diving with sinusitis, is it okay?
Piauw Khoeng
I got my PADI licence last year. I have dived several times.
In most of the diving sessions, when I surfaced, I found that the
thick mucus I blew out is light-orange in color. In one occasion,
the mucus was clear, but it contained a (hair line) streak of fresh blood.
Suspecting of something wrong with my sinus, earlier this year, I went
to see an ENT doc. He examined my ct-scan of my sinuses, and found
that my right sinus was filled with fluid. He mentioned that the drainage
of the sinus is somehow blocked, and needed a surgery to drain out the
fluid. So I had a surgery in April, the ENT punched a hole across
the thin bone that separates the sinus and the nasal passage.
Now, after the sinus can drain out fluid, I still sometimes discharge
rather thick mucus (when blowing out my nose strongly) [as before
the surgery, except the blowing out is easier].
I have not dived since.
The questions I would like to ask is :
1. After such surgery, do I have extra risks if I resume my diving
activities.
2. The orange color thick mucus, surely must contain blood.
Why? From the sinusitis? Or simply from blood (tiny amount) coming
out from cracks on mucus membrane within the nasal passage,
due to dryness in commpressed air I breathed ?
3. (hair line) streak of fresh blood in clear thick mucus?
also from blood from cracks on mucus membrane within the nasal passage,
as mentioned above?
4. Can inflammation of mucus membrane of the sinus cause bleeding(slight)
during a dive?
Thanks!
P Khoeng, Jakarta Indonesia
Martin Lawton
>
>I got my PADI licence last year. I have dived several times.
>In most of the diving sessions, when I surfaced, I found that the
>thick mucus I blew out is light-orange in color. In one occasion,
>the mucus was clear, but it contained a (hair line) streak of fresh blood.
>
Piauw,
I had the same symptons when starting diving (last spring). I found that
as my ear clearing technique (pressure equalisation) improved, so the
amount of orange mucuous dereased, by the end of the summer the problem
had become a distant memory.
Hope this helps.
Martin
Kenneth Smith
pkh...@ibm.net (Piauw Khoeng) wrote:
>
>I got my PADI licence last year. I have dived several times.
>In most of the diving sessions, when I surfaced, I found that the
>thick mucus I blew out is light-orange in color. In one occasion,
>the mucus was clear, but it contained a (hair line) streak of fresh blood.
>
>to see an ENT doc. He examined my ct-scan of my sinuses, and found
>that my right sinus was filled with fluid. He mentioned that the drainage
>of the sinus is somehow blocked, and needed a surgery to drain out the
>fluid. So I had a surgery in April, the ENT punched a hole across
>the thin bone that separates the sinus and the nasal passage.
>Now, after the sinus can drain out fluid, I still sometimes discharge
>rather thick mucus (when blowing out my nose strongly) [as before
>the surgery, except the blowing out is easier].
>
>I have not dived since.
>
>The questions I would like to ask is :
>1. After such surgery, do I have extra risks if I resume my diving
> activities.
>2. The orange color thick mucus, surely must contain blood.
> Why? From the sinusitis? Or simply from blood (tiny amount) coming
> out from cracks on mucus membrane within the nasal passage,
> due to dryness in commpressed air I breathed ?
>3. (hair line) streak of fresh blood in clear thick mucus?
> also from blood from cracks on mucus membrane within the nasal passage,
> as mentioned above?
>4. Can inflammation of mucus membrane of the sinus cause bleeding(slight)
> during a dive?
>
personnal experience.
I would think that the surgery would improve your ability to clear and reduce
the chance of reverse block on ascent due to the fact that a new path has been
made that would allow for pressure release.
As far as the nasal discharge, I get this after every dive and in fact look
forward to it after the first dive as it clears my sinuses better than
anything else i have ever tried.
When i first started diving , I had a lot of blood in the discharge after
every dive for many months. I was told this is due to rupture of the small
blood vessels in the sinus passage from not clearing on decent properly. I
learned to decend slower and clear more often with less force, and while i
still get the discharge, have not had any blood since.
The one thing I have also learned having sinusitis that anitbiotics have never
cleared up (chronic), it that i must be conscious on my ascents to come up
slow enough for the passages to clear or I get a reverse block and a lot of
sinus pain. I can actually feel and hear the small bubbles escaping in my
sinus cavities above my gums as the pressure is relieved.
This does not affect my diving at all relative to time or depth, but you need
to be aware of what your body is telling you both on decent and ascent,
whatever you do , take it slow.
By the way, i have just tried out those nose things (like the football players
are using now- called BREATHE RIGHT) and find that they not only almost
eliminate my snoring at night ( according to my wife and kids) but they
reduce my sinus problems when I dive. What they do is to flare the sides of
the nose and increase the flow of air to and from the sinuses. I have been
able to stop some of the decongestant use by using them.
Ken
Noone
diagnosed with sinusitus. Antibiotics no help, decided to live with
it. Nose was clogged for a year. Someone mentioned that it may be
allergies, and lo and behold an allergy test came up positive. Now,
no problems whatsoever. Allergy medication works perfectly, so if you
have chronic sinusitis, you might want to look into allergies.
-Rich
Simon
> pkh...@ibm.net (Piauw Khoeng) wrote:
> >
> >I got my PADI licence last year. I have dived several times.
> >In most of the diving sessions, when I surfaced, I found that the
> >thick mucus I blew out is light-orange in color. In one occasion,
> >the mucus was clear, but it contained a (hair line) streak of fresh blood.
> >
>
> Piauw,
>
> I had the same symptons when starting diving (last spring). I found that
> as my ear clearing technique (pressure equalisation) improved, so the
> amount of orange mucuous dereased, by the end of the summer the problem
> had become a distant memory.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Martin
Ive just started to diving aswell and everytime I clear my nose afterwards
its full of blood. Also for a day or two after it contains blood. It
doesnt really seem to be any big deal, i hope im not dying. The only
reason i found it unusual was because I never get nose bleeds.....
I think it could be related to me surfacing too quickly..as i tend to get
reverse blocks....
Dr. Meir Aviram
in your skull. When pressure rises they equilibrate through only one
opening which in this case is clogged.
this can cause a rupture in soft tissues, and therefore, bleeding.
wait untill it passes.
dr. meir aviram
Kenneth A. Smith
sinusitis of a localized sinus infection, but some have a chronic case
that doesnt pass. I for one choose to dive and manage the bad days with
Actifed and very slow decents for clearing (not usually a problem) and
very slow ascents (I consider this more important) to allow for the
pressure release. Once on the surface, blow the crap out and Im good
for the rest of the day diving. I have found the slow ascent actually
gives me better sinus releif (once its blown out) than any decongestant
or anthist.
My opinion for my diving..
Ken
Dr. Meir Aviram
actually, diving with sinusitis is very bad for you. The sinuses tend
to close, for they only have one opening to equize pressures from, and
this one is closed in Sinusitis. Rise in pressure can cause rupture of
the tissues inside, & henceforth the bleeding.
any more questions i'll be glad to help.
Dr. Meir Aviram
Al Gerheim
experienced) said that sinus squeezes could be temporarily painful,
but would not cause long-term pain or damage. I made several dives
with clogged sinuses and just held my nose and blew like crazy.
During one of my open water check out dives, we did the exercise
where the instructor shuts off your air, and you ditch your belt and
surface. I had to do this twice in about 20' of water, and had
trouble with clogged sinuses. I got through it OK, but had blood
in my mask when it was over. No long-term problems, just like he
said.
Again, use your own judgement.
--
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Dan Lakeland
>Take this with a bucketfull of disclaimers, but my instructor (vy
>experienced) said that sinus squeezes could be temporarily painful,
>but would not cause long-term pain or damage. I made several dives
>with clogged sinuses and just held my nose and blew like crazy.
>During one of my open water check out dives, we did the exercise
>where the instructor shuts off your air, and you ditch your belt and
>surface. I had to do this twice in about 20' of water, and had
>trouble with clogged sinuses. I got through it OK, but had blood
>in my mask when it was over. No long-term problems, just like he
>said.
I'd say he was probably wrong. It's possible that when you damage the
linings of your sinuses, to the point where they are bleeding, that you
will form scar tissue, or a blood clot, which may permanently block the
sinus, and therefore ruin your diving career (at least until you have
very painful sinus surgery which will clear it up). Let me put it this
way. If your life doesn't depend on it, don't dive with sinus blockages.
(I have a sinus blockage right now after having a cold for a few days,
it's PAINFUL to even go 2-3 feet under water holding my breath).
--
Daniel Lakeland: Macintosh Hacker, Mathematics Major, Be computing
"Hairy Guy", NRA Member, and Libertarian. Prevent the government from
disarming, searching, seizing, jailing, beating, and otherwise abusing
your rights! THE 9th AMENDMENT:live its message.