Exhausted after diving...??

[DandyDon]

This may or may not be a question for this forum, but here it is:

I ran searches, but couldn't find anything on this?

I know that traveling alone can be tiring, disrupted sleep schedules, dehydration - especially on planes, not sleeping in own bed, and so forth. But diving seems to tire me more than anything, even on Nitrox, even when I avoid strenuous swimming that burns my air too fast.

Is it me, my imagination, or is there something about diving that tires me out?

Thanks, D-Don

 

[Hallmac]

There is a really good post on this and I'll Try to find it.

The short version is you may need to slow your ascent down. You may be experiencing a sub-clinical dcs. You should come out of the water feeling really pumped up! Ill Try a search and get back to you.

Hallmac

Here it is!

Sleepy after diving

 

[pdoege]

I know that after an 8 dive day I am pooped.

For a number of obvious reasons. That is about 4 hours worth of heat loss to the water, 8 trips up a ladder with heavy tanks, a lot of time in the sun, etc.

6 hard dives can tire me out too.

I normally do not have any problems with a 4 dive day.

This will vary from diver to diver, obviously.

Peter

 

[CBulla]

Sounds like the key is slow and easy and take time to offgas based on the posts and information shared. My instructors "do things like your the 6 million dollar man when he's doing that bionic stuff... slowed motion and take care in doing it" holds true for yet another thing in diving.

Me? Give me something to nibble on, water or gatorade to drink, and some shade to stand in between dives and I'll dive all day long! Always feel like I've got a super energy rush afterwards.

 

[Saturation]

Hi all:

A resting SAC rate is ~ 0.6cfm. Feeling tired is commonly due to heat loss and will occur quite substantially in anything but a dry suit.

OTAH, If a SAC rate is over 0.6cfm, its likely diver was swimming excessively, was cold to start or out of shape. My observation concurs with Dr. Deco's assertion than nucleation can occur much more rapidly under these conditions, and within an hour these divers are found sleeping in the boat, and most fatigued. Also in line with nucleation, the feeling abates within 1-2h post dive.

The discussion in 'sleepy after diving' is a bit exaggerated but on the money.

 

[Dr Deco]

Dear SCUBA SOURCE Readers:

Exercise

As stated above, sometimes we just play too hard.

Fatigue

There is no question that this is a big question for many. To my knowledge, there is not a definitive answer regarding bubbles. In the 1940s, Al Behnke, MD, put forth the idea of “silent bubbles.” These were thought to form in cases of sub clinical DCS. Because gas bubbles are not thought to be an all-or-nothing event, most believe today that the free-gas phase can be present in small amounts to large amounts. Depending on the “dose” of nitrogen and the number of bubbles formed, DCS will manifest itself to a small degree, large degree, or possibly not at all (only appear, for example, as “Doppler bubbles.”)

Altitude Studies

My colleagues in altitude DCS research have told me that they have seen cases of profound fatigue at altitude (during the decompression phase) that far exceeded the work involved. This remitted upon repress to ground level. It makes one suspect that a free gas phase is involved.

Many have also heard claims that slow ascents are associated with a reduction in fatigue. This would also make one suspect that a gas phase is playing a role.

Dr Deco :doctor:

 

[dbulmer]

Could sleepiness after diving also (or alternatively) be a symptom of sea sickness in some form?

 

[DandyDon]

I did seraches on "tired" and "exhausted," but not "fatigue."

I checked profiles on those who posted replies here and in "Sleepy After Diving," and of you who list your year of birth, most of you are half my age (Dr.Deco is of my generation), but even considering that, plus what I offered before:

Me: "I know that traveling alone can be tiring, disrupted sleep schedules, dehydration - especially on planes, not sleeping in own bed, and so forth. But diving seems to tire me more than anything, even on Nitrox, even when I avoid strenuous swimming that burns my air too fast."

But what Steve offered in the other thread with documentation! is informative:

"I'm not a doctor, but according to the American Society of Aerospace Medicine Specialists:

"DCS varies widely in its clinical presentation from minor skin itching, through joint or limb pain to serious neurologic injury and circulatory collapse. Significant symptoms may be more subtle, such as persistent headache 12 hours post exposure, unexpected fatigue(emphasis added), inability to concentrate, or isolated cranial nerve dysfunction.

"Reduction of symptoms is often reported through one or more of the following:

"Increasing hydration - before and after a dive.

"Slowing ascent rates - often to as slow as 10ft per minute.

"Increasing the duration of safety stops.

"Reduction of nitrogen intake by use of EAN mixes.

"Increasing cardio-vascular fitness.

"You may just be tired - or you may be (minor-league) bent."

Sounds like I need to slow my Type-A personality down even more on ascents! I've been working on slow ascents, deep stops or gradual ascents, plus 10-20 feet stops, but I can spend more time on this. Now that I'm carrying a Pony (don't start there!), I can always go to it if my main tank gets to 500 # on a 15+ minute total ascent.

But I've also noticed I often remain exhausted after I get home, thinking it was just hard traveling. Then I read this:

"Altitude Studies

"My colleagues in altitude DCS research have told me that they have seen cases of profound fatigue at altitude (during the decompression phase) that far exceeded the work involved. This remitted upon repress to ground level. It makes one suspect that a free gas phase is involved.

"Many have also heard claims that slow ascents are associated with a reduction in fatigue. This would also make one suspect that a gas phase is playing a role.

"Dr Deco"

Even though almost all of my diving is done from sea level, I'm traveling in planes with 8,000 feet in pressure, then going home to 3,300 feet. I was born and raised here, but nonetheless, the elevation could add to the lingering problem, maybe?

Bottom line: Slower ascents and more stops, along with hydrating and cleaner living, huh?

Thanks again all, for the responses and referrals...!

D-Don