Nitrox Hangover

[georgianahull]

Kudos for a great site

I've this problem. When I dive nitrox, I get rather this 'hangover'. The day-after, my teeth tend to chatter off-n-on and my joints make me feel like an old lady. The first time, I thought it was the really great big capital 'B', but it wasn't. I've been checked out by docs in Australia and now in America, and they can't give me a good reason why I should have this reaction. Has anyone else had similar reactions?

Thanking you in advance,
Georgiana Hull

 

[scubasean]

Kudos for a great site

I've this problem. When I dive nitrox, I get rather this 'hangover'. The day-after, my teeth tend to chatter off-n-on and my joints make me feel like an old lady. The first time, I thought it was the really great big capital 'B', but it wasn't. I've been checked out by docs in Australia and now in America, and they can't give me a good reason why I should have this reaction. Has anyone else had similar reactions?

Thanking you in advance,
Georgiana Hull

Hmmmm...I'd be interested in doing a test...Unfortunately, it violates normal dive rules...

Have someone fill your tank with air, 32, 36, whatever...but not tell you what is in the tank....varying the mix each time...Do the same dive each of the dives, and do it over ten dives or so....Then decide if it really is the nitrox...

Are you doing the same dive each time, safety stops, etc.?

Folks have sometimes reported being less than 100% after omitting their safety stop, ascending to quickly, etc.

But, I'm not a doc....

 

[DandyDon]

Welcome to SB. :wavey: Put us in your Favorites and check in often.

It's gotta' be something you're doing differently on Nitrox dives, like maybe going much deeper, skipping the safety stop, or - something else...?

don

 

[georgianahull]

>>>Hmmmm...I'd be interested in doing a test...
'The Pepsi Challenge'...lol, no thanks

I know that your both right...it should be something that I'm doing differently. Having trouble figuring what it is though? I'm compulsive about the safety stops, switched out gear, and I've dropped deeper w/o Nitrox than w/it...really rather a mystery. I've heard is that people change their breathing patterns with it and maybe that's the cause (though...anyway). I think I shall try an controlled dive with and w/o nitrox (maybe in a pool...if I can find one willing).

The chattering teeth scare me more than the stiff joints (seems neurological or what not or ever). I wish to know if this is nothing or the mark of some thing worse or really much even really very much worse...the grim reaper :|

 

[DandyDon]

The chattering teeth scare me more than the stiff joints (seems neurological or what not or ever). I wish to know if this is nothing or the mark of some thing worse or really much even really very much worse...the grim reaper :|

Have you talked with the Medics at DAN...?

don

 

[beche de mer]

Kudos for a great site

I've this problem. When I dive nitrox, I get rather this 'hangover'. The day-after, my teeth tend to chatter off-n-on and my joints make me feel like an old lady. Georgiana Hull

Does it sound anything like this?

"You've just gotten home from a dive and you're feeling rotten. You ache all over, are so tired you can hardly hold your head up and you have a low grade fever, nausea, headache or shivering. You might even have some shortness of breath and a productive cough. You wonder if you might not have decompression symptoms."

Those are the symptoms of salt water aspiration syndrome, as described at this site: http://www.scuba-doc.com/saltwasp.html

I can't imagine why nitrox should cause the symptoms you describe. After all, it's only air with a bit of added oxygen.

Do you have a dedicated set of regs which you use for your nitrox? If so, and if your symptoms sound a bit like those described above, you might want to have your second stage checked to see if it's letting any water in.

 

[georgianahull]

The in which I posted I also wrote to about a dozen doctors and scientists whose emails were attached to pages & articles on decompression. I've not heard back from DAN, but it's only been a couple days. :54:

There were three emails in my box this morning. Two mentioned the second stage and salt water aspiration syndrome (the symptons described at the site seem worse than mine). I've not heard of that syndrome before. Seems like something worth looking into and I probably need a new one anyway. Thanks much again.
Sincerely,
Georgiana Hull

 

[georgianahull]

It doesn't make sense to me either as to why EANx alone should be making me sick (I've not heard of an alergy to it)

 

[fins wake]

Seems like something worth looking into and I probably need a new one anyway.

You don't mention how often you dive (or have dived) nitrox. Do you fill your nitrox at the same shop as your regular air fills? Have you dived air after you experienced your symptoms on nitrox? Could there be something wrong with your gas station, filter, any impurities, the compressor? Which method do they use for making the nitrox? Denitrogenizing, constant flow or partial pressure blending? If the latter, where do they get their oxygen? Is it of high-grade medical quality? Have you tried another shop?

 

[georgianahull]

I'd guess I've dived Nitrox about 2 dozen times in the past 3 yrs. I mostly dive air. The 'hangover' has only shown up in the last year. I didn't get it at all when taking the course.

AFAIK, there are only two places in the county that sell it. One place is a rec dive shop and they send the tanks to LA to have them filled. The other, is a tech shop and fills the tanks while you wait. I don't know which method they use, but there are two tanks (a small black one with O2 and a larger air tank) and a machine that connects them. I've used both shops. The rec shop is much cheaper, but I normally use the other as it's recommended by the boys who work on the oil rigs. I've also had the tanks filled at a place down south, but I don't get down their very often. I'll ask about the medical quality next time.

I use 32, but also sometimes, though not often 36. My dive buddy and I always get them filled at the same shop and he doesn't have the problem. But he's a big man and probably weighs twice as much as I do (not sure if that matters).

We usually don't go that deep. 15m is about the max, 20m is as deep as I've ever been on it for safety reasons. That's about all I can think of at the moment. Thanks

Sincerely,
Georgiana hull