Headache from Mask

[Diver Lori]

Okay....I've got a problem that has happened to me half a dozen times now and I would like to know if anyone else has had this problem....

Let me clarify first, I've been diving for 15 years, it's not mask squeeze and my mask isn't too tight. In fact, it's probably too loose last dive as I was experimenting loosening it up to see if in fact it was too tight (had light trickle during the dive).

Here's what's happening. I'm getting a headache during the dive, horizontally across my forehead. The pain does let up if I pull my mask away from my forehead, but of course water leaks in. I've tried sliding my strap up on the back of my head so pressure is on the bottom of the mask and not the top, and vice versa.

Any thoughts? My next thought and thing to try is taking my allergy/decongestant med beforehand in case it's a sinus issue.

 

[tndiveinstruct1]

It could very well be a sinus problem.

I had a friend that had similar problems. He had an MRI run and a cyst was found in his sinuses right behind the eyebrows.

Hope this helps....

Randy Cain

 

[beachdivequeenbelam]

It could very well be a sinus problem.

I had a friend that had similar problems. He had an MRI run and a cyst was found in his sinuses right behind the eyebrows.

Hope this helps....

Randy Cain

I had sinus surgery to have windows cut in the sinuses because I had a sinus infection for over 2 years that they couldn't get to go away. The reason they had to wait so long was because I was pregnant. Pregnancy casued my allergies to get worse. That's how I knew I was pregnant. I started getting an ear or sinus infection.

Anyhow, my point is you would be amazed how much stuff is left in your sinuses. You may be congested or have mucus inside your sinuses if you have frequent infections. The best thing to do is go to a doctor and ask. I would suggest emailing or calling DAN and going to a dive specialist.

Sincerely
Bridget

 

[fmerkel]

Yes, probably sinuses, frontal are located across the forehead and ethmnoid kind of between and below the eyes. You should get it checked out by an ENT.

Since you have a lot of dive experience you could try an experiment. Take a dose of Afrin about an hour before a dive. You could also add 60mg of pseudofed, also about an hour before. These are both decongestants. Dive carefully and pay attention to the pain/pressure. Do not push it. Diving with sinus block can lead to reverse block on ascent-not fun. If the dive goes without problems you have some sort of congestion. Neither of these drugs are good for long term relief but can be useful when used with knowledge of uses and limitation. This will not work for a cyst blocking a passage. Longer term relief will be dictated by medical exam of basic cause.

Fritz Merkel
Sinus sufferer and reverse block victim. I use nasal steroids now, occasionally Afrin

 

[reefsong]

Also, don't overlook the possibility that facial pain can be a referred pain from musculoskeletal dysfunction of the cervical neck. Some divers with improper trim in the water have been known to get neck pain from constant cervical extension. This is turn can be referred to many of the facial muscles. Just one more possibilty to explore.