JUST STARTED CLASSES

[zoesmom37214]

Hello I just took my first scuba diving class last night and did great up until we got in the deep water. I had pain on the sides of my face at temples. It really wasn't in my ears. I have a very tender scalp anyway due to fibromyalgia. The instructor told me to take it easy. I'm not sure if I didn't pinch my nose and blow enough before descending or it was something else. I massaged my scalp rather firmly last night when I got home. This morning when I blew my nose, there was some blood. My scalp is very tender.

Now I'm nervous... Instructor told me to take benadryl or claritin until next class tomorrow night. I notice today as I pinch my nose and blow that if I swallow too my ears pop. Can someone assist me? I'm a little discouraged already. Thanks!

[IainC]

I notice today as I pinch my nose and blow that if I swallow too my ears pop. Can someone assist me? I'm a little discouraged already. Thanks!

Very sorry to hear you had problems on your first dive.

Ear clearing problems are quite common for beginners- not equalising early or often enough ('pinch and blow' as you say) is one cause of discomfort.

Just getting (or getting over) a cold, even a mild one can block up your ears or sinuses so that clearing is impossible, the only solution is to wait unitl you are better.

Pain in the sinuses (as opopsed to the ears) is an indication of a cold. it is not uncommon for divers to have a nosebleed after a dive if they had blocked sinuses and pushed them too hard.

Some people have naturally narrow sinuses/eustachian tubes and need to take it easy descending and ascending.

If you pinch and blow your nose, then swallow it is normal to hear your ears pop (swallowing is another way to equalise, so it is just the pressure dropping back to normal). In fact it is normal to hear the air going into your ears when you blow.

I am not a medical person, so don't know the details of fibromyalgia (a chronic muscular pain condition?). The pressure changes in diving may aggravate it, or may have no effect, or relaxing i nthe water weightless, may even be beneficial, if you have concerns about that it is best to talk to a medical referee (a 'diving doctor') there is a list of these on the BSAC website. Most GPs and specialists don't know the medical implications of diving.

Persevere, talk to your instructor(s) about your problems and feel free to ask questions, seek reassurance and advice there and here.

Welcome to the forum,

Iain C.


If popping or feeling blocked persists for a long time (hours) after diving, it is a sign of blocked ears, which can be down to a cold or ear infection.

[Adrian Kelland]

I'm going to move this to the Medical area. There are links to the medical Referees at the top of that area.

Adrian

[Gareth]

zoesmom37214

I can't comment on the fibromyalgia, because I don't know what this means:o . If you are concerned that this is causing problems you could post a question in the medical area. Alternately you could contact a diving Doctor, the details of whom are also in the medical area & on the Diving Medical forms available on the bsac.org site & from your Diving Officer.

However,if you are normally comfortable swimming & diving in a pool I don't think this is the proble. ALTHOUGH I AM NOT A MEDICAL PERSON.

It sounds like you have the after effects of a cold. i.e. gunge in your sinuses. A lot of new comers take a little time to clear out there sinuses when they start diving.
Whilst decongestants are not recommend when diving(*), it may help if you have some decongestants to help break down any gunge so that it drains out normally.

There are a number of reasons why you could have blood after blowing your nose.
1. You could be diving with a cold. If you can't clear your ears or have blockages in the sinuses. Blood can fill the space behind the blockage as the pressure increases (depth increases).
2. If you try to clear your ears by holding your nose & blowing very hard, you can burst weak blood vesssels in your nose.

If you do have serious concerns I would suggest taking to a diving Doc'.

Gareth



* There are two main problems with decongestants.
1. Its a drug & any drug its effects under pressure (when diving) can be adverse.
2. Decongestants can were off whilst underwater, causing difficulties when attempting to ascend at the end of the dive.
3. Decongestants can make the problem last longer.