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Diving while congested? Serious or just annoying?


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#16 WreckWench

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Posted 03 October 2007 - 01:33 PM

If you remember, I had similar problems when we were in Bonaire in '04. I tried Sudafed with absolutely no results. I'll never forget my 26 minute extremely painful descent to the Hooker. After that dive, I used Afrin and had no further problems.



Ah yes....I had that same dive trying to reach a wreck in the Philippines. The first 25-30 minutes of the dive were spent dropping a foot and experiencing pain and rising up again...finally I descended to the wreck and finished out the dive with everyone. They could at least see me at the surface so knew why I was not joining them as quickly as I would have liked.

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#17 ScubaDrew

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Posted 03 October 2007 - 02:30 PM

There is a very effective technique to clear a reverse squeeze that should be taught in all open water classes. Hold your nose, blow until you have cleared your lungs and then swallow. It works like a charm and took care of my reverse squeezes when I had them.

While they are not something to be anticipated...they should not be feared if you know what to do to clear them.


Ok, so is that exhale while pinching your nose until you have emptied your lungs of air, or hold your nose and attempt to blow through it (like they teach you to equalize) until??

I would be afraid of not being able to clear a reverse block and injuring myself having to ascend due to air/deco. Rather rupture a drum than drown...
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#18 ScubaDadMiami

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Posted 03 October 2007 - 02:31 PM

I will reiterate what Tooth mentioned about the Sudafed family of drugs (as well as many other decongestants) and high PO2. Many of these drugs act like a stimulant, and the theory is that this can cause a diver to tox more easily than when not taking these medications.

Recently, when making a big dive, we were returning to exit the cave when I experienced a block in my right ear. The way that this cave was laid out required us to descend on the return trip before we could ascend for the exit. So, I was faced with potentially having to blow out an ear drum in order to reach the cave exit and end the dive.

Luckily, I reversed my path a bit, ascended, and I was able to equalize eventually. However, I definitely was thinking about what I might have potentially had to do in order to end the dive, and this was not a pleasant thought!

If you can skip a dive and do it another day, you are better off. Ear problems can persist for a long time (I have had them last a year after the infection was over) once you have onset. It's not worth it to force a dive if you are not well.

Also regarding medications, once you have had them prescribed, it is a good idea to take them on a day when you are not going to be on a boat or out diving. Stay at home, chill out, and see if they have an adverse affect on you. If they do, you can report this to the doctor, and then the doctor can potentially prescribe something else. Better to find out on a rainy day at home than on an expensive trip! :cheerleader:
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#19 DandyDon

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Posted 03 October 2007 - 05:25 PM

You take antihistamines for motion illness every dive day don't you? And the Reds were generic Sudafed, I suppose: pseudoephedrine Hcl I take both on a daily basis for allergies. Sometimes I need twice as much. My usual does is 60 mg of the PSE, altho I really need the Triprolidine HCL antihistamine with it for best results.

So how much PSE in each Red? I think normal is 30 mg which is a light dose. I always take 60 mg if not 120.


Not sure the dosage on the reds...and actually I have been off the meclizine for the most part unless the weather is calling for choppy weather. The meds I use for motion sickness help relieve nausea, vomiting and dizzyness.

Well, dosage matters, and I am far from qualified to advice. I'm about 50% heavier than you, and used to the meds, so I would expect half as much as me to be close. Like I said, sometimes I need twice as much. I really find for me that the combination of decongestant and antihistamine works best, far better than the decon by itself.

When I'm diving Nitrox, I'll take the combo pill the night before, only the antihistamine the morning before, and hold off on the combo until after Nitrox.
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#20 secretsea18

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Posted 03 October 2007 - 05:34 PM

My comments pertained to "stuffy nose" problems.....

#21 scubaski

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Posted 03 October 2007 - 07:01 PM




There is a very effective technique to clear a reverse squeeze that should be taught in all open water classes. Hold your nose, blow until you have cleared your lungs and then swallow. It works like a charm and took care of my reverse squeezes when I had them.

While they are not something to be anticipated...they should not be feared if you know what to do to clear them.


Ok, so is that exhale while pinching your nose until you have emptied your lungs of air, or hold your nose and attempt to blow through it (like they teach you to equalize) until??

I would be afraid of not being able to clear a reverse block and injuring myself having to ascend due to air/deco. Rather rupture a drum than drown...


A instuctor w/many dives - students recommends that if all else fails clearing a reverse squeeze/block, you should remove your mask, pinch 1 nostril and blow your nose, then switch to the other side and do same, ie: hockey player style, don mask clear and ascend slowly.
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#22 WreckWench

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Posted 03 October 2007 - 08:50 PM




There is a very effective technique to clear a reverse squeeze that should be taught in all open water classes. Hold your nose, blow until you have cleared your lungs and then swallow. It works like a charm and took care of my reverse squeezes when I had them.

While they are not something to be anticipated...they should not be feared if you know what to do to clear them.


Ok, so is that exhale while pinching your nose until you have emptied your lungs of air, or hold your nose and attempt to blow through it (like they teach you to equalize) until??

I would be afraid of not being able to clear a reverse block and injuring myself having to ascend due to air/deco. Rather rupture a drum than drown...



The former...pinch nose, exhale until lungs are empty and THEN swallow. It even works when doing a dry run of it...meaning you'll feel why it works.

I doubt that people will drown trying to ascend with a reverse block. At least I've never heard of any reported cases. The tip that scubaski offers is also good!

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#23 shadragon

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Posted 03 October 2007 - 08:54 PM

The meds I use for motion sickness help relieve nausea, vomiting and dizzyness.

Ummm, Wenchie... Hate to ask this, but you are married and were on your Honeymoon... So, were you getting nauseous in the morning? If so, you took the wrong pill...! :-D
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#24 DandyDon

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Posted 03 October 2007 - 08:59 PM

My comments pertained to "stuffy nose" problems.....

Your suggestions of taking 2 Sudafeds would be the 2-30 mg, isn't that the standard Red?

Sudafed, Actifed, and some other brand names have been applied to OTC meds that don't even have PSE now, especially since the new regulations controlling them so much. I can still find my fav with 60 mg plus Triprolidine HCL, but only at my regular pharmacy which makes sure they stock it for me - and in a cheap brand: Genac- 24 for $1.47! What do you think of my thots on the antihistamine making the decon work better? I just don't seem to get much help out of the Reds alone...?

I know some like the time released like Novafed 120 mg, but I don't see the point compared to 4 times a day, based on what I've read on the half-life of the drug.

But I am really interested in your learned opinions! My daughter and grandkids all inherited problem ears from her mom, btw even tho I have never had a equalizing challenge.
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#25 Scubatooth

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Posted 03 October 2007 - 10:44 PM

just to clear up a few things that have been mis-posted on here

anti motionsickness drugs(Bonine, and Meclazine) are NOT antihistamines(benedryl series) they are anti emetics completely different class of drugs that work on different parts of the body one works on the acid pumps in the stomach and the other works on histamine recpeptor sites in the cells of the body.

also when is comes to psuedaphrine products the weight of the patient isnt really a factor as the drug acts in the blood to get the desired effect. Then again like with most medications indivdual sensitivity to the drug as there are some i need 1/4 the normal dosage and then there are ones that i need up to 3x to get the standard effect.

Then beyond this is that PSE meds have been reformulated since they when behind the counter to have a lower amount as i know the preban pills have are more powerful then the ones i bought recently

Then WW i would say its a Suspected Sinus infection based on what i saw in PI because saying other wise would be practicing medicine without a license and i certainly dont about anyone else but certainly dont want to put my Medic patch on the line, as this is one thing i know was beaten into us in school.

Simon be careful man last thing you want to do is incur the wrath of the WW let alone what you referenced to as it just makes things worse.

When it really comes down to it. It is a indivdual call to make, some of us do go slightly messed up and still have fun, may not be the brightest idea in the book but we still do it, just have to be willing to pay the consequences for it.

IMHO. FWIW, YMMV

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#26 DandyDon

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Posted 03 October 2007 - 11:39 PM

Thanks STooth. Many sources expalin: "Meclizine is an antihistamine. It blocks the effects of the naturally occurring chemical histamine in your body." But I wasn't clear if it worked on the sinus area like other antihistamines? Perhaps not. I also read that "Meclizine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in (the) medication guide." and I would think that any med that helped with motion illness would be working in the sinus and ear areas?? I generally take additional Loratadine (generic Claratin) in addition to the PSE+antihistamine I discussed above when I expect rough seas. Think I'm heading the wrong way?

I would totally agree that decisions on which meds ever OTC or from behind be based on counsel with a physician qualified in the area as well as one's personal pharmacist. In the real world, tho - so many of us buy and try OTC based on shopping and/or ads. Or on a trip to a remote area, one may settle for whatever boatmates will supply. I am far from qualified to argue with anyone on any of this - just offering discussion based on experiences and some reading here and there.

I am confused about the objection to using body weight as a starting point? Sure med sensitivities will vary, but where does one start?

I think PSE is still available in various doses of 30, 60, and 120 mpg per pill or capsule, but the supply and comparative shopping has decreased significantly. Now that it's partially controlled, it's just more difficult to find, with fewer choices - or that has been my experience with sources I one used to purchase it.
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#27 Scubatooth

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Posted 04 October 2007 - 03:47 AM

Im not going to get into this but the main effect/treatment/preventative of meclinze is as a anti-emetic, to prevent seasickness. meclinze is not known to work on the sinuses(unintended side effect) because the receptor sites its designed for are in the stomach and gut. If it does work on the sinuses its a bonus this is mainly due to non-selective blocking of the drug once it gets in the blood stream.

beyond that histamines/emetics and antihistamines/emetics drugs its goes way over the heads of most with out going into medicaleze. Good example is the use of tagment and similar drugs during a allergic reaction.

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#28 secretsea18

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Posted 04 October 2007 - 05:18 AM

My comments pertained to "stuffy nose" problems.....

Your suggestions of taking 2 Sudafeds would be the 2-30 mg, isn't that the standard Red?

Sudafed, Actifed, and some other brand names have been applied to OTC meds that don't even have PSE now, especially since the new regulations controlling them so much. I can still find my fav with 60 mg plus Triprolidine HCL, but only at my regular pharmacy which makes sure they stock it for me - and in a cheap brand: Genac- 24 for $1.47! What do you think of my thots on the antihistamine making the decon work better? I just don't seem to get much help out of the Reds alone...?

I know some like the time released like Novafed 120 mg, but I don't see the point compared to 4 times a day, based on what I've read on the half-life of the drug.




As stated in my post - Sudafed. The plain old version. Not the "fake" sudafed PE or whatever is now on the shelf. The regular "Sudafed" is the red pill (currently the ONLY version {you can buy anywhere but need to ask the pharmacist for as it is behind the counter}, due to people ruining it for evryone by making speed out of it, but I digress), and it only comes in ONE size, strength and formulation.... 30 mg per red pill. I felt it NOT necessary to discuss every permutation of nasal decongestant, as I was describing "what I do" when I get a stuffy nose.

BTW, body weight IS taken into account. The child size dose is 15-30 mg. Adult dose is 60 mg. The 120-180 formulations are time delayed to last for longer than the standard 4-6 hours period.

Edited by secretsea18, 04 October 2007 - 05:23 AM.


#29 Basslet

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Posted 04 October 2007 - 06:45 AM

I had read somewhere about fixing a reverse squeeze where instead of blowing out like you would on descent, you hold your nose and breath in.

#30 BubbleBoy

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Posted 04 October 2007 - 10:35 AM

I had several reverse squeezes when I had my braces...I had to descend about 5 feet and then come backup again to clear though I also had difficulty keeping my ears equalized on most dives. I suppose it depends on why you get a reverse squeeze too


Interesting that you mention dental work. I know of one instance where a diver ended up with 3 atmos of gas trapped behind old dental work that wouldn't vent after pressurizing at the bottom. Very painful. Their tooth and gums got so swolen that they had to go to the dentist to get it relieved.
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