Wetsuit "collar" - *gasp!* - help?

[LuvDaOcean]

Last night, my son and I had our OW orientation class. After getting to know a bit about our classmates and signing tons of paperwork, we then tried on/rented our gear.

Okay, so, I've never worn a 7mil wetsuit w/ 7mil vest/hood (what is that set-up called again, anyway?). So, I wrangle my way into this wetsuit and get checked out by our master instructor who approves the fit.

Well, here's the thing - I can barely breathe in it! Not because it's too tight in body, but the neck (collar?) is choking me. GACK! So, I tell our MI that, "seriously, man, this collar is cutting off my circulation," and my face is swelling up and turning beat red all the while. And I kept repeating that because I want to be very clear from the start so there's no wasting time later on refitting me, etc..

Anyway, so all 3 experts (MI, AI, & DM) tell me that it's constricting my neck because I'm standing straight up and down and that's ~not~ how my neck will be positioned while diving. Okay, I understand that, but still, I do need to walk around in the thing from time to time and if it's restricting my breathing by strangulation, I don't see how that is going to help me at all w/ poolwork, etc., when I'm not in diving position.

Has anyone here ever had the same thing happen to them? Do I just need to get used to the choke-hold...and I mean *choke-hold!*...of the suit?

Help, someone, please??? :icon10:

 

[ScubaFreak]

If its restricting your breathing, who are they to tell you any different?
Its true that the suit can fit perfectly, but the neck can be uncomfortable.
In reality this can cause Carotid Sinus reflex- a restriction of blood to the brain, which can cause you to pass out. Position in the water has no effect on this either. If it's tight now, it will still be tight no matter what position you're in.

It is true that you will feel restricted in a wetsuit when you aren't used to it, but theres a difference in feeling restricted and not being able to breath.

So if it's really as bad as you say it is, simply don't dive in that suit and insist on another one.

Scubafreak

 

[kent_1848]

It shouldn't be so tight that you are having trouble breathing. Sounds to me like they are trying to just get you in a suit and aren't that worried about your comfort. If you are having problems above water, then the same thing is going to happen under the water, regardless of body position. This unnecessary stress will only cause you further problems. If you are having that much trouble, it will lead to stress, and you won't be able to relax underwater, possibly resulting in a rescue situation or worse. I had a similar situation with a guy in 7mm suits that he rented, he had the same problem that you are having, fortunately, the guy was smart enough to call the dive while he was still on the surface, and nothing bad happened.

 

[LuvDaOcean]

In reality this can cause Carotid Sinus reflex- a restriction of blood to the brain, which can cause you to pass out.

You know, when I got home from class, for the first time in forever, I had what I've been told is called a "silent migraine". I've only had 2 of these before in my entire lifetime. It's where you're vision gets messed up for about 20 mins (like you're looking through a screen door) and then the headache starts - a mild one, not excruciating.

Now, I thought the migraine might have been due to my son's report card that I received right before class, the excitement of the class itself, the wrangling in and out of the wetsuit, the 18 lap swim and 10 min tread, and then coming home to a very, very sick daughter.

But now I'm wondering, could the silent migraine have been due to the above?

 

[The Kraken]

What you describe is a VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION !!!!

Make sure that your wet suit/hood combination DOES NOT CONSTRICT THE NECK in the manner you describe.

When you return to class, just tell the powers that be that the wetsuit/hood combination you have is unacceptable due to comfort issues and you wish another.

That's all they need to know.

 

[ScubaFreak]

But now I'm wondering, could the silent migraine have been due to the above?

I aint no Doc, but it's a bit of a coincidence alright...

SF

 

[Doc Intrepid]

Now, I thought the migraine might have been due to my son's report card that I received right before class, the excitement of the class itself, the wrangling in and out of the wetsuit, the 18 lap swim and 10 min tread, and then coming home to a very, very sick daughter.

But now I'm wondering, could the silent migraine have been due to the above?

Sounds as if your life is (at least temporarily) stressful. Stress is cumulative - lots of small stessors can combine to create major stress. So some sort of 'Cause => Effect' relationship simply between the wetsuit and the migraine may be doubtful. But, the wetsuit collar may have been a source of stress.

Being new in the underwater environment offers lots of opportunities for stress, because many things feel uncomfortable and you, being new, have no idea whether thats baseline or not.

This creates a situation where the diveshop (having dealt with one or two new divers in the past) may tend to minimize, trivialize, or marginalize your discomfort. They've seen it before, and its rarely a problem over the entire course - the student gets used to whatever sensation the student initially finds problematic.

But on the other hand, stress underwater is cumulative also. If your collar is too damned tight, you're having trouble breathing, you're simply utterly uncomfortable, you're over- or under-weighted, AND you're worried about clearing your mask or doing some skill -- guess what? You're not having any fun at all. You're not paying attention to whats going on. And, most of all, you're letting small stresses that are common to the course be magnified by other stresses that you don't need to deal with in the first place. Your stress could be magnified to a point where you want to bail out for awhile, which also makes you feel lame.

Why put yourself in that position? Tell the dive shop owner you want a rental wetsuit that doesn't put you in a chokehold. (The owner or the manager, not some summer shop monkey that started work there last month and is just trying to 'fit the students'.) Tell the dive shop owner that if he can't find a wetsuit you feel more comfortable in, you'll head over to another dive shop and rent one from them to take his course in. I bet he'll scrounge something up.

Hang in there, and I hope you get some enjoyment out of your course. Remember, its supposed to be fun!

Doc

 

[zboss]

I would seriously consider getting another or larger wetsuit. I would even go through the trouble of buying a hyperstrech of some kind if you are going to be doing a lot of diving in your area.

 

[GDI]

The suit should be snug but not restricting. Fit and comfort are very important. If you go back and they give you the same suit. Then undo the zipper to release the pressure or better yet tell them straight up that you want a different suit

 

[LuvDaOcean]

Thanks to all...your help is really appreciated (doc, loved your reply & totally agree).

Actually, the structure of our class involves learning first-hand how to care for all gear and equipment which means that we tow it all home after every class and bring it back in at the beginning of each class as if it were our own equipment including full tank. I really like that approach since it will teach us valuable lessons in caring for our own gear once we get around to purchasing it.

So, I have the wetsuit & vest/hood here at home with me now. As soon as I can face it, I'm going to climb back into that thing and let it strangle me again if it so desires. The vest/hood combo didn't really seem to add much additional pressure around my neck when I tried that on...it was the main suit that was trying to asphixiate(sp?) me.

I just read a DAN report about wetsuits with collars that are too tight causing Carotid Sinus reflex and/or headache...scary stuff!