Nagging Headache(s) After Diving

[Riff Raff]

Hello all! Just completed my initial Open Water certification this past weekend, with four checkout dives at the local lake. After the first day of diving, I noticed that I had a bit of a headache after I got home which is odd for me. On the second day of diving immediately after demonstrating an Emergency Swimming Ascent from 30 feet, I also noticed a bit of a headache as soon as I got to the surface. Have also gotten periodic headaches when doing stressful activities (e.g. physical exertion) since then, and it's been three days now since the last dive. Is something like this caused by something specific I'm doing while diving?

 

[zboss]

Hello all! Just completed my initial Open Water certification this past weekend, with four checkout dives at the local lake. After the first day of diving, I noticed that I had a bit of a headache after I got home which is odd for me. On the second day of diving immediately after demonstrating an Emergency Swimming Ascent from 30 feet, I also noticed a bit of a headache as soon as I got to the surface. Have also gotten periodic headaches when doing stressful activities (e.g. physical exertion) since then, and it's been three days now since the last dive. Is something like this caused by something specific I'm doing while diving?

A lot of divers get that - I do. My latest dive buddy was having a hard time clearing his ears one year... he went to the doctor and found out that he had a severely deviated septum. The doctor said one naisal cavity was 70% blocked and the other 90% - he had surgery and now he has only occasional problems clearing his ears. I have also heard that sometimes people can have polyps in the nasal passages that interfere with sinus equalization and can cause headaches.

In general though - DCS is pretty rare but if it makes you feel better call DAN and ask them - it's free and you never know!

 

[pipedope]

Lots of possible causes.

Lots of new divers breathe shallow and build up CO2. For mild cases a headache is the primary symptom.

Equalization problems are a possibility.

What is the water temp?

A hood that is too tight or mask too tight can cause problems.

We can't tell over the net but these are some things to check out.

 

[rmediver2002]

I agree with zboss, it certainly sounds like it could be a barotrauma issue since the headache is lasting so long.

Sometimes right after surfacing divers will notice a headache and some photo sensitivity normally from CO2 retention during the dive (slow breathing rate or skip breathing to try and conserve air in most cases) but it sounds like you may be getting some type of sinus squeeze.

Have you noticed any trouble at all clearing?

Any blood in your mask?

Are you adding air to your mask as you decend?

I have had some students that could not clear for various physiological reasons (as zboss already stated, more often than not it was polyps)

You should consider getting an ENT specialist to take a look and determine if it is a physiological issue...

Hope your able to get it taken care of, I am sure you will enjoy your diving much more without thoughts of the headaches...

Jeff Lane

 

[Riff Raff]

Well as a newbie I'm sure there are plenty of possible things I was doing wrong... The one that worried me the most was the sudden headache on the surface immediately after doing the ESA, since I figured there wasn't really any way that could NOT have been caused by something I did while diving. I'll concentrate on deeper breathing in the future, but shallow breathing is very possible since I was rather nervous during class and such. Equalizing was fine when I was descending slowly on the line, but may not have done enough at other times when I was a bit too task-loaded (such as when demonstrating an ESA!). Definitely no blood in the mask, I would have gone right to the emergency room for that one... :11: Water temperature was fairly cold as it was a lake dive. Probably 72 degrees or so at the surface and around 65 degrees at fifty feet. We were diving with full 5mm wetsuits and hoods (did the whole let water into the hood to help with equalization thing just below the surface). Haven't really noticed anything thus far today, but if I notice any continuing problems I'll definitely go straight to the doctor. Sounds like it may have just been some general newbiness though for the most part.

 

[Nay]

I had the same problems on my check out dives and the consensus seemed to be C02. Here's the link to that thread. http://www.scubaboard.com/t51083.html
I notice a major difference when I over-breathe vs when I am breathing well. I'm still new too so some days are better than others.
Have fun!

 

[Quarrior]

I know this may sound strange to some people, but, I learned this the hard way in survival school.

Are you drinking at least 8, 8 oz glasses of plain water a day when you are not performing any kind of stressful activity like diving? Are you drinking close to double that when you are being active?

Your body uses water for everything and diving is particularly drying/dehydrating. The air you breath is extra dry and the body heat needed to stay warm is made by water.