Severe Headache Question

[Miss Gigl]

Well, today my boyfriend and I had our first 2 of the 4 check out dives. During our pool time, he experienced a severe headache but we weren't sure if it was dive related or not. Well, today we did 2 OW dives, max depth of about 35 feet, each about 45 minutes long. At about the halfway point of the first dive this intense headache returned and continued for the rest of the day and this evening. He says that when we had our break and after we finished the 2nd dive, it seemed to get a little better, but it's still quite painful tonight, mostly centered at the front of his head. He says he had no trouble equalizing for either dive.

Also of note, he's had trouble in planes when landing (and maybe once during take off) where he suddenly gets a severe headache (but not ear popping problems).

Tomorrow we're going to try to find a doctor here in Kona, HI that might be able to figure this one out -- but I was thinking that if this is dive related it can't possible be a new problem.

Anyone have any thoughts? Thanks in advance for any insight you maybe able to provide.

 

[The Iceni]

Miss Gigl once bubbled...
Well, today my boyfriend and I had our first 2 of the 4 check out dives. During our pool time, he experienced a severe headache . . . mostly centered at the front of his head. He says he had no trouble equalizing for either dive.

Also of note, he's had trouble in planes when landing (and maybe once during take off) where he suddenly gets a severe headache (but not ear popping problems).

Hi Miss Gigl,

The ears are not the only air-filled cavities in the head or you could not hold it up straight becuse of the weight. There are a large number of air-filled spaces within the skull between the mouth and the brain, to lighten it. All of these need to communicate with ambient pressure in order to "equalise" just like the ears. If the ostium becomes blocked (by nasal polyps for example) equalisation cannot take place and sinus barotrauma results.

There are other causes (such as CO2 retention, most commonly) but I would put my money on frontal sinus barotrauma (sinus squeeze). Do a search?

Hope this helps.

 

[Miss Gigl]

Thank you for the quick reply. We are trying to find and ENT doctor for him on Monday. Hopefully it will be something easy to resolve.

Thanks again!!