so tired the day after

[annie]

Every since I came back to Ireland and started diving here again, I've noticed that I'm very weary the following day, and after a weekend I'm not back to normal until nearly Thursday.

When I say weary I mean bone tired and nodding off at 4pm (despite normal amount of sleep) and my back muscles feel as if . . I've been doing a lot of heavy lifting.

I know some of this is due to the gear . . .it all seems so much heavier here . . and underwater I wear a lot more weight then I used to (because of my drysuit) ..this would account for the back . . but I'm wondering is there another diving related issue here that is making me so tired.

 

[Phish-phood]

Could be any number of things. I find when I dive in the UK I am absolutely wrecked the day after a dive. As you said a lot of it could be to do with the fact that the gear is different, drysuits, extra weight etc. I always feel achey down my back and across my hips and something I have heard that can help is either wear a shot belt, weight moulds to your body contours much better than blocks making them more comfortable under a BC or if you are wearing a lot of weight try a weight harness. They distribute the weight a lot better and allow your shoulders and upper back take a good portion of the weight.
Have a look at your gear configuration and see if there is anything you can do to distribute the weight a bit better.

Other things that can have an effect is the cold water, you expand a more energy keeping warm in colder waters

Also the type of diving, if a lot of your dives now have currants where they didn't before that will have a marked effect on how tired you get and how quickly.

One mistake I have seen people make is thinking that in a colder climate you don't need to worry about dehydration issues as much. Not so, in drysuit you will sweat buckets and if you don't keep yourself properly hydrated before and after the dive then you will start to feel run-down and tired. Same goes for they type of food you eat on a dive weekend. I go mad when I am away cause all I can get is chips, burgers hotdogs etc. and none of these are any good for boosting/sustaining your energy levels.

Hope some of this helps, none of this is medical advice just what I have seen and done from being around divers so much. But I know exactly how you feel so I am always on the lookout for ways to overcome the tiredness after diving.

BTW I am Irish as well although I am living in Wales at the moment. I haven't dived in Ireland yet, maybe you can give me some firsthand experience of some of the dive sites

 

[detroit diver]

Depending on the depth, duration, ascent rate, and breathing gasses, you may be suffering signs of mild DCS.

If you're building up high N02 levels and not offgassing properly, that can really feel like total exhaustion. It has done that to me before, and also to others that I know. There are studies that also suggest this to be a distinct possibility.

Get Nitrox certified, or better yet, trimix certified. You may see a huge difference in how you feel.

This is not medical advice. Take it for what it's worth...

 

[Doppler]

detroit diver once bubbled...
Depending on the depth, duration, ascent rate, and breathing gasses, you may be suffering signs of mild DCS.

If you're building up high N02 levels and not offgassing properly, that can really feel like total exhaustion. It has done that to me before, and also to others that I know. There are studies that also suggest this to be a distinct possibility.

Get Nitrox certified, or better yet, trimix certified. You may see a huge difference in how you feel.

This is not medical advice. Take it for what it's worth...

Given how you have described the situation, I'd agree with DD.

You seem to be describing classic symptoms of Divers' Flu. Short lay-person version... you have activated your body's immune system and you're felling lousy because it's telling you to rest so it can deal with the damage that's been done.

That damage may be due to your immune system's fight with bubbles in your bloodstream; may be due to damage done by high partial pressures of nitrogen and the effect on your red blood cells and resulting immune system response; probably due to a combination of both.

Remedy, dive more conservatively, use nitrox, use helium.

And as an aside... Both my grandfathers were Welsh... a Lewis and a Morgan

Bye

 

[annie]

Hmmm I am Nitrox certified but dive with a club that don't seem to dive Nitrox. So far anyway.
Even though I drank plenty of water before the dive and it was fairly conservative . . .maybe just wasn't conservative enough? I had fruit with me which I ate after the dive to keep myself going, but ran out of water . . . must take a bigger water bottle.

I'll try to lengthen my safety stop see if it makes any difference.

I am definitely going to change the weight belt - it's actually borrowed and the worst weight belt I have ever used. The plastic buckle opened and the whole thing nearly came off as I was trying to adjust this one massive weight that was pulling me to one side. I'm going to get one of those other belts that distribute weight evenly. Once I get my own tank and weights, I have everything

thanx

 

[BigJetDriver]

annie once bubbled...
Ever since I came back to Ireland and started diving here again, I've noticed that I'm very weary the following day, and after a weekend I'm not back to normal until nearly Thursday.

When I say weary I mean bone tired and nodding off at 4pm (despite normal amount of sleep) and my back muscles feel as if . . I've been doing a lot of heavy lifting.

I know some of this is due to the gear . . .it all seems so much heavier here . . and underwater I wear a lot more weight then I used to (because of my drysuit) ..this would account for the back . . but I'm wondering is there another diving related issue here that is making me so tired.

As a DMT, I would, in analizing your statement, try to rule out the basic problems first. The weight of the gear, especially the weight belt, riding as it does low on the back, will certainly increase your fatigue level. I use a DUI weight harness, which spreads the weight across the shoulders and back. It's amazing how much more comfortable it is.

Second, as "Phish-food" suggested, a change in dietary habits will definitely make a change in the way you feel. Also, you don't say how long you've been in Ireland. It takes quite a while for your circadian rythm to adjust to the new cycle.

Third, I note that you are Nitrox trained. If you are used to doing your diving on Nitrox, but now are doing your diving on air, you will definitely feel a higher fatigue level at the end of the day.

These are just some thoughts that may help. Ireland is a beautiful country, and the Irish are wonderful people. I envy you!

 

[Genesis]

If not give it a try.

It makes a huge difference for me.

 

[detroit diver]

Genesis once bubbled...
If not give it a try.

It makes a huge difference for me.

This is excellent info. I would definately do deep stops, and extremely slow ascents.


Annie,

What are your typical profiles and water conditions?

 

[annie]

Hi

thanks for all the info and nice comments about Ireland

I haven't dived much on Nitrox so it's not that. Quick history, for much of October/September I was doing 2 dives a day in Indonesia .. . in November I came back here. . didn't dive again until April. I've done about 10 dives here since I've been back.

Conditions here in Ireland: colder but I haven't been suffering much from it, haven't been cold u/w. Definitely weightier and more of a struggle with lifting gear, am with a club so everyone helps with gear/boats/trailers. Surface swimming is a killer in comparison to with just a wetsuit, but I don't do much of it, just 10m or so to the boat after dive. Maybe it just all adds up.

Typical dive profile: usually around 20m for 15-20mins, slow ascent to around 15m for rest of dive, slow ascent, surface at 35-40mins after 3min safety stop at 5m. Nothing too exciting. Nothing strenuous underwater.

What do you mean by a deep stop? Stopping at 15m, 10m for a few minutes?

On diving day, I feel great. I haven't been uncomfortable or exhausted, I do feel the extra effort but it's ok, I'm in reasonable shape. I'm beginning to think that it's some sort of bigger re adjustment thing going on that I haven't been paying attention to . . . .diving wouldn't be the only thing that applies to

But I am going to post some fantastic pictures of my diving escapades here . .soon . . .

 

[detroit diver]

Well, you're really not that deep for an extended period of time.

Try this: (and I'm converting what I know-feet- to meters, so bear with me!)

From your bottom point, ascend slowly-less than 10 meters per minute to the 13 meter mark. Hold that for 1 minute and then ascend at the above rate to the 9 meter point. Hold that for 1 minute and then ascend at the same rate to the 6 meter point. Hold that for as long as you feel comfortable, but at least a couple of minutes.

See if that helps.

I forgot to add: make sure your buddy knows what you are doing and stays with you.