Nausea from Regulator

[mrrworld]

I have over 400 dives but lately I've noticed I am feeling more and more sick after a dive, a feeling that usually doesn't go away for quite some time. Although the symptoms are the same, I doubt it is seasickness since it happens even in the calmest of conditions. Awhile ago, I remember reading in a dive magazine that sometimes divers have a reaction to the regulator, which makes you sick. I am not sure if it's an allergic reaction or some reflex reaction. Anyway, anyone ever hear of this and if it's true, is there anything I can do about it? I have to admit, it's starting to effect my willingness to dive.

Thanks

Michael

 

[DandyDon]

How interesting - and unfortunate. Hope you resolve this soon. I'll look forward to the suggestions from the medical pros here.

BTW, has a physician looked in your ears lately? Any respiratory or sinus problems lately? I'm sure you know how to clear early and often, but still.....?!

 

[Mark Michaud SELAUSAR]

If you are getting your gas fills from the same location, I would start with that. Make sure your breathing medium is not the culprit first. If you think it may be, and you own your own tank, empty it completely, get gas from another location and see what happens. Maybe some carbon monoxide got in there. It doesn't take much when under pressure. The other thing I would consider is if you are wearing a wet siut, is it too tight and are you overheating before you get in the water? Also are you breathing engine fumes (diesel) before diving? All of these things can make you feel nauseated during or after a dive. Mark

 

[miketsp]

I could think of basically 4 possible sources:
- as already mentioned, bad fills. Anything the gets into the compressor intake will taste much more concentrated and consequently worse at depth. Do you have this symptom at other locations with other air sources?
- have you had your reg serviced recently? It's just possible some residual solvent or grease is leaving an aftertaste.
- do you swallow much during a dive in order to alleviate a dry throat? This could be causing an accumulation of gas in the stomach leaving you with a bloated sensation after surfacing/decompressing.
- something you're eating before the dive that doesn't agree with you and the pressure is acting as a catalyst to make the effect worse. Try changing your pre-dive menu.

 

[DandyDon]

Good questions, quys - since the problem for an experienced diver doesn't make sense, it's good to list all the possibilities for when he logs on...

 

[bcwolfen]

......

 

[fisherdvm]

Is it only nausea? You did not define your age, but it can help. Other symptoms? Heartburn, chest pain, abdominal discomfort, sorethroat, acid taste in the mouth, etc?

I would agree with a physical exam. If it were simply allergic reaction to latex or rubber, I would expect rash or irritation around the mouth. If it were hives or ananaphylaxis to rubber, I would expect swelling of the eyes, lip or throat.

I would think of heartburn, esophagitis, gastritis, peptic ulcer; in addition to making sure that you are not having unsusual presentation of heart diseases. Viral labyrinthitis should be considered. My wife got it about 4 months ago, and it took nearly 3 months to disappear.

We ran across a diver who was very experienced, and all of a sudden started having panic attacks, and stopped diving.... People do change when they get older, and I think a good physical exam with age appropriate and symptom appropriate medical testing (EKG, scopes, etc) should be done without guessing.

 

[Blox]

Could this be an allergic reaction to high Oxygen Partial Pressure?

 

[mrrworld]

Thanks everyone for all the comments. It's why I love this website. Here are some answers to the many comments or questions.

It’s happening wherever I dive so it can’t be the fill unless I am having really bad luck with the dozens of dive shops I’ve been diving with or hundreds of tanks I’ve used over the years.

I don’t think it’s the wet suit as I had mine made and it fits me perfectly. One of the reasons I did this was the brand name ones either were too loose or usually too tight, which definitely made me overheat. But that is not a problem now. Plus, as a second precaution, usually to the consternation of the DMs, I don’t put on my wet suit until the last minute.

I service my reg once a year, regardless of how often I dive during the year.

I usually don’t like to eat much before diving so I don’t think its food. I do drink lots of water mainly so when I pee in my wet suit, it doesn’t stink too bad. ☺ Plus, it’s happening so often that I can’t believe I am always eating bad food.

I’m 46, been diving for 13 years. As part of my job, I have to get a physical every 2 years and so far, no health problems although I am not asking them to look at my stomach.

It’ just nausea. Like I said, it feels just like seasickness but since it can happen in the calmest of conditions, I don’t think its that. At my last diving trip (4 dives in Sodwana Bay, South Africa), after the 4th dive, I got good and sick (dry heaves since I had not eaten yet), which, I guess not surprisingly, made me feel much better.

I’m not sure what oxygen partial pressure is but since many of you have mentioned ears, maybe it is something to do with that. During almost all my dives I almost have to constantly equalize throughout the entire dive. It some ways, it’s actually helpful since, for example, if I am at a wall, I know instantly when I am not paying attention to depth and inadvertently start descending since my ears start screaming. I can’t even say it’s a nuisance anymore since I am so used to. I hit the water, grab my nose and start equalizing all the way to the bottom. Not sure how that would cause my nausea but maybe there is something to that.

Thanks again for everyone's help.

Michael

 

[DandyDon]

I'm thinking ears even more.

But now I also wonder about eyes. 46 yo men often try to pretend they don't need eye exams, and just could possibly be related...?