Nitrox and stamina...

[badassbill]

Hello everyone. I had a quick nitrox question. After diving I'm exhausted to the point that I'm usually asleep early that evening. I'm in shape, have a few dozen dives under my belt, etc. I was wondering if Nitrox would help me with this challange. My wife, who goes through air much faster than me, is usually fine.

Any help would be greatly appreciated as I've heard mixed views on this.

 

[wedivebc]

Hello everyone. I had a quick nitrox question. After diving I'm exhausted to the point that I'm usually asleep early that evening. I'm in shape, have a few dozen dives under my belt, etc. I was wondering if Nitrox would help me with this challange. My wife, who goes through air much faster than me, is usually fine.

Any help would be greatly appreciated as I've heard mixed views on this.

It is believed that fatigue after diving may be the result of sub-clinical dcs. It is a common symptom and many people report feeling better after diving nitrox. There is no solid science behind it but so many people report it that it's hard to ignore.

 

[tedwhiteva]

Hello everyone. I had a quick nitrox question. After diving I'm exhausted to the point that I'm usually asleep early that evening. I'm in shape, have a few dozen dives under my belt, etc. I was wondering if Nitrox would help me with this challange. My wife, who goes through air much faster than me, is usually fine.

Any help would be greatly appreciated as I've heard mixed views on this.

Nitrox does help, but not to the point you are describing as being exhausted. You might want to think about how relaxed you are underwater, and even if in shpe, how much swimmig do you do? Finally, make sure you don't use your hands for swimming -should be at your side while diving.

 

[matt_unique]

I have never noticed the difference personally. I have friends that say they do.

--Matt

 

[BIGSAGE136]

Hello everyone. I had a quick nitrox question. After diving I'm exhausted to the point that I'm usually asleep early that evening. I'm in shape, have a few dozen dives under my belt, etc. I was wondering if Nitrox would help me with this challange. My wife, who goes through air much faster than me, is usually fine.

Any help would be greatly appreciated as I've heard mixed views on this.

Believe it or not its because you are dehydrated. Many divers dont understand that your body needs to be truly hydrated for it to off-gas. You are experiencing sub-clinical DCS. It shows itself in fatigue.

Drink up next dive. Try a bottle of Pedialite an hour before your next dive. I bet you a sawbuck that if you hydrate properly before your next dive you will see a distinct difference.

Please note that I am not a Dr. This is experience talking.

Bottom line though you will never hurt yourself if you follow 3 simple rules...Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate.

Dont forget to breathe!

 

[Grappelli]

This may also be due to diving square profiles. If you are diving square profiles, take a little stop on the way up, halfway between your point of ascent and your safety stop... just for a minute, and especially on deep dives. And yes, nitrox will help with this... simply because you are absorbing less nitrogen. (Unless, of course you use the nitrox to extend your bottom time, as it is normally used.. so you're absorbing as much nitrogen all over again.)

 

[DBailey]

You can see some common themes in these threads...

1. Be fit.
2. Hydrate well.
3. Slow ascents.
4. Consistent and enough sleep.

When I first started diving, I too was ready to take a nap only hours after a dive. I started making #1, #2, and #4 part of my everyday life, and all four part of my dive routine and now I am rarely that tired after a dive. I am not a medical expert, and I am still a novice in terms of diving, but I doubt any of the above will hurt you.

 

[roakey]

Though I jumped to the sub-clinical DCS conclusion first, it may not be what's going on...

Usually women beathe less than men, which makes me ask: What temp water, and what kind of exposure protection are you wearing?

As a WAG what might be happening is that you're relaxing more, diveing better and therefore moving less and genrating less body heat than you used to. Maybe your wife is still moving a lot, is a little stressed, whatever, and is generating more body heat and staying warm.

Most people have no idea that they're actually cold until they dive a drysuit, then they realize how cold they were getting in a wetsuit. If you're cold, you end up very, very tired after the dive.

Roak

 

[MikeFerrara]

Roak has a point. Cold is a likely factor (not that I'd rule out the N2 stuff either). And...it could just be age. You know, old married people just can't always handle things as well as they used to.

 

[SoCalAngel]

I have been diving Nitrox even on my beach dives. It helps a little, but not much. I agree with the first posters, you probably need to hydrate. I used to be very tired after every dive. Then I started chugging two bottles of water before every dive and at least one bottle after. That made a huge difference. Now I come home and still get the things done around the house I need to get done after I dive, instead of diving into bed.