severe sinus infection after diving fresh water

[DandyDon]

How quickly do the symptoms develop after a dive? Longer incubation periods would point to infection rather than allergic reaction.

True, but it probably starts with an allergic reaction.

I have experienced the totally blocked sinus on a few occasions, all fresh water and it usually sets in in a few hours. I believe it to be allergic to something in the water. I have never experienced this in the ocean.

I do sinus rinses, it helps keep passages open. Use only distilled water, unless you want to host a brain eating amoeba. NeilMed Pharmaceuticals - Sinus Rinse Isotonic This is the product I use. You gently flush, not force the saline solution into your sinuses. I do this because I have sinus polyps and it was recommended by my ENT, so I do not know if it will help with your reactions.

It's kind of funny how allergies work, often the body mistaking something for a pathogen.

 

[flots am]

but if i get sinus infections after every dive, wells its just not worth it to me. i guess my next step is going to a ear nose and throat specialist but im trying every other option first.
any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

OK. "Go see an ENT" In person.

If you have chronic inflammation or some sort of mechanical defect that prevents proper sinus drainage, you'll get sinus infections at pretty much every opportunity.

Also, it's entirely possible that you don't have an infection. Everything that makes you hurt or drip or feel pressure, isn't necessarily an infection.

Nobody can tell over the internet.

flots.

 

[tugboat-rusty]

thanks dandy don for the reply, i work on the mississippi river from paducah,ky. to the mississippi river mouth below new orleans hauling rock from the quarries in kentucky on a line tow. i work a month on and a month off and live on lake palo pinto. we dive possum kingdom lake regularly and also lake travis some and lake murray in oklahoma... i will try your suggestions next time home. if your ever back in the area give me and my dive buddys a holler. thanks

---------- Post added September 30th, 2013 at 06:05 PM ----------

dfx, the symptoms always start during the very first dive with major drainage then after a day of diving i wake next morning completly clogged and stays that way for a week or two.

 

[DandyDon]

thanks dandy don for the reply, i work on the mississippi river from paducah,ky. to the mississippi river mouth below new orleans hauling rock from the quarries in kentucky on a line tow. i work a month on and a month off and live on lake palo pinto. we dive possum kingdom lake regularly and also lake travis some and lake murray in oklahoma... i will try your suggestions next time home. if your ever back in the area give me and my dive buddys a holler. thanks

---------- Post added September 30th, 2013 at 06:05 PM ----------

dfx, the symptoms always start during the very first dive with major drainage then after a day of diving i wake next morning completly clogged and stays that way for a week or two.

Sounds like hard work. You may want to wait until you're back to try the meds on a day of rest to see if the antihistamine puts you to sleep or the decongestant makes you wired. I don't remember ever having a problem, but I started on then-legal allergy meds 50+ years ago, and some of those were outlawed and replaced I think - so I grew up on them.

Your body is allergic to water in your nose for some reason, then infections can follow. Best to stay clear from the start.

We were thru there again Labor Day weekend on the way to Mineral Wells SP - talk about hot camping, then a surprise rain caught us with rain covers off our tents! Penitentiary Hollow was neat, but I'd rather meet you in Cozumel sometime.

 

[tugboat-rusty]

Sounds like hard work. You may want to wait until you're back to try the meds on a day of rest to see if the antihistamine puts you to sleep or the decongestant makes you wired. I don't remember ever having a problem, but I started on then-legal allergy meds 50+ years ago, and some of those were outlawed and replaced I think - so I grew up on them.

Your body is allergic to water in your nose for some reason, then infections can follow. Best to stay clear from the start.

We were thru there again Labor Day weekend on the way to Mineral Wells SP - talk about hot camping, then a surprise rain caught us with rain covers off our tents! Penitentiary Hollow was neat, but I'd rather meet you in Cozumel sometime.

love mineral wells state park. We try to go to cozumel yearly as our friends have 4 apartments down there. Think we may skip cozumel next year though and go to belize if enough of us go. Yes I will have to wait to try meds when home as I cant get off boat for the 30 days im on anyway to get meds.lol. plus im regulated at work by the uscg on over the counter meds I can an cannot take. Coast guard is pretty strict on us out here. Thanks again for all the info.