Post Dive-Double Vison/Vertigo/Nausea

[Cheryl Mire]

After my most recent dive trip, I had some significant medical symptoms. Two weeks after my last dive, all of a sudden the vision in my right eye would not line up properly with the vision in my left eye. I had taken a mild fall on the dive boat, so a neural ophtomologist diagnosed trochlear nerve palsy which she said would correct itself over 6 months.

The vision issue seemed to clear up almost totally in a week, but it was followed by periods of dizziness and nausea. It wasn't exactly a "spinning" dizziness, and I never lost my sense of balance, but I had a feeling of dizziness like you have on a cruise ship. It appeared to worsen over the course of a work seek as I moved around doing my job. Then a dramamine would make everything subside. The next week -- more of the same. I also had headaches.

I had an MRI, CTScan and testing for possible stroke or thyroid disorder -- all showed nothing wrong.

The symptoms are fading gradually, and I am almost back to feeling fully normal. I am a bit uneasy that this may be dive related and may recur.

Any thoughts.

 

[rmediver2002]

It would be exceedingly unlikely that this would be dive related with the first symptom not presenting until two weeks after your last hyperbaric exposure.

The symptoms do sound very much like an inner ear issue, perhaps you could see a E,N, and T specialist about this?

I hope you are able to determine tha cause and with proper treatment be back to diving soon, until you are able to determine the cause and ensure all symptoms have subsided it would be best to not make and dives...

Hope you feel better soon!!

Jeff Lane

 

[DocVikingo]

What you have described almost certainly is not scuba related.

It does, however, pose some concerns as regards fitness to return to scuba & possible exacerbation of the condition as a result of the strains upon the middle & inner ear inherent in diving.

One would want ENT clearance before returning.

Best regards.

DocVikingo

 

[Cheryl Mire]

I saw an ENT who simply said I had a deviated septum and bad allergies. That wasn't exactly news because I have been managing my sinus problems for over 40 years, and I have been diving successfully for 7 years.

Yes, it does sound like an inner ear issue. We have determined that it isn't an obvious issue though. There are no sharp pains and there is no way to provoke the symptoms by head movement.

Since I have had significant medical testing with no results, I am not likely to have answers before my next dive trip. It is scheduled for late February. I don't feel so threatened that I won't try diving again, but I was looking for some feedback on whether anyone in the medical community has encountered this. The doctors I'm seeing seem clueless about diving.

I know it's not DCS. That's not what I was asking.

 

[Cheryl Mire]

Yes, I post elsewhere as geekdiver. I really don't feel the need for an alias, but it seems the thing to do on some boards.

 

[GoBlue!]

Cheryl Mire once bubbled...
Since I have had significant medical testing with no results, I am not likely to have answers before my next dive trip. It is scheduled for late February.

I think you can safely have a great trip. If it for some reason recurs after your next dive vacation, we'll all REALLY be scratching our heads!

Jim