vertigo/dizzyness

[splash1914]

Hello, I am brand new to this site! Thank you for any help with this. I have diving for a few years and on almost all of my dives I experience vertigo or dizzness on my first ascent. It could happen in 15 feet ot 100 feet. On my deep dives it is very scary! I almost feel like I am going to past out. I get a spinning sensation for about 5 seconds then its gone. Its happend a few times on one dive. What can I do to prevent this?? Thank you for any advice! I hope this is in the right category!

Shannon

 

[eponym]

I have been diving for a few years and on almost all of my dives I experience vertigo or dizzness on my first ascent. It could happen in 15 feet ot 100 feet. On my deep dives it is very scary! I almost feel like I am going to pass out. I get a spinning sensation for about 5 seconds then it's gone. It's happend a few times on one dive. What can I do to prevent this?

Shannon--
Sound serious. I would suggest you post this in the Diving Medicine forum. I did a quick search of that forum on the words "vertigo" and "dizziness" and turned up a few threads, such as this one, that discuss similar symptoms.

The term "alternobaric vertigo" might be useful to know, too, if you're consulting with an M.D.

Good luck, and please let us know how you do!

-Bryan

 

[chippy]

Shannon

I'm currently experiencing the same thing (I've posted a thread recently on it).

I went to my usual doctor and he's referred me to the ENT specialist, which I'm awaiting my appointment, so I can't give you an update just yet.

I have noticed however that if you do a "dry" valsalva a every so often in the hours before the dive it seems to lessen the dizzy feeling.

Your right about it being a scary feeling at depth though!!

 

[Rickg]

splash1914,

I occasionally experience something similar, in particular when I haven't been diving for a while. I've been able to associate mine with the fact that both of my ears sometimes don't clear simultaneosly which results in a brief sensation of vertigo. It was rather disconcerting the first time it happened but I've since gotten accustomed to it and know that it will pass in a second or two. Although I must admit the first time it happened to me it seemed to last a lot longer than 1-2 seconds, I now chalk that up to my "first time".

Rickg

 

[splash1914]

Thank you so much for replying! I thought I was the only one. Now I feel alittle better that I pronably wont pass out!


Please let me know what your doctor subscribes/ tells you.

Shannon

 

[Rickg]

splash1914,

Luckily I was in the Navy when it first happened and the doctor was also an avid scuba diver. His first recommendation was to just stop whatever you were doing whenever it occurred and until it cleared in a couple of seconds.

His other recommendation was Sudafed before a dive which takes us into another entire subject. If you do a search on this site for Sudafed you will find more info than you ever thought possible. FYI, I've never had a problem using Sudafed (reverse block, anxiety or otherwise) but other people have.

Safe diving,
Rickg

 

[splash1914]

Thank you Rick!