sinus/ear problems after dive trip

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mudchick

Contributor
Messages
217
Reaction score
6
Location
Phoenix, AZ
# of dives
200 - 499
My husband and I just got back from a weeklong liveaboard, 3-4 dives a day. 4 days into it I got a head cold--stuffy sinuses and ears with the popping and stuff mentioned in another post. Missed two days of diving because I was concerned about causing potentially permanent problems with sinuses and/or eardrums. It doesn't seem like an infection because the mucus is not colored but the stuffiness and feeling of water in the ears is not going away with the usual things that help, sudafed and nasal sprays. Any suggestions for what to try next?
 
Thanks for the info! I was wondering how I could find a dive ENT. Jeez, I love this board. I've learned so much about little things I wouldn't have thought of but clearly needed to. Thanks again!
 
DAN's referral base for ENTs with diving medicine training is thin, especially when it comes to non-major metropolitan areas. It's not always just a matter of calling DAN and getting hooked up a convenient professional. In the greater Phoenix area you may be in luck.

If DAN has nothing promising, get back to me and I'll see if I can assist.

BTW, here is the DAN medic contact link http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/index.asp

Best of luck.

DocVikingo
 
Drug-based people use the over the counter chemicals and pharmaceutical chemicals to open up their sinouses and ears. The chemicals are liver-toxic and contribute to wearing down the body over the years.

Mudchick-I suggest you may have gone diving with a pre-existing condition that set you up for sinous & ear. Consider this: Some people on the liveaboard dived without getting the sinous & ear congestion. What was different about those people? Why do some people get blocked-ears and some don't, yet dive the same waters?

Cervical spine adjusting opens up the ears & nose. The nervous system of this region has a positive effect on the ears & nose. Suggestion: Prior to diving, go to a chiro and take a course of treatments to increase bio-mechanical function in the neck & upper shoulder region of the spine. It works. Post-dive, if the person is suffering inflammation & blockage, visit a chiro and have the cervcial spine checked for subluxation, a condition that contributes greatly to this situation.

Certainly, if you suspect barotrauma, a medic that cuts on ears should be consulted.

When their is dysfunction and adverse symptoms, something is going on. What is it? Lack of drugs in the diet? Probably not. Do the drugs fix the cause or treat the symptoms? The syptoms may go away, but if the problem comes back the next time you dive, have you corrected the cause of the sinous\ear dysfunction?

I offer up a different perspective from the medics on this board. What I suggest is a natural health care way of looking at the ears\sinous.

When you are out of town diving, say on a liveaboard, and develop sinous\ear blockage, what can you do on the boat to relieve symptoms? Easy. Deep massage of the sinouses over the face, all around the ears, the sub-occipital region of the spine (just below the back of the head). In classical acupuncture science, we acknowledge that there are numerous "acupoints" of influence. Stimulation of the outer body around the face, neck, sinouses and such has a dramatic effect on said structures of the inner body. Try this, it works! You can work on and massage yourself all around the head, neck, sinouses and watch what happens. Get your hands on yourself and heal your own body. Overcome the slavery of being dependent on pharm-drugs!

Best of luck Mudchick! I wish you well.

Regards,

page crow DC
 
....sinouses & sinous?

Thanks,

DocVikingo
 
Hi,

I've had some problems with altitude changes in the past. Mainly blooding coming down with mucous a few days after. The first time with my first (and last) dive got me so scared. and now with the descent on a aeroplane last week.

Was wondering if you could tell me what is the DAN website you are talking about? Would really appreciate contacting a dive specialist ENT.

Thanks,
 
Hi Ayn,

If you click on the hot link I provided above, it should be largely self-explanatory.

DAN Medic provides both a day time phone number and email contact for routine diving medicine questions. It is a service supported by the dues of DAN members.

Helpful?

Regards,

DocVikingo
 
DocVikingo:
....sinouses & sinous?

Thanks,

DocVikingo

Yes, of course, that spelling issue. Take out the "o".

BTW: DocVikingo-what KIND of a doctor are you? Are you an academic doctor? Or do you really work on pts? (pts is an abbreviation for the word "patients".)

Regards,

page crow DC
 
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