Headaches while diving

[DocVikingo]

Hi Sonar,

Lots of possible causes for dive-related headaches.

You may find the following articles informative:

DAN Divers Alert Network : Headaches and Diving

Headaches associated with scuba diving (Scubadoc)

Here is Some Helpful Advice for Frequent Dive-Related Headaches
http://home.vicnet.net.au/~dandoc/pdfdoc/headaches.pdf

Helpful?

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[Dadvocate]

Sonar, thanks to you also. I think I have learned as much as you have in this thread. I have that much more in my arsenal of potential remedies given the great posts here.

Thanks for the thoughts on skip breathing, FredT. I really need to put some thought and practice into my breathing. I started out as an OWD with massive air consumption issues, causing dives to end at 30 minutes or less. I've worked on how to improve this and have been relatively successful. I tend to go 50-60 minutes on dives that start at max depths of as deep as 35 meters while exiting with 50-60 BAR depending on current and such. I am reasonably happy with this performance for my level of diving; yet I am now seeing that perhaps I am getting a bit complacent in this performance. Maybe I do need to look at better ways of conserving air and controlling buoyancy if in fact I am doing myself some harm in how I am breathing my air. I'll need to look into this some more.

TSandM, that info on coffee gives me a lot of pause for thought. I can see where this might be related to me as well. I am a teacher and tend to do my extended dive trips right after the report writing and examination crunch at the end of terms. My coffee consumption always goes up exponentially, and then it drops to near nothing in a short span when I hit the holiday season when classes are out. I'm not quite sure how I will deal with this issue this time, as I'm in the throes of crunch time now (and polishing off cup number 5 as I write this post). When the smoke clears in June, I will be off to Aussie land to get married and then a live-aboard off Cairns for the honeymoon-diving trip. I don't need any headaches on that trip for many reasons, not the least of which will be diving.
I need to see how I can keep awake now without relying on the caffeine that might be my downfall later on. This isn't going to be easy.

Cheers!

 

[FredT]

A good "remedy" for the caffeine withdrawal thing is dark chocolate M&Ms. When the headache first just twinges eating a hand full will usually kill it. Easy to pack and never a problem to get rid of towards the end of the trip, as a couple will cure "reg mouth" right after a dive faster than anything else I've found, except maybe a good dark rum.

 

[Sparg93]

One thing I don't believe was stated is possible TMJ.

I actually started having nasty headaches that started a day after diving...they felt like tension headaches and radiated download through the top part of my neck. At first i thought it was an ear infection, saw a normal doc for the meds, and then an ENT to check if i had done any damage to my ears.

It turns out, i was biting down on the mouthpiece to my reg too hard and distressing the muscles in my jaw (which connect in multiple places to the rest of your dome and neck)!!

My doctor was an ETN that dives regularly...he checked my ears (they were fine) then listened to my symptoms and explained why he came to his conclusion. It might not be the cause of your headaches, but check to see if you moving your mouth around a lot and biting down on the mouthpiece.

Best of luck!

 

[pafindr]

As you can see there can be a multitude of reasons and possibly a mix of reasons but I'm just going to throw this one out there.
Is your mask to tight?

 

[SeahorseDeb]

All of the above info has been extremely informative. I just got tired of having these darn headaches and started reading this thread. I do get migraines, but the headaches after diving are different. They are nagging and definately something not to look forward to after a great dive! I don't have alcoholic beverages the night before a dive, I drink lots of gatorade, even right up to my dive (hurry-up-and-get-this-drysuit-off-me-now-and-where's-the-restroom!). I eat, I sleep well, and I dive relaxed. Seems nitrox doesn't matter either. My SAC is .50 to.60 and I do my safety stops. Depth doesn't seem to be a factor. I did lower my tank down a bit to see if I was trying to bend my neck in weird ways. One thing I did pick up on here, is that perhaps I am not exhaling as deep as I ought too, and I am retaining some Carbon Diox. I usually end up taking 5mg Maxalt the next morning if the headache is still there, but I don't dive after taking the Maxalt. I know it has a half life, so I want to ensure a safe dive, next time I go out. I'll be watching this thread for further discussion and the article from DAN was very interesting. thanks, Debbie

 

[SeahorseDeb]

Oh, BTW, I also only fill up my tank at a PADI shop of which the owner is very careful about his filters and air quality. He and I have had alot of discussions about this. I dive cold water, so I can usually shlepp the extra tanks I need if I am traveling not too far from home for a dive. The air from some shops really stinks coming out of the tanks, and some people breathe that stuff compressed? Ick.

 

[BettyRubble]

I too have a caffeine issue (pepsi). Also, when I find myself biting too hard on my mouthpiece I get a different headache. Usually I can tell which type I have and deal with it appropriately. For the caffeine I find that if I hydrate with water a day or two before my dive, I can get by with 1/2 a pepsi the morning of a dive, water the rest of the day, and a pepsi the ride home. That solves the caffeine headache. (I'll try the dark M&M's too as they totally rule anyway!). The mouthpiece headache is tougher and I have to walk around stretching my mouth open and closed. (Really attractive for a chick to do around a bunch of macho men). So I'm trying to focus on that underwater and relax.

 

[SeahorseDeb]

On my last dive, July 21, I focused on breathing deep and exhaling as much as possible. My SAC rate was .50cf/min. I did not have a headache. I wonder if I was retaining Co2? Betty, I will dive with you anytime! If you look at animals in the wild they flex their jaws too!!

 

[dschonbrun]

Dehydration, Breathing approach, Body position, and kit fit, could all contribute to what appear to be tension headaches.

I would ask know how long it had been since you last dove. Many people go on a vacation after months not diving and are very excited to get back in the water... It's advisable to slowly get back into diving.. performing 1-2 dives the first day, and gradually increasing the exposure as the vacation proceeds.