4 replies to this topic

[scubaclint]

I am now 2 for 2. I have been on 2 liveaboards and twice have ended diving early due to a head cold. After 3 or 4 days of repetitive dives, my ears are killing me, conjestion sets in and I am done. So my questions to my dive buddies... Do you have some sort of regime to prepare you for multiple dives in short succession? Do you have a routine of care while on a dive trip to divert any problems that may come your way?

[Diver Ed]

Hello Clint,

Sorry to hear that you missed out on some of the diving. I often have sinus issues, and always have ear problems when I dive. I use drops in the ears several times a day, to address the water that gets trapped. I always have advil, sudafed and nose spray with me, and use them often during the week. I try to get a script for an antibiotic prior to my trip, just in case, and keep that handy. I also have a small jar of vicks. At the first sign of congestion, I start with that in the nose. That usually clears out the sinus canals enough that I am OK to continue diving. Just give yourself some time with the Vicks prior to starting the dive. Ed

I am now 2 for 2. I have been on 2 liveaboards and twice have ended diving early due to a head cold. After 3 or 4 days of repetitive dives, my ears are killing me, conjestion sets in and I am done. So my questions to my dive buddies... Do you have some sort of regime to prepare you for multiple dives in short succession? Do you have a routine of care while on a dive trip to divert any problems that may come your way?

[peterbj7]

As a resort dive instructor I've often had to do 4 or more dives in a day. I find the best preventative is IPA (iso-propyl alcohol - rubbing alcohol - dripped into the ears onto the eardrum directly after a dive (rinsing my ears under a fresh water tap first if I can). I've never taken any of the "standard" drugs such as Sudafed because I'm afraid of a reverse block if it wears off under water. I've only maybe three times had to discontinue diving because of ear problems, though if I have a heavy cold and congestion I don't go near the water. If I were to book a liveaboard I'd make sure I had really good trip insurance, because you only need a heavy cold as the week starts and you'll likely not get into the water at all.

[lv2dive70]

I am now 2 for 2. I have been on 2 liveaboards and twice have ended diving early due to a head cold. After 3 or 4 days of repetitive dives, my ears are killing me, conjestion sets in and I am done. So my questions to my dive buddies... Do you have some sort of regime to prepare you for multiple dives in short succession? Do you have a routine of care while on a dive trip to divert any problems that may come your way?

You can look at it from the ear perspective or from the congestion perspective... you've gotten some good information on addressing ear issues, here's my experience wrt congestion prevention (which *should* help prevent ear problems in the first place):

I just posted about my love for Airborne on FB a couple of days ago...what prompted that post was a recent case of the sniffles that never developed into a cold because I took a couple doses of Airborne. I do the same thing whenever my throat tingles or is the slightest bit sore... that used to always mark the beginning of a bad cold for me, that always turned into bronchitis. Woke up with one of those sore throats on EV in T&C in fact. I started taking Airborne every three or four hours and kept taking it for two days, and it never turned into anything.

DISCLAIMER: During the same timeframe I've had such luck with Airborne I've been making other lifestyle changes as well - slowly cutting back on processed food and decreasing simple carbs/sugars (and decreasing then quitting smoking). Clearly this could be making it easier for my immune system to fight things off. However, I still think something in Airborne kicks it into overdrive.

Just my 2 cents. Hope you feel better soon! Hate that you missed some diving!!!

[ReelDiver]

Hey Clint!

For the head cold issues the all natural remedy Orange Juice is my greatest weapon! Starting two days before I fly throughout the trip I drink it and apple juice like I'm in a Minute Maid commercial. Not being a huge fan of medicine in general the OJ gets your immune system running strong so that sneezing kid in the isle next to you doesn't end your opportunity to get pictures of that whale shark!

As for the ears that's a much more difficult battle. Having a clear head will definitely help but after a few days of repetitive diving the pressure changes will take their toll. Peter's IPA solution has worked well for me in the past but for liveaboards and heavy diving places like Bonaire its the constant changing of pressure that just causes fatigue and irritation in the ear canal. Docs Pro Plugs have worked well for me as an instructor when I've got a dozen CESAs to do. I used them on the tale end of a Bonaire trip last year when on Wednesday my ears wanted to take a day off but Bari Reef was begging me to come diving.