Prolonged Dizziness

[Debs Jarrad]

We went diving 1 month ago in the Caribbean. On descent, my boyfriend experienced full on vertigo-feeling like on a fast fairground ride. It eased off during the dive but he stayed shallow, at the end of the dive he was still dizzy. Helped on and off the boat, vomited once and rested in the shade for an hour before we got a taxi back to our accommodation. Rested all day while wondering what it was contaminated air maybe? No one else had symptoms. Next day he was 100/%ok..Day out on motorbike. Everything great. However since then he has been dizzy everyday. Been to the docs back here in UK and awaiting ENT specialist appointment.No hearing loss/ringing in the ears or pain, just dizzy.

 

[naturescent]

That sounds really unsettling for your boyfriend. Vertigo during a dive is no joke. I'm glad he seemed to recover quickly after that initial day. It's worrying that the daily dizziness has persisted for a month now though. I wonder if there could be some lingering inner ear issue from the pressure changes. Hopefully the ENT can investigate thoroughly and provide some answers or treatment. In the meantime, I hope he takes it easy as much as possible.

 

[TMHeimer]

Yes, ENT. Only time (actually several) I've had vertigo was ascending. Was told because one ear equalizes before the other. But no lingering effects. All OK at the surface.

 

[scubaozy]

Yes, ENT. Only time (actually several) I've had vertigo was ascending. Was told because one ear equalizes before the other. But no lingering effects. All OK at the surface.

It is called Alternobaric Vertigo, I doubt it is the case for OP. Because symptoms start uw, it is probably not connected to dcs, either. It could be inner ear related.

 

[AlGiordino]

I agree with @scubaozy. Alternobaric vertigo should go away when the ears equalize again. No burst eardrum right? Only thing that I could think of off the top of my head would be something like BPPV? Where the otocona in the semicircular canals get out of place?

Not a doctor just hypothosizing here haha

 

[AlGiordino]

Maybe labyrinthritis? some sort or IEBT...

Could always try DANs "ask a medic" (not their emergency line) if you want more ideas before he sees an ENT

Ask A Medic

Ask a DAN Medic a dive related medical question

apps.dan.org

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

Dirk would know...

 

[AlGiordino]

Dirk would know...

Poor guy has always been in my shadow. haha

 

[34109411]

We went diving 1 month ago in the Caribbean. On descent, my boyfriend experienced full on vertigo-feeling like on a fast fairground ride. It eased off during the dive but he stayed shallow, at the end of the dive he was still dizzy. Helped on and off the boat, vomited once and rested in the shade for an hour before we got a taxi back to our accommodation. Rested all day while wondering what it was contaminated air maybe? No one else had symptoms. Next day he was 100/%ok..Day out on motorbike. Everything great. However since then he has been dizzy everyday. Been to the docs back here in UK and awaiting ENT specialist appointment.No hearing loss/ringing in the ears or pain, just dizzy.