First time getting narced...Yipes!

[irishsquid]

.. Helium lowers a regs WOB, but there is acecdiodal evidence that it also raises the risk of oxygen toxicity..

Jeez, I'm having a total brain fart. What does WOB stand for?

 

[padiscubapro]

Jeez, I'm having a total brain fart. What does WOB stand for?

Work of Breathing

 

[redrover]

I'm a newbie diver (two dives since qualification) but I've noticed a weird effect which might be a bit of narcosis, need your opinions on this. Back in my crazy younger days I used to use some drugs (pot/mushrooms) once in a while, and I always found that for a few days afterwards I felt "different", like the world was a little off and I was seeing things a bit differently. This feeling would dissipate over about 5-7 days. On my last two dives, we went to 60' and 55'. I'm new enough at diving that I'm still just goggle-eyed at the wonder of it down there (feeling like flying, loving the weightlessness, the fish, etc) so I definitely wouldn't be able to tell the difference between euphoria brought on by such a wicked-cool experience as diving here in Hawaii, or narcosis. However, on more than one occasion now I've felt this lingering after effect for a few days after diving, like I had some "life-changing experience". I know it sounds totally cliche or something, and I'm a very cynical person so I can't really chalk this up to just an airy-fairy mental state, it feels like a physical effect to me. Has anyone else had a similar experience? Is it possible that getting a bit narcy at 60' was similar enough to being on drugs that I'm getting the same longer lasting effects? It's not a bad thing, just interesting.

Hey, not that it may not be NN but gee. I was on the surface the first time a pod of Spinner ascended around me. You’d a thunk I’d been Born Again or something, for at least a month after that.

 

[redrover]

I usually feel very mellow after diving,a very tranquil feeling,does anyone else get that? It is one of the things I like about diving,I dont know if it is some brain chemistry thing or after effects from the gasses. But it is definitively there.

Can only speak for myself, where, how and when I dive, but I do too. No it’s not tired at all NetDoc, very refreshed yet relaxed. Often I think; I need to go diving and rinse my mind. All the concerns, nagging worries and stresses are irrelevant and have no application. Topside almost always looks to be a better place and my energy to deal with the business of daily living is renewed.

 

[SeaYoda]

Slow down your ascent! Tiredness is a sign of subclinical DCS. Do a stop at half of your depth for a minute and a full 5 minute safety stop.

I have done some dives with very slow ascents and still felt tired. I've noticed that being well hydrated seems to help. I'm guessing the tissues have less fluid to flush things out and retain more gas. I always wondered if this was subclinical DCS.

As for how to tell if you are narced, everyone should take a camera on a dive some time. Buttons and theories that seem so easy on the surface begin to become a chore even in shallow water (might be getting worse as I age ). Reaction time decrease is very noticeable.

The first time I went to 108' I clearly felt the narc. I was just happy to be there and the picture taking was in slow motion. Thoughts came slow but I didn't mind at all. I started thinking lots clearer around 80' and realized what I had experienced. I've been back to the same place and depth and didn't have near the same experience.

 

[spiritd1]

My first Narc experience and hopefully my last, We were diving the Blue Hole in Belize, my buddy was close by as we wee at 128 feet and I felt completely unaware of myself, my buddy noticed that I was acting weird, felt like a hot flash after one two many, he pulled me up about 15 feet, then I got extremely cold, the dive was over so we surfaced and got on the boat, to top it off on that adventure we got stuck in a storm and didnt make it back till land till 930pm. What a trip started at 0630 on a pick up, so much for Gilligans 3 hour tour. But my buddy had the best and longest Birthday in history. SO much for narcing but muchbetter for the Buddy system

 

[bamamedic]

That's one thing I've learned from my experience...having a good buddy is essential! Not to say that these buddies weren't decent, but I needed someone to stay close.

I managed to do the same dive essentially, two weeks later, with a different buddy, and it went one heck of a lot better...

 

[peterbj7]

Getting narced is like getting drunk. If you don't know what that feels like, just ask a glass of water.

 

[tiggrr]

Thank you Thank you Thank You!! This thread is awesome! I'm only on page 2 and can't wait to read the rest.

I too had a dark narc experience early on. Shot down to 90 feet following my more experienced buddys. Was overweighted, working too hard, realized I couldn't read my gauges, couldn't figure out how to operate my gear.... Thank God my buddy was right next to me. I grabbed his arm (don't know how I didn't rip it off!) he saw the look in my eyes and helped me come up. I held my computer in front of my face and at 60-70ish feet I could read the numbers. I literally felt like I was going to die... my heart was pounding 10feet out of my chest. I felt like ripping my regs out and screaming. Fortunately, I kept my head on enough to seek assistance and also, get the help I needed, and survived it.

It was on a liveaboard. The 3rd dive of the trip. I admitted to myself that I had no business doing the deeper dives without more training and only did the shallower dives to get comfortable again. I ended up doing 7 of the 17 dives offered. I still had a great time on this trip but, learned never to go beyond my training and experience. This is something I carry with my now on EVERY dive.

I very recently opted not to do the "Hole in the Wall" due to all of factors involved. I know that I can handle 1 or 2 of the factors such as strong current. I am not capable of too many stacked on top of each other. I would rather do a nice drift at 60ft any day.

I'm currently practicing with my new BP/W in the shallow greenness of Spring Mill Pond here in Michigan. Another lesson is NOT to take brand new gear on an 11 dive trip in warmer waters.
No matter if you have been in the pool with it or not!

ALWAYS LEARNING

 

[dave4868]

Thank you Thank you Thank You!! This thread is awesome! I'm only on page 2 and can't wait to read the rest.

I too had a dark narc experience early on. Shot down to 90 feet following my more experienced buddys. Was overweighted, working too hard, realized I couldn't read my gauges, couldn't figure out how to operate my gear.... Thank God my buddy was right next to me. I grabbed his arm (don't know how I didn't rip it off!) he saw the look in my eyes and helped me come up. I held my computer in front of my face and at 60-70ish feet I could read the numbers. I literally felt like I was going to die... my heart was pounding 10feet out of my chest. I felt like ripping my regs out and screaming. Fortunately, I kept my head on enough to seek assistance and also, get the help I needed, and survived it.

It was on a liveaboard. The 3rd dive of the trip. I admitted to myself that I had no business doing the deeper dives without more training and only did the shallower dives to get comfortable again. I ended up doing 7 of the 17 dives offered. I still had a great time on this trip but, learned never to go beyond my training and experience. This is something I carry with my now on EVERY dive.

I very recently opted not to do the "Hole in the Wall" due to all of factors involved. I know that I can handle 1 or 2 of the factors such as strong current. I am not capable of too many stacked on top of each other. I would rather do a nice drift at 60ft any day.

I'm currently practicing with my new BP/W in the shallow greenness of Spring Mill Pond here in Michigan. Another lesson is NOT to take brand new gear on an 11 dive trip in warmer waters.
No matter if you have been in the pool with it or not!

ALWAYS LEARNING

Was it the nitrogen or was it the anxiety? Or which came first?

It's hard to tell if one is anxious....

Dave C