Sinuses?

[wtcreaux]

Sudafed causes vasoconstriction (makes the blood vessels smaller), thereby reducing the nasal congestion. HOWEVER, be CAUTIOUS taking sudafed if you have medical problems, such as high blood pressure (a "normal-size" blood vessel becomes smaller/narrower thereby resulting in higher pressure (oversimplified), I have seen 220/140 directly attributed to Sudafed) or, for us guys, any prostate problems (unless you want to experience "old man's disease" for SEVERAL hours )

IT BEARS REPEATING - CHECK WITH YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER - sit down and have a conversation, ask questions. I would MUCH rather spend a few extra minutes with you going over things BEFORE an unpleasant surprise happens than have you spend several hours/days in the hospital as a result of above (i.e. stroke in the above example).

As a side note, the immediate above conversation should be with your FAMILY healthcare provider. In the Emergency Department, I will try to answer as many questions as I can but am limited by simple things, like you not knowing what medicines you take or why ("a little white pill" "because my doctor told me I needed it"), probably the first time we've met so trust issues may arise, etc.

 

[Crewfish13]

I actually just spoke with my doctor last week about mild allergy congestion issues, and discovered he's a freediver! Needless to say, he had some great input, but it may not all be applicable to your sinus issues. Please note that I'm 28, in overall good health, and really have no medical issues aside from a few extra pounds and mild seasonal allergies. His recommendations were:

Sudafed (active ingredient: pseudoephedrine) will reduce congestion through vasoconstriction (as wtcreaux mentioned). It's generally safe for basic (OW-level) diving, but is not something you want to use for long term control of allgergy/sinus congestion due to the side efrfects.

Fat-insoluble antihistamines (e.g. Claritin, allegra) don't cross the blood/brain barrier and are effective for reducing allergy-indiced congestion without the drowsiness & other side effects from older antihistamines (e.g. Benadryl). Additionally, they are usually available paired with pseudoephedrine (e.g. Claritin-D, Allegra-D) in a 12- or 24-hour time release capsule and treat both the cause (histamine reaction) and the symptom (inflammation), which should be safe for diving.

Ultimately, we decided that the best course for me was a prescrption for Nasonex, as this is a topical corticosteroid (similar to the hydrocortisone cream that we all use for bug bites) that locally reduces infalmmation in the nose & sinuses. It's used daily to maintain a constant level of, er...something (sorry, I'm not doctor), pretty much eliminating the risk of it wearing off mid-dive.

That all being said, I'll echo the chorus and recommend you see your healthcare provider about the issue. The problem with us biological critters is that every one of us is unique, and only your healthcare provider can really judge what will work best for you.

As a clever aside, my doctor reminded me that in the case of a reverse block in the ears, the body is conveniently equipped with a built-in safety valve: the eardrum. Only use it as a last resort, however...

------EDIT-------
I gues that despite my diarrhea of the mouth, I never got around to answering your question. Sudafed is a brand name. What you want is simple, straightforward pseudoephedrine (read the active ingredients). I know it's available in a 24- and 12-hour extended release forms (240 and 120mg), as well as the standard 4-6 hour dose (30mg). I'd use the 12- or 24-hour to reduce the risk of it wearing off while underwater. I'd avoid anything with a combo of active ingredients without talking to your doctor and/or knowing how it would affect you. And avoid the newer Sudafed PE, which is easier to buy as it doesn't contain pseudoephedrine (active ingredient Phenylephrine), as the consensus is that it simply doesn't work as well.

 

[paul madox]

Sinus wash or salt water ; get a syringe with no needle in it; get some salt a glass add some salt to the glass mix with some water;
Next fill the syringe tilt your head back stick it up your nose and squirt ; I would do this near a sink or basin as ; well you can imagine
and wash your sinuses even if you are ok as it help keep infection away

Well work for me ; and you can get a salt water spray hope it works for you

 

[wtcreaux]

As a clever aside, my doctor reminded me that in the case of a reverse block in the ears, the body is conveniently equipped with a built-in safety valve: the eardrum. Only use it as a last resort, however...

OFF TOPIC:

I have heard (amongst my colleagues) that the Brits are essentially allowing same "relief valves" (read ruptured tympanic membranes) to relief the pain in children with middle ear infections (otitis media). This past February (flu season for us), I saw a dozen ruptured ear drums (most I've ever seen clustered like that). The GOOD news is - usually immediate relief of pain. The BAD news is - diving is OUT until cleared by EarsNoseThroat specialist (~90% of ruptures spontaneously heal per literature, I defer to my ENT colleagues though).

Now we return to your regularly scheduled program already in progress. :blinking:

 

[DevonDiver]

With my "instructor hat" on, I'd just ask you to recall the advice given in your training about cold meds and diving....

With my "diver hat" on, I'd still not recommend Sudafed...especially for deep dives. I had a very nasty experience using sudafed on a deep dive (many years ago on my AOW course). Heart racing, palpitations and severe agitation. I've never used it since.

 

[freewillie]

Just curious wtcreaux, are you an MD?

I'm not challenging you, just your post sound as if you make yourself to be an MD.

 

[DevonDiver]

---

---

A ScubaBoard Staff Message...

Moved to the Diving Medicine forum, as the OP is requesting medical opinions

---

 

[rixxir]

Thanks for the input from everyone, feels good having support from so many people that you don't know. I ha issues on my 2nd pool dive, bought the regular sudafed (due to my seriously bad allergy to NSAiDs and it worked fine for me last night. I was down for 1 1/2 hours doing basic drills with no problem. Thanks all

 

[DevonDiver]

Just be aware that its effects can wear-off during a scuba dive...especially in cold-water. If that happens, your congestion can return meaning you cannot vent your ears during ascent. This is a much more serious issue than inability to equalise on descent - mainly because you have to ascend... so you might have to blow your ears to get back to the surface.

Using decongestants is often stated to be the primary cause of Reverse Block, and consequent barotrauma injuries to the ears.

Reference material:

Scuba ENT Problems

[URL="http://www.scuba-doc.com/Midearbt.html"]Middle Ear Barotrauma

[URL="http://faculty.washington.edu/ekay/MEbaro.html"]Pr[/URL]e[/URL]vention of Middle Ear Barotrauma