Need Alternative To Sudafed 12 Hour

[cleung]

Just a followup for this thread - thanks again to all who made comments and contributions. I just came back from diving in Utila and Roatan. I had three generic 12 hour Sudafeds left (Eltor) and used them for my first three days of diving. As expected, they worked great. For my final dive day, I tried the 12 hour Reactine and it also worked great to in clearing up my congestion enough so that I was able to equalize on both of my dives. So looks like it's Reactine for me from now on as my dive med.

 

[Dogbowl]

I'm also in Canada. Really bummed that we can't get Sudafed 12 hour here anymore. I'm curious if it might be available with a doctor's prescription at a regular pharmacy or from a compounding pharmacy?

I have problems equalizing my right ear and I suspect it's due to congestion in my right nostril. It doesn't bother me day-to-day but equalizing my right ear at depth is very, very difficult.

I'm aware that there are allergy meds that have pseudoephedrine and antihistamines that might work, but I prefer not to take any additional medication that I don't need.

I'm trying to find a local ENT to check my nose/ear but having no luck. And I've already contacted DAN and they haven't been too helpful. So I thought self-help (i.e., pseudoephedrine) might be my only option.

 

[DandyDon]

I'm trying to find a local ENT to check my nose/ear but having no luck.

In all of Toronto...?!

 

[Dogbowl]

There are many, many ENTs in Toronto, but I just don't know which of them would know anything about scuba-related issues...and I wouldn't know where to start trying to find one. I have asked DAN for referrals, but the doctors they provided were all hyperbaric medicine doctors - not exactly what I was looking for.

I love our province-provided health insurance, but this is an area where it is not very good. For example, where a doctor feels my medical issues are "trivial", he/she will not examine me or order tests. That's why I need to find one that knows about scuba diving health issues, and is willing to help me find a solution. I have been to doctors who have told me there was nothing they could do for me because they didn't feel my health issue was important enough. In such cases, I've often resorted to self-help, forums and the like.

 

[chillyinCanada]

In Alberta, I need my gp to refer me to a specialist. He sends off the referal request and eventually I get a call with zn appointment. We have two gp's in Calgary that are scuba friendly. We divers have become aware of them through our local dive shops and word of mouth.

Perhaps you could try going that route and hopefully the dive savvy gp will connect you either with a dive savvy ent or will be able to impart the seriousness of your issue.

 

[Duke Dive Medicine]

There are many, many ENTs in Toronto, but I just don't know which of them would know anything about scuba-related issues...and I wouldn't know where to start trying to find one. I have asked DAN for referrals, but the doctors they provided were all hyperbaric medicine doctors - not exactly what I was looking for.

I love our province-provided health insurance, but this is an area where it is not very good. For example, where a doctor feels my medical issues are "trivial", he/she will not examine me or order tests. That's why I need to find one that knows about scuba diving health issues, and is willing to help me find a solution. I have been to doctors who have told me there was nothing they could do for me because they didn't feel my health issue was important enough. In such cases, I've often resorted to self-help, forums and the like.

Hyperbaric physicians often work closely with specific ENT physicians. It would be reasonable to contact the hyperbaric unit at Toronto General and ask for a recommendation.

Best regards,
Eric

 

[Dogbowl]

Thanks, everyone! I'll ask around and call around. And if I find someone, I'll post it here just in case anyone else in the Toronto area is also looking for one!