Sinus and sea sick medication..

[BillP]

I remember when I did my OW course years ago my instructor told me that you shouldn't use decongestants when you are diving. If I remember correctly it was to do with them losing effect UW and then the chance of congestion occuring which could cause all kinds of problems.

You've hit on a pet peeve of mine. I could see someone making a case for a statement something like, "You shouldn't take a decongestant like Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) and dive if you couldn't otherwise dive (at all) without the Sudafed. The decongestant effect might turn out to be insufficient and you could have problems with a squeeze during the dive." Yeah, OK, I guess that makes sense.

I can see no justification for the warning that you more often see when folks say, "You shouldn't ever take a decongestant and dive because the decongestant might wear off during the dive." That's like saying, "You shouldn't ever scuba dive because your air might run out during the dive." People who are too stupid to tell time and figure out when their 12 hour decongestant is likely to lose effect are too stupid to monitor their air supply and simply should not dive, period.

Many many people take decongestants safely and successfully to facilitate their diving and make it easier to clear. (And yes, many take them along with motion sickness meds like Bonine.) Many diving physicians recommend decongestants like Sudafed (and motion sickness meds like Bonine) for divers.

Of course any medication that is strong enough to have an effect can also have side-effects. Proper precautions should be taken and the potential risks of the medication weighed against the potential benefits. People like Bibendum who are bright enough to ask good questions and pay attention to the answers will likely do fine. For other folks, sometimes it's just easier to tell them "Don't ever do that" to protect them from themselves. (I'm not pointing any fingers at you, Kim, but I'll bet that's what happened somewhere along the line of your instructor's training.)

Just my 2¢,

Bill

 

[DrSteve]

Just my 2¢,

Bill

Actually I'm with you on that as well Bill. I think that most people who have chronic problems (and most of us do in this regard) know very well how to treat them and what works and what doesn't. We know in most cases better than our medical professionals what will work or not. I've had to argue with new GP's and remind them it's my body and I have 34 years of experience dealing with it! The only thing most of us care about are if there are nasty side effects that occur either before or during a dive.

It's funny that on a trip with my LDS I did have to use my rescue inhaler once. The shop owner went loopy...blah blah you shouldn't be diving, blah blah. Lady I had a full BSAC medical including chest X-ray and my GP then had no problems, I also do not fit under the SSI asthma protocol because my asthma is so mild. *shrugs* I parted company with them for other reasons. But the point was, it was my risk to take, this wasn't a class and it wasn't even a trip organised by them!

 

[Kim]

(I'm not pointing any fingers at you, Kim, but I'll bet that's what happened somewhere along the line of your instructor's training.)

No problem. I should imagine it wasn't the instructors prejudice either, but rather the view of PADI at that time. Whether it's still the same now I have no idea.

 

[the_cat_keeper]

Cats are so cool! They give you allergies as a way of showing their love for you and having you remember them even when you are not around to wait on them

They sure are... sometimes I think I'm a cat (well, I'm born in the year of the Tiger, that counts I suppose) and that's why I love diving. Imagine all those food swimming past me. Yummy! All these food around me.

I went around asking a few pharmacies if they had those braclet or patch that some people worn for motion sickness. Unfortunately I could not find them. I've a friend who recommends taking morning sickness pills; according to him, it works and doesn't cause drowsiness. I didn't try... kinda psychologically difficult to accept.

 

[DrSteve]

They sure are... sometimes I think I'm a cat (well, I'm born in the year of the Tiger, that counts I suppose) and that's why I love diving. Imagine all those food swimming past me. Yummy! All these food around me.

I went around asking a few pharmacies if they had those braclet or patch that some people worn for motion sickness. Unfortunately I could not find them. I've a friend who recommends taking morning sickness pills; according to him, it works and doesn't cause drowsiness. I didn't try... kinda psychologically difficult to accept.

Oh the bracelet...some people swear by it. Get yourself an old watch band and stick something lumpy underneath it. Next turn your wrist over and locate the tendons that run right down the middle of your back of your fore arm to the middle of your wrist. The point those bracelets activate is about 3 finger widths below the "bracelet lines" around your wrist, and just next to those tendons. Whether it works is another matter, but it doesn't hurt to try!

 

[the_cat_keeper]

Oh the bracelet...some people swear by it. Get yourself an old watch band and stick something lumpy underneath it. Next turn your wrist over and locate the tendons that run right down the middle of your back of your fore arm to the middle of your wrist. The point those bracelets activate is about 3 finger widths below the "bracelet lines" around your wrist, and just next to those tendons. Whether it works is another matter, but it doesn't hurt to try!

Mmm... wonder if it truly works or just works on psychologically. Some people also say motion seasickness is something that can be overcome with will power. I just might try it on my next boat dive. Thanks.

 

[DrSteve]

Mmm... wonder if it truly works or just works on psychologically. Some people also say motion seasickness is something that can be overcome with will power. I just might try it on my next boat dive. Thanks.

Well if you believe that accupressure and accupuncture works, then it's not psychological. If you don't then it is! I myself have benefitted from both accupressure and acupuncture, so I believe it is a real physical effect.