sleepy, scuba makes me very sleepy, zzz

[divemistress]

i'm not fatigued, not tired, but sleepy. after a few dives, all i want to do nap. (so i'm not a heck of a lot of fun on dive trips )

does anyone else feel this way?

i don't think my urge to play sleeping beauty has anything to do with my fitness level: i swim or deep water run 4 or 5 times a week; i lift weights two to three times.

so what could it be?

i've already factored in pms and menstruation -- they make me fatigued but not sleepy. what about ovulation -- could it have an effect as well?

any suggestions? (yawn) just writing about this makes me want to go back to bed!

tia,

judy

 

[Hallmac]

Lets see a million calm fingers slowly massaging every inch of your body for fifty minutes. No screaming kids, no employees wanting you in thirty different directions, no cell phone ringing every ten minutes.

Just us and a very different world. Gets me every time. I usually get a quick nap before I start my night dives. YEA!!!

Hallmac

 

[Irishdiver]

Yeah, this one gets me too! It's a bit of a problem trying to drive home from distant dive sites...often find myself having to pull into the hard shoulder for forty-winks, so I make sure to break for a cup of tea regularly if it's a long drive.

I think it's caused by nitrogen in the haemoglobin locking oxygen out of the blood. And I find it's worst after cold water lake or quarry diving, so perhaps it's aggravated by extreme cold. But I still don't know why it should send me to the land of nod.

I'd like to find out more too, if there are any diving docs reading this.
:zzzs:

 

[Stone]

divemistress once bubbled...
i'm not fatigued, not tired, but sleepy. after a few dives, all i want to do nap. (so i'm not a heck of a lot of fun on dive trips )

does anyone else feel this way?

Divemistress,

Do you ever dive Nitrox. The evidence may still be considered anecdotal, but I'm a firm believer that Nitrox reduces fatigue (sleepiness) by a large factor.

 

[Walter]

After a dive, I feel refreshed and full of energy. I feel the same regardless of my mix.

 

[notabob]

I remember reading somewhere (not sure of the source at this time, may have been this board even) that the sleepiness may be caused by excess Nitrogen in the body. Slower ascents and longer safety stops allow more nitrogen to dissipate and thus should help. Once I found out about this, I slowed down my ascents and lengthened my safety stops. Believe it or not, it seemed to help. I used to be extremely sleepy after dives, but ever since I changed my ascent profiles, the sleepiness was gone. This could be purely psychological, but as long as I wasn't falling asleep at the wheel coming home anymore, I was happy.

-Roman.

 

[cyklon_300]

liveaboards catnap between dives, especially later in the trip.

There's the cumulative fatigue from exertion, lethargy from overeating, relaxation from being on vacation, boredom (??, I don't get that one, but have heard a few people say so)...

I'm like Walter, tho...each dive gives me a buzz and I can't wait until the next one...

Now, after the diving day is over (5 dives or so), a good meal, a glass of wine and I'm out like a light until the dive briefing bell rings in the morning.

 

[kelpmermaid]

in my case, it is probably a combination of the elevated nitrogen level and the motion on the boat on the way home. I get the best sleep on the way back -- maybe that's why I am so fond of outer island trips, like San Clemente Island. I have even slept through the aroma of fresh-baked brownies from the galley, if you can imagine that.

 

[wb416]

notabob once bubbled...
I remember reading somewhere (not sure of the source at this time, may have been this board even) that the sleepiness may be caused by excess Nitrogen in the body. Slower ascents and longer safety stops allow more nitrogen to dissipate and thus should help. Once I found out about this, I slowed down my ascents and lengthened my safety stops. Believe it or not, it seemed to help. I used to be extremely sleepy after dives, but ever since I changed my ascent profiles, the sleepiness was gone. This could be purely psychological, but as long as I wasn't falling asleep at the wheel coming home anymore, I was happy.

-Roman.

I've made the same observation.

I used to get very sleepy on my hour plus drives home from diving (cold or warm weather/water). However, last year my diving changed and I incorporated many deliberate "pauses" in my ascent, usually every 10 ft or so. Also, I slowed my ascent to surface from the "safety" stop.

Over 100 dives last year, and I don't recall once that I was tired after the dive, in fact, I'm usually pretty energized after the dive (usually more than when I started).

IMHO, controlled deliberate ascents are key.

wb

 

[SDAnderson]

I'm not a doctor, but according to the American Society of Aerospace Medicine Specialists:

"DCS varies widely in its clinical presentation from minor skin itching, through joint or limb pain to serious neurologic injury and circulatory collapse. Significant symptoms may be more subtle, such as persistent headache 12 hours post exposure, unexpected fatigue(emphasis added), inability to concentrate, or isolated cranial nerve dysfunction."

Reduction of symptoms is often reported through one or more of the following:

• Increasing hydration - before and after a dive.
• Slowing ascent rates - often to as slow as 10ft per minute.
• Increasing the duration of safety stops.
• Reduction of nitrogen intake by use of EAN mixes.
• Increasing cardio-vascular fitness.

You may just be tired - or you may be (minor-league) bent.

Steven