OW Session #3- Not the greatest start for me

[EFB]

Last night was OW class/confined dive #3. The classroom part went fine. On the way to the pool, I told hubby that after conquering the mask removal skill last week, this was the first time we were headed to the pool where I wasn't nervous.

We got to the pool, geared up, buddy check, giant stride...no problem..tired diver push and pull...no issue..controlled descent at the deep end of the pool (10 feet)..I was the last one to descend (I had really inflated my BCD for the tired diver stuff)...as I started going down..sharp pain in left ear as I was about halfway down..I made the signal to the DM that there was something wrong with my ear...I went up a little more..tried to clear...nope..a little more..nope..and now I can feel pressure in my cheek as well.

I surface..as does the DM..he says I have a cold. I was congested and sneezing that morning, but felt fine that night and afternoon. I knew they were working on the fin pivot. DM said I shouldn't push it if I have a cold. I asked if I could try in more shallow water. He said we could go and try but if it hurt and I couldn't clear there, I would have to make up the pool session later.

We did move to the shallow end, I did the fin pivot...the instructor had moved the rest of the class towards us and once I got it, the DM had me show the instructor. My ear felt better in the shallow end but I got my mask all (excuse my bluntness) snotty...really snotty.

I was able to do all the rest of the skills..I did come up once because I had to sneeze..I know now, I should have stayed under and dealt with it...but if I realised I had a cold on a "regular" dive, I just wouldn't go. Other skills included fin pivot with oral inflation, breating through a simulated stuck regulator (man that was cold), alt air simulation where instructor cut off our air and then a swim while using alt air and then switching (once being the one out of air and once being the person supplying the alternate air source). Oh and then at the end, another mask removal and replacement..not nearly as scary the second time.

I woke up this morning and felt awful. I called in sick..and slept all day..kept up with the meds all day...used the sinus rinse twice already today. I am trying my best to be OK for tomorrow night's class. Tomorrow night is Controlled Emergency Ascent and a couple other tasks.

Fingers crossed I am up to it...I am almost done with the class and the OW dive is next weekend.

 

[Bubbletrubble]

If you can't equalize your ears for whatever reason, you shouldn't dive.
When you are sick or have allergies, sinus pain can be a real issue while diving. The saline nasal rinse can help as well as long-acting decongestants. For allergy prevention, many of the modern over-the-counter antihistamines work quite well. The safest course of action, however, is to abstain from diving. The water will always be there.

Good luck with the rest of your class. Don't push it if your body isn't feeling up to it. There's no sense in risking injury just to complete the class on schedule. Your health is a lot more important than silly scuba training.

Dive safely...

 

[scubadiveilat]

Lesson learned!

If you push in diving while having a cold or sinus issues. You'll end up paying for it after.

Thus if your sick or suffering from a sinus problem don't push. Leave it for another day rest and try when it's all clear.

Every time someone pushes they suffer the consequences.


Take it easy enjoy the course and don't push it!!!!

Have fun diving!

 

[EFB]

The strangest thing about it is that before the class, I felt fine (granted that morning was not the case). I guess something about dealing with that pressure when your sinuses aren't "normal".

Thanks for the replies.

 

[TSandM]

I think what you learned is that a degree of congestion that isn't very troublesome on land can be quite a problem in the water. It's often useful to try to equalize on land, before the dive, if you have any questions about your ability to do so. If you can't pressurize your ears on land, it's NOT going to get better in the water.

Here's hoping this passes quickly, so you can finish your class!

 

[TMHeimer]

I had the beginnings of a cold while doing my Advanced in 16 feet of water. Sometimes I could descend, sometimes not with pain. Once when ascending my ear made a hissing sound. I think everyone's passages get clogged differently. Normally, I doubt anyone equalizes easier than me. That's why I always get concerned if I haven't had a cold for a long while and I have a lot of diving planned. I can still play clarinet sick, in fact you can probably do almost anything when sick. Diving: highly inadvisable.

 

[WB2GLP]

There will be plenty more dives in the future. As others have said, don't risk injuring your ears or sinus passages just to keep up with the class.

I had a reverse block in my left ear a few years ago and it took quite a while to return to normal. I went to an ENT specialist who, after a battery of tests, said I was perfectly fine..."It's all in my head." My reply was "No s... and I want to get it out!" He prescribed Xanex for my stress which was supposedly causing my psychosomatic illness. On the way out, the receptionist asked "when will the doctor like to see you again?" I quickly turned and said "He... see me? I don't EVER want to see that arrogant a-hole again."

I eventually saw a doctor who was a diver (Thank you DAN). A Medrol dose pack along with allergy meds for a few weeks eventually brought me back to normal.

So relax.....get well....and don't rush it like I did..... unless you want some Xanax, I guess. LOL

 

[Cixelsyd]

12 hour Zyrtec-D. Non-drowsy and will limit the snot production/blockage big time. Plus, the 12 hour duration will help to make sure it doesn't wear off during the dives. I got that issue after mask clearing exercises in class a lot. I'd always end up with some water up my nose during those, which triggered the massive snot flow. If that stuff doesn't have any place to go (which it doesn't if your nose is sealed in a mask) it will block up pretty quick. For me, the ears were never an issue, it was always the sinus cavity behind my right eye that would clog and become uncomfortable. Now the meds have pretty much cleared that issue up.

Another thing to try during the pool sessions, since you are not deep and can surface easily, is just to surface and blow your nose before doing the skill.

 

[DivemasterDennis]

First off, if you are congested, not diving is the best reaction, but what if, as in your case, ita a class, or you just spent big bucks to go to an exotic location. Don't tell anyone else I said this, but.. as a preventative I like to take a single little red 4 hour sudafed 1 hour before diving. If I need more than that I don't dive. I take one even if I don't feel congested. My wife does too, and we both swear by it. I have missed one dive in 13 years due to ear clearing issues, and that was when I was REALLY stuffed up. Now, don't force anything, but the little red magic pill works for us. Incidentally, you will recover, you will finish pool and open waters on days you feel fine, and you WILL be enjoying a lifetime of diving. It's the best!
DivemasterDennis

 

[Frosty]

EFB -Hey I know you are feeling pressure to make the first OW dive.BUT honestly it just isn't worth the rest of your diving being limited to snorkle diving.I'm not disagreeing with the advice dennis is offering but truely if it hurts best to leave it for another day. Incidently one trick I was told was to start equalising from the moment your head is underwater.I'm no medic but its easier to continuously be equalising rather than one big pop. I know the dive I did on sunday was interesting for me. I wore a hood for the first time so my jaw was wiggling from the second the BC was being emptied