sleeping on the SI

[al1]

OK - I sort of get that. So I suppose it would also apply after a days diving? How long are you supposed to wait before you can go to bed then? (This is a real question as I'm going on a liveaboard and doing 4 dives a day in just a couple of weeks!)

You should stay awake for at least an hour after your last dive of the day. The majority of bend cases show up within an hour.

 

[miketsp]

You should stay awake for at least an hour after your last dive of the day. The majority of bend cases show up within an hour.

I'll second that.
You may also wish to run a search on here for the possible effects of a hot shower immediately after climbing back on board and before climbing into bed.

There are arguments for and against..

Start with:

http://www.scubaboard.com/t77710-please-tell-me-about-hot-water-showers-after-diving.html

http://www.scubaboard.com/t74724-hot-showers.html

 

[RimGreaper]

I have read here on the SB that it is ill advised to sleep during a SI. I haven't read a clear reason for this so far.

Why is this?

I have asked some instructors and doctors I've met in classes but have not received a clear response.

This question has been on my mind for several months and both my buddy and myself used to take turns napping during surface intervals. (Well actually my buddy because he was faster to the truck.)

I'm new to posting on the SB so if this is in the wrong forum please move it to a more approapriate location.

I'd appreciate any response and if you know where I could read up on this or other related topics please let me know.

A bit late to the game, sorry.

I believe the reason sleeping during an SI is ill advized, is it is believed you don't off-gas as efficiently when you're asleep (slowed metabolism) in addition to the fact that you might miss the first signs of a DCI hit.

If you aren't off-gassing as quickly, you're RN will be higher on your next dive. If you are diving on the edge of the NDLs, it could be enough to bend you , in theory.

RimGreaper

 

[Laurence Stein DDS]

question,
if a diver was being treated for the bends by putting them in a deco chamber, would they be required not to sleep during the "ride"?
thanks

Hi Smokey,

Having had first hand experience with recompression I can attest to the fact that you are not allowed to take a nap. They cannot access your neurologic status if you are sleeping and it changes your gas exchange. It gets really boring in there. The gas exchanges while noisy are no big deal. I was lucky....we had movies, lots of movies....Das Boot, U-235 but no Flipper...really.

Larry Stein

 

[Tom Smedley]

There is the possibility that someone suggested that you not sleep during a surface interval because you may awaken with stuffy ears, earaches, and not be able to make the repetitive dive.

The body off gasses through the eyes and the middle ear, any place where the capillaries run close to the surface. This is especially true when breathing higher than normal concentrations of oxygen.

The diver goes to sleep and is not cognizant of the need to equalize the ears. They awaken with a heavy duty reverse block.

Just something I have heard. You understand that I am not a doctor but I played one on TV.

 

[vladimir]

I have read here on the SB that it is ill advised to sleep during a SI. I haven't read a clear reason for this so far.

Dr. Deco commented on this subject recently:

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?p=984811#post984811

 

[rickyd]

May I suggest that everyone who feels a need to have a nap after a dive start making slower ascents?

I added deep stops to my dive plans, and now I get out of the water fresh, zippy and ready to go.

Me too. Once I started doing a deep stop, and nice slow ascents and full 5 minute saftey stop, always feel great. Nitrox also seems to ward off the zzzzz's during an SI

 

[miketsp]

..snip..
The body off gasses through the eyes and the middle ear, any place where the capillaries run close to the surface. This is especially true when breathing higher than normal concentrations of oxygen.
..snip..

Tom, given that the average adult has about 300 - 600 million alveoli in their lungs, giving a total surface area of about 75 - 100m², I find it a little hard to swallow that the few cm2 of the eyes and middle ear have any significance in the off gassing total.
Especially when you consider that the alveoli membrane is less than 1 micron thick and capillaries run much deeper (in comparison) so diffusion from them will be much slower.

Also the higher O2 PP you mention will only be in the lungs, not around the body as a whole.

 

[kraken]

During my second "ride" in the chamber I was permitted to sleep after asending to the 30' portion of the treatment. I didn't manage to fall asleep, had to pee too bad. If you get bent, pee before you do your ride... if not, the last 5 minutes will be the longest you have ever had.

Didn't ask on the 1st treatment, too messed up and scared to sleep.

 

[Table6A]

question,
if a diver was being treated for the bends by putting them in a deco chamber, would they be required not to sleep during the "ride"?
thanks

I can't speak for other hyperbaric units, but we do not allow emergent patients to sleep in the chamber. We do, however, allow non-emergent patients to nap if they please. As for sleeping during recreational surface intervals, I, too, am guilty as charged.