Sinus problems full face mask

[petergregg]

Sinus problems have been plaging my trainee diving for the 18 months. Sometimes OK other times in and back out of the water -you never can tell until you are in. Local equipment officer has suggested I might try a full face mask as it's essentially the cold water that is part of the problem. If I thought it would help I would invest but it's an expensive option if it turns out a waste of time. I'm generally OK in the nice warm pool down to 4m but the cold Irish water is a different matter. Can feel a headache coming on just think about it!! Any advice welcome especially as I've just purchaed my first proper dry suit today!

PG

[Gareth]

Peter

The BSAC does offer a Full Face Mask SDC. Although I am unsure if this is a indoor course or an outdoor course.

It may be a wise idea to see if you can attend one of these to get better informed.

Gareth

[Nigel Hewitt]

Sinus problems have been plaging my trainee diving for the 18 months. Sometimes OK other times in and back out of the water -you never can tell until you are in.You haven't actually told us what the problem is... Ear clearing? Face pain? Bleeding from the nose?

But, no, I don't think a full face mask will solve it. FFMs make a lot of things like that worse.

[Fran Duinker]

Hi,
The full face mask course is a full days course where you get the opportunity to try several different ones on.
It's an aquired skill using one, and it could be one problem too many for the trainee.
But have a go yourself it's a good experience. Most areas run courses throughout the year. You don't say which area you're from, but I'm part of the West Midlands and I know that we can run them.
You don't say if the trainee has been back to the GP to get him to have a closer look at the sinus' as you can have an operation to have them widened, it's done as a day operation.

[Bob K]

You don't say if the trainee has been back to the GP to get him to have a closer look at the sinus' as you can have an operation to have them widened, it's done as a day operation.

Hi PG,

Not sure what the medical term is for the op that Fran mentions. But I had something similar done by an ENT specialist over 10 years ago. At the time that sorted me out :)

More recently (Nov 05), I was on a dive trip to Norway, diving some wrecks just outside of Aalesund. I had just got back to the deco station, after a 50m dive, when I started to get 'horrendous' toothache. I managed to complete 20 minutes of stops, before I surfaced.

The toothache waned, and on return to the UK, I got it checked out by my dentist, who told me, that there was no 'dental' problem. But suggested that it might be a sinus issue, with a nerve running down the side of the nose being pressed :mad:

I thought all was ok, and did some diving in Capernwray a week later. Really bad move, within a few days I had a really nasty sinus infection, which really knocked the stuffing out of me ! Had to cancel a skiing holiday, and only recovered enough to do a 'Non Diving' trip to the Red Sea for the New Year :mad:

On my GP's recommendation I did not dive for 3 months !

I am now very very very cautious about sinus trouble. The one thing I have found, that really helps is a 'saltwater based' spray called STERIMAR, which is available from most pharmacists. My non-diving niece had it prescribed by her ENT specialist. It seems to help remove 'gunk', and loosen's things up.

Brillant stuff :)

Bob

[Fran Duinker]

Hi,
Like Bob I had the operation done many years ago and touch wood I've been fine since.
At the time I was having problems one of the things suggested was to either put some menthol crystals or Olbas oil in hot water and put a towel over my head and inhale the fumes.
It's very effective, but be very awared of the quantities as you only need one small crystal otherwise it blows your head off!

[scubasafaris]

Peter...
I teach FFM and I recommend the AGA.......for personal use it is the best prforming most reliable FFM I have used. FFM is an Instructor Designated Specialty and is on file with PADI, NAUI, AND SDI. There is a standard outl;ine written by Mr. Galle from Ocean Reef. OR is fine but user must be familiar with adjusting the regulator. FFM WILL SOLVE YOUR SINUS PROBLEMS in most cases. There is no direct transfer of cold or water pressure to the sinus cavity areas...the ear is till exposed but the dry air allowed into your nasal passages as you can breathe through your nose is a big plus. Any ?s ...just buzz.

[Hotpot Chris]

On a similar note, on a recent diving holiday I was struggling with a sticky sinus. It would normally clear after a good valsalva shifted things around up there (Sorry this is all rather graphic.). A couple of dives I needed to do two or three times on decent.

On coming back up I could feel the pressure building as the sinus reverse blocked. Then it would extrude out a mass of mucus and clear. Not very pretty, a bit uncomfortable but it kept me diving. It did cross my mind that there might be some risk of air embolism if it didn't unblock in time? Anyone any idea if this would be the case?