The controversial topic - diving with (slightly) congested nose

[FJSMT64]

Hi Will,
IŽ´m a general physician, and I have been diving for 6 years, also suffered from the same problem several times, so I read as much as I found about it, and also experiment treatments for myself. CouldnŽ´t find a medical reason to explain why not to take oral decongestants or antihistamines (that DONŽ´T make you drowsy, clorfenamine DOES make you drowsy) As long as the congestion is mild you could take claritin D or simililar a couple of hours before diving, but only if you are absolutely sure it does not make you not even a bit drowsy, I donŽ´t recommend intranasal decongestants like Afrin because the always produce a rebound effect and they last short time.
Hope this helps you.

 

[ligersandtions]

I have year-round allergies....turns out I'm allergic to the smog in LA (obviously, I didn't know this until after I moved here). I take Claritin every day, and things are generally good....if I miss more than one day, I start getting stuffy, itchy, and sneezy. That said, I still dive as much as I can, even if I would have congestion issues if my Claritin were to wear off. But one dose of Claritin works for 24 hours, and I believe there's some sort of cumulative effect, so taking it every day pretty much ensures that it won't magically wear off during the dive.

I did, however, once make a dive with a cold. The day of my last AOW dives, I could feel that I was starting to get sick, but I also noticed that I could equalize easily. The first two dives of the day were uneventful (each even had an extra ascent and descent). But by the time the last one rolled around, I started feeling bad again....I rationalized to myself that I NEEDED to make this dive, so I went out with the group. I didn't have much in the way of issues with ascending or descending, but while I was at depth, my head felt like it was going to simultaneously implode and explode....so now if I'm feeling like I have a cold, rather than allergies, I will call the dive.

But in your case, I would imagine that since you are able to equalize easily, you won't have any problems. Ascend and descend slowly and listen to your body....if something doesn't feel right, call the dive. It would be a shame to go on a diving vacation and not dive, but it will be far worse if you force it and damage your ears in the process.

 

[sylpha]

i had a really bad cold last year & was left with a bad bunged feeling, i was also very tired, but i did a shallow dive (15m) with a friend who was prepared to abort or continue alone if i had problems. i cleared by blowing my nose not holding my nose, it wasn't a pretty sight. on the way up i also cleared by blowing my nose, on the surface i blew again, i was not nice to be around. my nose was no longer bunged up, i didn't dive in the afternoon, but slept. i also slept that night better than i had for 2 weeks before - i could breathe!

the next day i was a little sniffy, that cleared up as the day went on then i was fine. i reckon that i blew the infection away (sorry fishes) and my imune system could take over & control the situation from there.

if i were less that 8 days into a cold i probably wouldn't dive, but this time it was for the best.


one thing that is recurring in the thread is how many of you have 'seasonal allergies' aka 'hayfever'. a close friend of mine used to be very ill every summer, he was on the maximum dose of prescribed antihistamine & it wasn't touching it, one business trip he came home from gave him 'the trots', he was so weak from no food, the bug itself & dehydration that he was worried so he decided that some sugar would give him some energy and be digested in his stomach not his intestines so he had white bread toasted and spread with local honey from the beekeeper next door. it did help & he recovered from 'the trots'. he also took a liking to the honey & had a slice of toast spread with honey for his breakfast a couple of times a week.

the following year the symptoms from the hay fever were minor, he was very surprised, but his neighbour (the beekeeper) wasn't.

it's worth a try.

 

[SeaHound1]

Hello everyone

For the past 4-6 months I have had a slightly congested nose - first thing in the mornings one of my nostrils is normally blocked but after a shower, i can breathe through both and can equalise quite easily (this is out of the water). Late in the evening, I am sometimes a bit stuffed up again.
Thanks in advance

Will

I've used decongestants on and off for the last 20 years to facilitate diving with success. For the last few years I was experiencing the same morning congestion you described. Fully congested in the morning, clearing in the shower and maintained through the day with occasional antihistamines and decongestants. I assumed my allergies were worsening.

Talking about this to a MD they sent me to an ear nose & throat specialist and they recommended a Septoplasty http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Septoplasty

Well, it was painful for a few days and uncomfortable for the next 10, but now my nose feels really clear, all the time. No more rituals in the shower or drugs. I must have broken my septum as a lad (rugby player) and the flesh in my nostrils deformed around the break.

The surgeon told me not to dive for about four weeks, in case of bleeding, but now I'm back in the water. Talk to your doctor. You may have problem that can be fixed.

Michael

 

[SLB]

The netipot is my friend at home. Quick, easy, and no lasting chemical effects. Take it on the road - it's small. If the sinuses are really clogged, I stay out of the water. If it's minimal, though, I take a long-acting decongestant, take my time to clear, and go for it. Last trip out I found my first couple of dives to be the best sinus flush around, although the gunk in my mask was disgusting - just enough pressure and a reverse flush through the eustacian tubes worked great.

 

[pygar]

Sometimes I use a little nose spray. Mine lasts as much as 24 hrs most times. If not, a little saltwater up the nose works good too. Try to go as natural as possible. Go slow and continue to equalize any time ya feel any pressure at all.

 

[torqd]

The best thing you can do is be honest with yourself. If you are too congested to dive, then don't. However, if you are just a bit on the "stuffy" side and a medication may help you clear up enough to dive, then it's your call.

As a long time sufferer of allergies there are days that a bit of vitamin-S (Sudafed or equivalent) is what I need. I am also a proponent of using a saline wash (neti pot or similar) to get the worst of the junk out of the nasal cavity.

My personal technique now is to enjoy spicy foods. We all have to eat, so I take advantage of the side benefits of meals that involve spice (Mexican, Asian, Indian, etc.). Any foods that make your nose run will help with the congestion as much as anything, but beware of the upset stomach! Anything that makes your digestive tract unhappy would not be a good meal to have before taking a boat ride or a dive. Experimentation here is probably the best method here.

 

[divingdds]

When I'm slightly to moderately congested in the sinus, I still dive. I will use Sudafed and an OTC antihistamine as needed. Just routinely, I lavage my sinuses daily. When I have problems (e.g., colds, sinusitis), I will lavage them 4 times a day. I use a mixture of 1/4 teas of uniodized salt and 1/4 teas baking soda in an 8 oz glass of lukewarm water. I use a nasal lavage bottle from Neilmed, available from your pharmacist. They sell their own packs, but my formula (from the Los Angeles Times) is just as good.

If you do this regularly, it becomes quite routine and is not gross or even the least bit irritating. When you see all the stuff the washes out of the sinus, you'll be happy you got it out.

However, sometimes, nothing works. If it's bad, you just don't dive.

 

[ZenDiver.3D]

If you can equalize, you can dive.

 

[flashover604]

If you can equalize, you can dive.

I thought the same thing last weekend, until I got to ten feet on my ascent. I thought I was going to lose a molar, the pressure was so bad. Apparently I got a reverse block. Two sudafed, followed by two Extra Strength Tylenol, followed a couple hours later by two more ES Tylenol and I wasn't nauseous from the tooth pain. Did I mention the four numb teeth in front of the molar? I still feel a little pressure two days later. My dive was not too cold (49 degrees, wetsuit), shallow (29 feet), and short (34 minutes) and I felt great the whole time, except for the last five minutes.