wanted to equalize. While we were at depth was completely miserable....I thought my head was simultaneously going to implode and explode. The ascent was a non-issue (I hadn't taken any medication so I wasn't at a great risk of a reverse block).

After that experience, I will never ever dive congested again. FWIW, I got a really bad head cold that lasted a week and a half after that....I don't know if it was made worse by making the dives, but I certainly don't think I helped myself at all.

 

[drbill]

I was congested for nearly a month, but just HAD to dive last weekend because the gills were drying out. The result? I've spent much of the last week in bed... alone.

 

[knotical]

We're the only ones in our class, so it's not like he can go without me.

Actually, that probably is an option. Not the most palatable one perhaps, but still possible. It would probably cost you more for your make up session later. But who knows, your husband might enjoy coming along as a certified dive-along when you do your open waters. Talk with your instructor.