Chamber side effects?

[Graeme Fraser]

Firstly I should probably explain that my recent trip to the chamber was a planned visit not the result of a DCS hit.

I recently tagged along with a couple of ex-students who are going through their commercial dive training, part of which is a hyperbaric chamber familiarisation course. I thought it would be interesting to experience a chamber ride, without the inconvenience of prior DCS.

We took a ride to 40m on air and decompressed on 1.9bar PPo2, all good. Strangely though, both me and the chamber attendant had really itchy earlobes for about an hour afterwards.

I just if anyone knew what caused this physiological effect? It certainly wasn't a big deal. I'm just curious. I've done plenty of deep air and Trimix dives but not noticed this before.

 

[tbone1004]

@Duke Dive Medicine Hex, have you ever seen that? I don't recall my ears itching after any of my chamber rides, but you probably have 1000x as many as I do....

 

[Akimbo]

I just if anyone knew what caused this physiological effect?

I have made hundreds of chamber dives in military and commercial diving. I can't recall any comments about itchy earlobes. Did you and the chamber operator wear headsets or BIBS masks (Built-In Breathing System)? I have seen mild skin reactions to disinfectants.

 

[Duke Dive Medicine]

@Graeme Fraser I've never seen itchy earlobes either. Were the BIBS mask straps stretched over the top of yours?

Best regards,
DDM

 

[Graeme Fraser]

I have made hundreds of chamber dives in military and commercial diving. I can't recall any comments about itchy earlobes. Did you and the chamber operator wear headsets or BIBS masks (Built-In Breathing System)? I have seen mild skin reactions to disinfectants.

Hi Akimbo. Yes we wore BIBS for deco. He also seemed surprised by it, which maybe adds weight to your skin reaction point rather than directly chamber related. The other two didn't experience anything. Thanks

 

[Graeme Fraser]

@Graeme Fraser I've never seen itchy earlobes either. Were the BIBS mask straps stretched over the top of yours?

Best regards,
DDM

Hi. I don't recall to be honest. The skin reaction theory is starting to make sense, particularly if you guys haven't identified it as a known chamber side effect. Maybe it means I'm coming into money, or is that itchy palms. Oh well. Thanks

 

[Graeme Fraser]

Hi Akimbo. Yes we wore BIBS for deco. He also seemed surprised by it, which maybe adds weight to your skin reaction point rather than directly chamber related. The other two didn't experience anything. Thanks

One of the other guys took a photo of us sizing up the BIBS. Doesn't look like anything was near our lobes (I'm the silver fox on the right).

 

[Graeme Fraser]

Helps if I add the photo

 

[Duke Dive Medicine]

@Graeme Fraser, great photo! Did you attach the bottom straps during decompression?

Best regards,
DDM

 

[Graeme Fraser]

@Graeme Fraser, great photo! Did you attach the bottom straps during decompression?

Best regards,
DDM

Haha, yes this was just a pre-dive selfie for the youngsters.