Ana
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Tips for “Bubblers” - fatigue, headaches and recovery
- Thread starter UnderwaterJess
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Just to clarify--and maybe clarification isn't needed--a "low tolerance to decompression stress" hasn't been established in the OP's case. Until the more common things have been ruled out, theories about sub-clinical decompression stress--which also hasn't been well studied--seem like the last place to look for the cause of the symptoms the OP complains of. A new diver probably is not pushing the limits. Anecdotally speaking, it is not all that unusual for someone who is new to diving to notice feelings of "exhaustion, headaches, aches, nausea."
Doctorfish
Contributor
I agree with Lorenzoid. Anxiety > clenching the mouthpiece > headache.
Or, as the very first reply suggested, so-called "CO2 headaches," which I recall I suffered as a new diver. I have no special insights as far as the OP's problems--just trying to emphasize the obvious point that it could involve any of a number of things. I actually hadn't thought of clenching the mouthpiece as a possible cause of headaches. Good one!
If you think your ascent is slow, you should still slow down even more. I see a lot of divers make a safety stop, then head directly to the surface. Shallow water is where there is a greater difference in pressure. Take a minute or two to ascend that last fifteen feet, and don't hold your breath.
Think about your movements during the dive. Most new divers will deny it but are likely moving their arms (sculling) and finning constantly. Practice hovering, and when you need to move, make slow kick cycles.
Think about your movements during the dive. Most new divers will deny it but are likely moving their arms (sculling) and finning constantly. Practice hovering, and when you need to move, make slow kick cycles.
casts_by_fly
Contributor
Dehydration gets me. I need to drink at least 500 ml water before every dive or I get headaches. Kinda like the worst hangover headaches only magnified. The worst is when you can feel it coming on at the safety stop.
Rick
Rick
boat sju
Contributor
jess,
Just curious, but what are your typical dive profiles like so far?
Just curious, but what are your typical dive profiles like so far?
I was a skip breather when I started and was trying to stretch my air supply, resulting in awful pounding CO2 headaches. I've also met several new divers that were suffering from this and pretty miserable as a result.
My basic advice is to focus on deep slow breathing for your next few dives.
Breath like this: Inhale counting 1, 2, 3, 4 <no pause> Deep Exhale counting 1, 2, 3, 4. Repeat.
Try it now and when you do your next dive. See if the headaches don't go away!
My basic advice is to focus on deep slow breathing for your next few dives.
Breath like this: Inhale counting 1, 2, 3, 4 <no pause> Deep Exhale counting 1, 2, 3, 4. Repeat.
Try it now and when you do your next dive. See if the headaches don't go away!
There's something strange about this, @casts_by_fly.
I'm sure the water helps but it still seems very unusual to be getting killer headaches like that, especially at safety stop.
I would be very wary of any "self diagnosis" of DCI. If you go look out on WebMD I can guarantee you that you can find any number of ways that it will tell you that you are dying. I agree with, hydrate and breath slowly and deeply, especially with only 20 dives.
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