Need Thoughts/Opinions on Potential Post-Dive Illness

[freewillie]

After re-reading first post it seems like your GF had sx prior to getting in the water before her first dive. If her persistent nausea and vertigo started prior to the first dive IMO makes DCI less likely. At that point you are looking at either benign positional vertigo or labrynthitis which is an irritation of the semicircular canals in the inner ear. Either condition can persist for days if not weeks and cause vertigo with associated nausea. If ER vist ruled out more serious condition such as stroke and sx did not improve with therapy in decompression chamber likely dealing with either of previous two conditions.

 

[Kicker1866]

Freewillie...I appreciate this post because she is still dealing with these issues. idiot ENT simply said " I think you are still seasick".

 

[freewillie]

Fortunately both conditions are self limiting, that is they both should improve gradually over time. Generally can take anywhere from 2 weeks to no longer 6 weeks. If goes beyond 6 weeks time to get re-evaluated. In mean time mostly just treating sx nausea. Any otc remedy such as bonine or similar should do just as well as prescription antivert. Ginger is good to try. If not working then an md can prescribe a scopolamine patch, just to help sx until feeling better. Hope condition improves soon.

PS. Look online for something called an Eply (or Epply) maneuver. It's a series of movements to help pt with benign positional vertigo get the stones out of inner ear. May help and have nothing to lose.

 

[wtcreaux]

prescription antivert. .

The generic is meclizine and is OTC (over-the-counter) here (TX)