Sinus problems

[boulderjohn]

I have never heard this before. Do you have a reference for this?

Found it myself. Here is an article from DAN:

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/articles/article.asp?articleid=51

The evidence is not really good--mostly anecdotal, and not many anecdotes. On the other hand, there is some indication that drugs like Sudafed may excite the central nervous system and potentially increase the potential for CNS toxicity.

The conclusion is to avoid it if you are diving EAN to the point that your PO2 level might exceed 1.4a. Note that this is the normal safe limit for EAN, so it should be OK if you are not exceeding that limit.

Here is the key paragraph:

What's the bottom line? In normal, healthy divers breathing air, occasional use of pseudoephedrine at the recommended dose is probably safe. This presumes that the drug has been taken during periods when no diving has occurred and that no undesirable reactions have occurred. However, one should avoid chronic (daily) use when diving, and it seems reasonable to avoid the drug entirely if diving while using oxygen-nitrogen mixes where the PO2 during a dive might exceed 1.4 ata, the current recommended "safe" open-circuit scuba limit.

 

[freediver]

A thorough sinus rinse may really benefit you. The sprays do moisten and comfort to some degree but the sinus rinse will cleanse the cavity and help remove the mucuc that has been accumulating from the infections and allergens. The sprays don't offer enough volume to go over the septum and remove the problem....and no a sinus rinse doesn't burn.

 

[bennedc]

I'd say make an appointment with ENT specialist (Ears, Nose, Throat) and get it all fixed at the source of the problem. Of course this is ideal...may not be an option right now for you. Fix it once and for all rather than treat it...if you can.

 

[aynrand]

I am so glad to read your comments because I was beginning to think that I am the only person with this problem. And getting a bit scared.

My ENT does not know what to make of it. I am a 28 year old causasian woman living in Trinidad. He is suggesting surgery. But I feel like I dont know enough about what is happening to me.

I suffer from bad allergies. It has subsided the last 2 years, but if I wear clothes that were not washed or worn for 1 month I sneeze and sneeze until I take it off and put on something freshly washed or worn.

In May 2002. The first time I had this symptom (blood coming down with mucus). After a sever allergic reaction to aspirin my face swelled up. No bleeding yet. I had 2 slits for eyes like a CHinese person and it went down in 3 or 4 days... by the fifth day I was on a plane to Tobago. No bleeding yet. Then I went diving for 20 mins to 30feet. I got out of the water my head feeling weird and within days the bleeding started. It lasted for almost a month. I took Avelox antibiotics. Then the bleeding receeded and eventually stopped.

This brings us to present day. May 2006. While in Orlando... ate sushi for 5 days in a row and thought that was the reason I had a slight swelling on my left side between cheeck and nosebridge. I stopped eating the sushi and it went in 2 days. Going home now. Had terrible pain on the last 1/2 hour (descent) flights Orlando - Miami and Miami - Trinidad. Back 4 days and bleeding started. Have been bleeding for about 12 days and it has receeded a lot. Almost completely stopped. Am on last day of avalox.

I explained all this history to my ENT and he did not link it to the diving and flying. He did not even mention the word "Barotrauma".

Some things I have read are putting me off. (EMAILNG you the articles) I got back the report from the C.T. It said "Right concha bullosa". From looking up "Right concha bullosa" on the internet... it lead me to something called "Barotrauma" which is what I think I experienced.

Here is the C.T. report:

There is marked deviation of the nasal septum convex to the left. No other bony abnormality is seen. Minimal mucosal thickening identifed on the medial and posterior walls of the right maxillary sinus. The walls of the left maxillary sinus are clear. No fluid levels identified. The frontal sinuses are clear. The ethmoid air cells are clear. Marked opacity/opacification of the right side of the sphenoid sinus. Probable large sphenoid sinus polyp. No other focal abnormality is seen. Coronal views through the ostiomeatal complexes shows evidence of mucosal thickening involving the left maxillary sinus infundibulum causing minimal narrowing at this point. A right sided maxillary infundibulum is patent. Distortion of the right side uncinate process and right maxillary infundibulum by the presence of a moderate size right concha bullosa noted. This measure 1.7cm Cranio Caudal x 1cm Transverse x 1.1cm AP. Please Note this is a right-sided concha bullosa. No other focal abnormality identified.

any help or pointing in the right direction would help. I don't want to think that I can never dive or fly again.

Have you ever heard of anyone having this problem?

Thanks!

 

[merxlin]

A thorough sinus rinse may really benefit you. The sprays do moisten and comfort to some degree but the sinus rinse will cleanse the cavity and help remove the mucuc that has been accumulating from the infections and allergens. The sprays don't offer enough volume to go over the septum and remove the problem....and no a sinus rinse doesn't burn.

I used to have sinus problems and started using a Neti pot to do sinus rinses. Basically it allows you to wash out your nasal membranes with mild sea salt solution. Can be hard to get used to, but I haven't had a cold or sinus problem since I started. A side benfit is that your nasal cavity and throat get used to salt water, so that first inadvertant inhale isn't a shock to the system. There is some clinical and much anecdotal evidence that saline washs help prevent infections, I am sure by washing away so many of the irritants we inhale on a daily basis.

 

[danboy785]

thanks everyone!

Tried a few decongestants and had a bit of success but havent tried a sinus rinse... Will look into

ENT are reluctant to do surgery as they say that if it only hurts diving and when I have colds its not worth doing...

 

[blancosito]

during my certification dives i got a bloody nose on all my opening day dives. Equalizing was a little difficult on the first ones only, but never had any damage and thought of it as normal. My instructors said some people just get bloody noses?? i will be taking decongestants and sprays from now on though. i would say if you have problems try medicines, for sinusitis a anti inflammatory and decongestant should be a good combo. the doctor should explain all this too you and just try different ones until you find what works good for you

 

[GregA2k6]

I had some sinus pain during my checkout dives. (I had a bit of stuffiness going into them) The pain was mainly in my forehead during 2 descents but cleared as I was descending and equalizing. Should I have aborted the dive? I dove later with no sinus pain at all.....is this dangerous? I've heard tons about the dangers of not being to equalize your ears but very little about sinus pain....did I push it by continuing when I felt some sinus pain?