Not sure if this is common...

[c1212]

Searched for about 1/2 hour and found nothing... search words are very common. Thanks for the help! Wondering is this is normal or if I should be concerned...

I completed OW cert about 2 months ago... almost at 20 dives now. about 1/2 the time I dive I have something weird happen. The day after I dive, all of a sudden, I get like 15-20 continuous drops of water from my nose... almost a continuous flow... then it stops and 30-60 seconds later... another 5 or 6 drops and it's done. Very unexpected but I think it happens most often when I bend down to pick something up. Obviously really embarrassing if I am at work or out in public! Yesterday it happened when I was at the gym and I bent down to grab some dumbbells off the floor - terrible! I assume it's salt water... not sure how it gets up there and "stored" for a day in my head though!

This normal or should I be concerned? Either way... is there anything I can do to prevent it?

Thank you,
Edwin

 

[300bar]

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A ScubaBoard Staff Message...

Moved to diving medicine

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[Bubbletrubble]

It could be sinus drainage. Have you considered trying the Neti pot? What about over-the-counter decongestants? It's possible to be congested and not really notice it...until diving or post-diving.

Along these same lines, do you have allergies?

 

[c1212]

txs for the move... sorry about that...

no I have no allergies whatsoever. I never really take any sort of medications... I guess it's possible I am congested and not know it... but I show no signs of it. I don't have a runny norse or anything... it is also not mucous... just clear water.

Hmmm.... so this isn't common huh? Darn...

 

[knotical]

I've had similar occurences, but only very occasionally, and never gave it much thought. Also had similar experience from an ear, but less pronounced. Curious to see responses from the medical folks.

 

[c1212]

anyone? anyone?

 

[cutlass]

It could be sinus drainage. ...

I'm inclined to agree. It's not unusual for water to collect in the mask's nose pocket and then get forced up the nose during equalization manuevers or routine mask squeeze. The water then may collect in the sinuses and subsequently drain over a period of hours, even into the next day. Bending at the waist and lowering the head usually results in discharge. I call it "surfer's nose" and get it all the time -- my wife takes it as proof that my head is indeed hollow.

A trip to the doctor is in order if the fluid is strangely unwater-like or thick or colored (yellowish, greenish, pinkish, reddish) or smelly or if there's sinus or nasal redness, pain, pressure, or swelling. The same applies to the ears. Fluid can also drain down the back passages into the throat, usually swallowed but can possibly promote an infection of the respiratory tract; e.g. bronchitis or worse if it gets lower. Polluted water raises concerns for infection.

 

[Zippsy]

I used to get that from water skiing fairly often. I could wipe out better than any stuntman and water regularly was forced up my nose. It would usually drain out when I bent over to tie my shoes later in the day. I never had any trouble with it and I got used to it after a while and purposely drained it before I was in public.

It's never happened to me while diving but I imagine it's that same thing. Don't worry but if it feels like it's causing an infection, see a doc.

 

[c1212]

great!!! I was a little dissapointed when no one wrote back that they had experienced this.... these last 2 replies make me feel much better. This sounds like exactly what is happening with me. Now that I think about it... I also used to get this when I used to boogie board a lot when I was in my teens. Similar to your comment about it happening when you surf. LONG time ago... had forgotten about it...

I will try and "release" the fluid so I don't accidentally have this happen to me when I am at the gym or out in public... thanks again!!!

 

[fstbttms]

Used to happen to me all the time. I'd dive during the day and then at night go to work (at a newspaper), where I spent lots of time standing over a light table. When I'd bend over the table, water would pour out of my nose. Ever since I went to a FFM, not an issue.