"gastric or abdominal pain after diving"

[Stijn]

The question is related to upper abdominal pain, beginning about half an hour after diving. The pain is located between the belly button and the lower part of the sternum. The pain is located in the midline and sometimes it was cramplike. This happened to me some years ago, just one time. It happened again two years later. Then for two years nothing happened. Now it happened again. This (as the other times) time there is/was no decompression dive or deep dive involved. Today the first dive was to 24 meters and the second dive was to 18 meters with an interval of 1 hour.
Some dive instructors mentioned as a possible reason swallowing too much air as a possible reason.

Could anyone shed some light on this problem. If so, please answer asap, since I am on a diving trip in Wakatobi.

 

[Ann Marie]

Have you thought about chewing a "Gas-X" tablet after your dive? If it is gas caused by swallowing air, that should help.

 

[Laurence Stein DDS]

Several thoughts come to mind. As mentioned, swallowed air may create or exacerbate this problem. This is usually a breathing technique problem and you may require some instruction on how to avoid it. It may be more pronounced in choppy conditions or stressful situations.

You may have some reflux into the esophagus. Swallowed air can force stomach contents up creating a heartburn reaction. The same can happen if you have a weak sphincter between the esophagus and the stomach.

Being horizontal can also exacerbate this problem.

You might want to try an antiacid before the dive. Avoid acid, spicy, oily foods prior to dives. Avoid carbonated drinks as well. One product called Gaviscon helps neutralize stomach acid and it creates a barrier to reflux.

Swallowed salt water may also cause indigestion or even diarrhea.:11:

If your problem continues, you might want to see a gastroenterologist.

Larry Stein