Nitrox

[IzzyTahil]

I get slight headaches everyyyyyytime I dive nitrox. I don't feel anything during the dive (maybe Im just paying attention to other things under the water...) but soon after, this annoying headache occurs. It gets better after an hour or so without any medication, so I figure this must be diving related. Headaches happen evertime I dive nitrox regardless of how short or long I've been in the water. No problems with air whatsoever and, aside from getting "nitrox" headaches, I almost never get headaches.

Has anyone had the same symptoms? Someone suggested that I might be hypersensitive to oxygen?

Thanks.

 

[scubasean]

My son gets a slight headache anytime he dives...Perhaps there is a similar cause to your problem and his...

--Sean

 

[ABQdiver]

Next time you dive, take a minute or so at half of your MOD upon ascent. Take your time ascending and after your safety stop, try holding every foot between the 15ft safely level and the surface.

This seems to help the off gassing and stopped the light headaches I got some times.

Worth a shot...

 

[nyresq]

What % mix are you using at what depth? how far are you pushing the PPO2? 1.4? 1.6?
I have been using nitrox for some time now and try to keep my PPO2 level around 1.4-1.5 but have on occasion pushed it to 1.6 for deco. But I've never had any headaches after diving.

 

[IzzyTahil]

Hello and thanks for the replies.

I am usually mindful of my PO levels and keep it between 1.4 and .5 - seldom reach 1.6. Nowadays, I do a half stop and a full safety stop. With air I don't have the headache issue.

 

[nyresq]

try dropping your mix to a 1.3 max and see if the headaches get less. you won't have as much bottom time but if it works, then its a trade for comfort. worth trying.

and do you get your air from the same shop? same compressor?

if the shop uses two different compressors for air and nitrox fills, then maybe its soomething in the nitrox system contaminating the nitrox mix air. ask your lds when the last time they had all their air-nitrox systems tested for air quality, and the last time the filters were changed. You might be suprised to learn some shops don't do this on a regular basis..:wacko:

My fire house tests the compressor air twice a year, and the filters based on compressor hours (not sure how many hours), a good LDS should be doing it at least that often. if not then that may be your problem.
try getting your next fill from a different lds if possible.

 

[MikeFerrara]

I'm not a doc but my gut tells me it isn't the nitrox. The first things that come to mind are equalization problems and CO2.

 

[Saturation]

Diving pp02 > 1.4 is high.

Most recreational agencies use 1.4 as the upper limit, with exceptional exposure allowed to 1.6.

Although VENTID is taught as side effects of mild 02 toxicity, headaches is one of them.

If you lower your pp02 to 1.2 or less, and the headache dissappear you have an answer. A suggestion that these are oxygen toxicity headaches is that you are symptom free with air. Its unlikely that nitrox is contaminated since the criteria for CGA Grade nitrox air is cleaner than regular scuba air.

 

[DeepTechScuba]

Dr Saturation, I would not automatically rule out contamination. It certainly is a possibility. Trying nitrox from another vendor might help answer that particular possibility.

It is also possible that the tank has been contaminated, and upon filling, this is causing the contamination. Inspecting and cleaning the tank might be needed.

I am surprised that you jumped to the conclusion that "its unlikely to be contamination." That would be the first thing I would wonder about.

Headaches are normally associated with CO2 retention. Even though this is nitrox, proper breathing might be the cause. Is the diver skip breathing? Is the diver not breathing regularly or deeply enough? Shallow breathing could be the cause. That would be the second thing I would wonder about.

I also agree with you, that this person may be predisposed to OxTox and therefore a leaner nitrox mix and diving shallower might be warranted.

MikeF mentioned ear clearing. That is certainly possible as well. This is what I call "thinking outside the box." Bravo.

 

[Saturation]

DeepTechScuba once bubbled...
Dr Saturation, I would not automatically rule out contamination. It certainly is a possibility. Trying nitrox from another vendor might help answer that particular possibility.

It is also possible that the tank has been contaminated, and upon filling, this is causing the contamination. Inspecting and cleaning the tank might be needed.

I am surprised that you jumped to the conclusion that "its unlikely to be contamination." That would be the first thing I would wonder about.

Headaches are normally associated with CO2 retention. Even though this is nitrox, proper breathing might be the cause. Is the diver skip breathing? Is the diver not breathing regularly or deeply enough? Shallow breathing could be the cause. That would be the second thing I would wonder about.

I also agree with you, that this person may be predisposed to OxTox and therefore a leaner nitrox mix and diving shallower might be warranted.

MikeF mentioned ear clearing. That is certainly possible as well. This is what I call "thinking outside the box." Bravo.

You're concerns are all possible DeepTechScuba.

I considered these too, but my reasoning is as follows:

Its not likely to skip breathe with nitrox alone, said diver would do it on air too;

Ear clearing issues, could be too, but why only on nitrox? Equalization are more related to compressed gas, not specifically 02 content;

Contamination is possible, but nitrox costs more to setup than air, and the risk for fire and explosions, depending on how the nitrox is mixed, are greater if the gas and gear are not cleaned to 02 standards; hydrocarbon contaminants are less likely because nitrox air has to be cleaner from the get-go;


Contamination with air fills is more common because all that's needed is a particulate filter and an uncontaminated air intake line;

Tanks can be contaminated, but usually the contents do not cause headaches;

Again, you are right, there are lots of other possibilities.

I'd be very interested in what IzzyTahil does to correct the issue. Please keep us posted!