These headaches are killing me !!

[RonFrank]

Ask any doctor, including headache specialists, and they'll tell you how hard headaches are to diagnose. And that's after taking a detailed medical history.

The op did not post a history of headaches, so we can ASSUME that the headaches are diving related. In that case, they are not all that impossible to diagnose as there are just a few root causes.

If the OP has a history of headaches, they should say so, and we can all agree that they may need to see a doctor. If not, skip the skip breathing, and/or loosen the mask, and see if either helps.

 

[jjacobsen22]

Hi guys - thanks for all the very helpful posts !! After reading them I am quite sure that my headaches are due to Co2 build-up. When I think back, I am quite sure that the headaches actually began during a vacation to a wonderful costa rican island. As a relatively new diver, diving an advanced location for the first time, I was very concerned about running out of air too fast, and thus shortening my own, and my partners dive.(This was an expensive trip), so occationally I would hold my breath for short periods, but only when stable, and pay a LOT of attention on my air consumption. Guess I have kept doing that(not holding my breath though), and my breathing has never become natural. Time to start doing it right Thanks again for the help.

 

[Sas]

This article helped me narrow down the cause of an extremely severe headache I had after diving a while ago: DAN Divers Alert Network : Headaches and Diving - UPDATED 2005. I had a few headaches like this in early days of my diving and I believe it was CO2 buildup due to a rental regulator that did not breathe well below 18m, so I felt like I couldn't get enough air when I was at this depth. Once I got my own regulator (a higher performing one than the rental) my headaches disappeared completely.

But yea there are a bunch of causes so I think that article goes into a few of them.

 

[mrlipis]

Hi guys - thanks for all the very helpful posts !! After reading them I am quite sure that my headaches are due to Co2 build-up. When I think back, I am quite sure that the headaches actually began during a vacation to a wonderful costa rican island. As a relatively new diver, diving an advanced location for the first time, I was very concerned about running out of air too fast, and thus shortening my own, and my partners dive.(This was an expensive trip), so occationally I would hold my breath for short periods, but only when stable, and pay a LOT of attention on my air consumption. Guess I have kept doing that(not holding my breath though), and my breathing has never become natural. Time to start doing it right Thanks again for the help.

Now that we have that established, here is technique to try. While breathing normal, you will still have air left in your lungs between breaths. This air contains CO2 and although it is not significant, it does exist. Try pushing the last of your air out of your lungs and you need to be consciences of it. I use this during decent at the surface as well, as a means to really dump the air out of the lungs, especially if I am diving in cold water and wearing a buoyant wetsuit. The end effect of purging all CO2 out of the system will be less demand for O2.

Bruce

 

[cave_diver]

As stated before, headaches during and after diving are usually related to CO2 buildup (given that no medical condition exists). Working on your breathing will help (deep and slow). You can also try to dive a Nitrox-mix with a higher O2 percentage or do a deco-stop on O2 or Nitrox (additional training may be required to do this). Higher percentages of O2 help to flush out excessive CO2 accumulated during diving. CO2 also accumulates in your blood in you try to preserve air (i.e. increase your bottom time) and breath very slowly or skip breathing.
After long cave dives, I have always headaches if I don’t use O2 or a high percentage of Nitrox for decompression.

 

[charlesml3]

Two more possible causes that haven't been mentioned:

1) Caffeine withdrawal - This happens to me a lot. Once I go on vacation, I often skip the soft drinks (which is my usual source of caffeine.) When you go into withdrawal, a headache is a very common symptom.

2) Dehydration - Not much more to say about that. Don't get dehydrated....

-Charles

 

[Buddhist_Monk]

Could be a lot of things. When is the last time you had your cholesterol checked?

I was plagued by migraines for months...finally got it beat.

Try these things...

1) Do not smoke until your done diving. Smoking can cause congestion.
2) Dont take pseudophed, take claritin 24 hours before the dive. Pseudophed will increase your heart rate.
3) Try nose spray prior to diving
4) While diving, take the regulator out of your mouth and let some seawater into your mouth. Sometimes the dry air can cause a headache.
5) Once underwater, loosen your mask as much as possible.
6) After your dive is done, ascend as slow as possible. Take your sweet time. No rush.
7) Make sure you swallow a lot during your dive.
8) Constantly blow out through your nose underwater. Make sure all passages are clear.
9) If you are suited up, prior to the dive, make sure you stay cool during the trip to the dive site. I have seen a lot of people overheat and dehydrate.
10) Drink a lot of water 24 hours prior to the dive. Most people will drink a gatorade right before the dive and think they are hydrated.
11) While diving pay attention to how much stress you are placing on your neck.

Might be a lot of things but try them one by one until you get it identified. I share your pain.

BM

 

[Bismark]

As stated before, headaches during and after diving are usually related to CO2 buildup (given that no medical condition exists). Working on your breathing will help (deep and slow). You can also try to dive a Nitrox-mix with a higher O2 percentage or do a deco-stop on O2 or Nitrox (additional training may be required to do this). Higher percentages of O2 help to flush out excessive CO2 accumulated during diving. CO2 also accumulates in your blood in you try to preserve air (i.e. increase your bottom time) and breath very slowly or skip breathing.
After long cave dives, I have always headaches if I don’t use O2 or a high percentage of Nitrox for decompression.

???

To the OP, Nitrox will not help you. (See post # 11)

Also, I would strongly advise against the "02 or high percentage of nitrox for decompression". You have 50 dives. You are a recreational diver who is just learning to dive. The potential downside to making a mistake with high pp02s (eg 100%........) is far more serious than headaches.......like convulsions and drowning caused by an 02 hit.......... Moreover, as a recreational diver you, by definition, do not require decompression.

To Cave_Diver, you are listed as a dive instructor and you are advising a new diver to use 02? This is foolhardy and dangerous and not sanctioned by any agency for someone with the limited experience and training of the OP. This advice is just plain dangerous to the point of stupidity. The number one killer of technical divers is mistakes in gas switches and you think it is okay to advise 02 use to a new diver. Give me a break.

 

[Thalassamania]

Yup, give someone who is retaining CO2 a high O2 mix ... real swift.

 

[ucfdiver]

I could have sworn I read his post and it said "additional training may be required to do this".....maybe I'm wrong, but that seems to tell me he's saying you need additional training if you're not already certified.

Cmon, let's not be a pack of wolves jumping down someones throat here. Anyone who takes a basic OW class should at least know enough about the dangers of oxygen in high pressures that they leave it alone until they get training.