Diving while congested? Serious or just annoying?

Since we are talking about E, N, T, sinsus lets add eyes.
Anyone ever had bubbles come out of there Eye tear ducts while diving. This happened to me in Grenada. Bubbles had a mucus feel to it. Didn't hurt and rinsed away with sea water, just the 1st and only time that it happen to me. Just throwing it out there!
Ss

Since we are talking about E, N, T, sinsus lets add eyes.
Anyone ever had bubbles come out of there Eye tear ducts while diving. This happened to me in Grenada. Bubbles had a mucus feel to it. Didn't hurt and rinsed away with sea water, just the 1st and only time that it happen to me. Just throwing it out there!
Ss

The tear duct goes from the eyelid to the inside of the nose. Forceful valsalva can force air up the tear duct where it might exit via the small punctum (dot at inner eyelid).

Thanks for the clarifications secretsea18 and STooth. Sorry if I seem dense here sometimes, but good to have the correct information. Thanks!

Since we are talking about E, N, T, sinsus lets add eyes.
Anyone ever had bubbles come out of there Eye tear ducts while diving. This happened to me in Grenada. Bubbles had a mucus feel to it. Didn't hurt and rinsed away with sea water, just the 1st and only time that it happen to me. Just throwing it out there!
Ss

I've felt movement there in extreme allergy attacks before. My Decompression Inst claimed he could do a rough estimate on how loaded a diver was after a deco dive immediately after exit by counting tiny bubbles under the eyelid, but I don't think there is much to be used there.

I was diagnosed with an "acute respiratory infection" on a recent trip and was only able to do one dive because of it. The doctor prescribed antibiotics (which I took grudgingly) and a bottle of 'Nastizol' Clorfeniramina Pseudoefedrina (doesn't everything sound prettier in Spanish? ) -- neither of which worked.

There was mention made earlier of Afrin (I haven't seen it in Canada but according to Google, it is available) but I'm wondering if this product is similar to Otrivin in that one can only use it for 3-5 days before becoming *hooked*.

As I'm still dealing with congestion and water trapped in my ear more than a week after getting sick, I'm now trying Euphorbium, a homeopathic solution. (The Nasonex that my doctor prescribed seems useless. ) I haven't read anything bad about it, so if anyone is looking for an alternative to typical nasal sprays and/or Sudafed, Euphorbium may be worth a try!

There was mention made earlier of Afrin (I haven't seen it in Canada but according to Google, it is available) but I'm wondering if this product is similar to Otrivin in that one can only use it for 3-5 days before becoming *hooked*.

I only use Afrin in the AM of the day of a dive. Haven't been "hooked" even on week-long trips. Of course, when I get away from blooming things at sea - my sinuses calm down.

Edited by Capn Jack, 14 October 2007 - 07:37 PM.

There was mention made earlier of Afrin (I haven't seen it in Canada but according to Google, it is available) but I'm wondering if this product is similar to Otrivin in that one can only use it for 3-5 days before becoming *hooked*.

I only use Afrin in the AM of the day of a dive. Haven't been "hooked" even on week-long trips. Of course, when I get away from blooming things at sea - my sinuses calm down.

Yeah, I seldom have problems at sea, away from pollens and molds - only sometimes. WWench open this thread discussing an infection, which is different.

annasea sorry your trip failed. I lost one onboard a Balckbeards liveaboard to a flu relapse once, and got very little care from the crew. I was kinda on my own; glad you could see a physcian.

DAN has info on Afrin, if you want a lead for searching....

annasea sorry your trip failed. I lost one onboard a Balckbeards liveaboard to a flu relapse once, and got very little care from the crew. I was kinda on my own; glad you could see a physcian.

DAN has info on Afrin, if you want a lead for searching....

What sort of care did you expect that the crew on the liveaboard should have done for you?

For most otherwise healthy people, colds aka "upper respiratory infections" and the "flu" are mere inconveniences, albeit ones that are uncomfortable to have. I am sure if you needed evacuation they would have arranged it.

annasea sorry your trip failed. I lost one onboard a Balckbeards liveaboard to a flu relapse once, and got very little care from the crew. I was kinda on my own; glad you could see a physcian.

DAN has info on Afrin, if you want a lead for searching....

What sort of care did you expect that the crew on the liveaboard should have done for you?

For most otherwise healthy people, colds aka "upper respiratory infections" and the "flu" are mere inconveniences, albeit ones that are uncomfortable to have. I am sure if you needed evacuation they would have arranged it.

Well, for 48 hours, I couldn't do anything more than go to the head - which ceased to be a need as I became more dehydrated. The skippers both checked on me when they first heard I was in bed to make sure I wasn't bent, so they were aware - but after that, I was on my own.

Thanks for asking...

Is diving while congested a serious thing or just an annoyance? I had a sinus infection while on my last dive trip that lasted most of the trip. I took some drugs to open up my head but as the congestion cleared and broke up but while still under the drugs, I would experience severe sinus pressure reminscent of an ice pick being jammed into my head forcing me to stop from descending or ascending. And at times I had reverse squeezes where I could not ascend. I was able to go slow enough and do reverse clears to aid in making my dives but now I'm wondering if I have subjected myself to serious risks beyond the annoyance of the squeezes and the pressure? In other words...when this happens are we increasing our chances of serious harm or even dcs or just taking the risk of feeling pain from the sinus pressure or reverse squeeze?

I have read several articles on the matter and the bottom line in all of them is don't do it. Obviously your still sick and while congested you run the risk of some kind of baro trauma, not too mention you are much more susitable to DCI. I had a friend of mine nearly die (not to mention he blew an eardrum because of congestion) from the bends due to a severe flu. Good simple rule to follow....when in doubt, don't do it!