Going to Belize w/ mild congestion

[jdubdiver]

Hi I am leaving for Belize tomorrow on a pre planned dive trip. I am at the extreme end of a cold and wake up in the morning with one of my nostrils congested. I have been taking claritin d 24 hour for about 5 days now and it is helping me. My dr. prescribed me nasonex and it is helping as well. i breathe fine during the day and have no problem equalizing. My dr. thinks it may be mild allergies. I wanted some opinions or anybody elses experience with the same situation, I plan on diving because I feel pretty good during the day and even sleep well at night. Should I even be worried?People have told me the tropical weather will help????

 

[jdubdiver]

another ? What are everyones opinions on which works better. A 24 hour pill or the 4 hour stuff?

 

[TxHockeyGuy]

I know this won't be a popular response around here, but I use normal sudafed 12 hour. Basically I choose sudafed over other drugs because I know divers have been using it for quite some time and the risks are well known. I personally take the 12 hour because I have in the past and I know how I react to it.

 

[Damselfish]

I also prefer 12 sudafed. The 24 hour doesn't last 24 hours for me, then I'm not sure if I should take more or not. Don't want to use 4 hour anything diving, chances of it running out during a dive are too high.

 

[gert7to3]

The action of many of these decongestants seem work well at first, then taper off. The greatest effect starts to kick in 30-45 minutes after you take the med. Given the pattern of dive-surface interval-dive the 4-6 hour Sudafed would be providing the stronger response at about the time you most want it, if taken an hour to 45 minutes before the dive.

Just my observation.

 

[jdubdiver]

Well I am back and advil ibuprofren w/ psudophedrine worked just fine 16 dives including the Blue Hole and a night dive at Hol Chan cut without 1 incident if anyone is thinking about going to Belize for the first time I highly recomend it. The Blue Hole is cool but the other diving around it blows it away