blood spitting

[Cliff Etzel]

OK - I just wanted to make sure. Thanks for clarifying your position on what you were commenting about.

[Jersey Jim]

"It took me a while to figure out what the cause was, and I now think that it was caused by 'aggressive' equalisation, and straining equalisation.... The forceful way I would try to squeeze out the last equalisation resulted (I now believe) in the rupture of small capilaries around the upper throat / pharynx area."
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Alun, I think you hit the nail on the head when you mentioned forceful eaqualization. The weekend I started spitting up blood, was one that I went 10' deeper than normal (95'), and I recall needing to force the equalizations. That entire week afterwards I had the worst sore throat (upper), and waves of what seemed like indigestion where the esophagus (sp?) meets the diaphram (if indeed they meet). Every ten minutes I would get this contraction or sensation to burp. Has anyone gotten this sensation after forceful equalizing? Your post has put my mind at ease, in that if I gradually progress to deeper depths, the body will adapt.
But where does the temporary "wheezing" come from while breathing up? I realize where the blood comes from on the deep breath holds, but what is the source of the phlegm that makes the wheezing sound?
These symptoms occured the following weekend as well, only to 86', but do you think more than a week of rest from freediving was necessary?
Thanks for the great info.
Jim

[Skindiver]

When dive i am responsible for myself. i know the risks and the rules. My buddy watching out for me is a bonus. Its not his responsibility to see to it that he can get me out if i over cook it.
If i do, and he pulls me out, i owe it to him for risking his life to save me as well as owing him for saving my life.
If i can out dive him, i dont risk his life by trying.

Aside from this, i dont think depth is an issue. Most problems will occur on the way back in anyones range. (-10m ) Its just a case of whether you are spotted before you sink down out of range.

I was diving in 15m of water in a lake with a new diver the other day when he didnt surface with me. 15 sec and 10 hasty puffs later i went down to find him in a panic thinking what i was going to say to his wife and i couldnt even dive past 10m. When i surfaced i looked about wildly and saw him where he had been all the while behind the buoy out of sight. I have no illusions about being able to save anyone unless the rescue 'falls into my lap' so to say.
The buck stops here.

Skindiver.

[scott]

The last two times I have gone freediving I have noiticed the feeling of fluid in my lungs. The last time (today) I noticed that I was coughing up blood. I remembered this thread and went back to read the info.

The only thing I do different than I used to is that my first dive is usually to around 60'. I used to "warm-up" for a dive or two before reaching 60+ . Perhaps I am just going deep too quick (and without any form of stretching before hand).

Any additonal thoughts on this matter (if there are any) would be welcomed.

BTW, these forums are a great source for all kinds of info (reminded as I looked back through the old threads). Query: any way of getting a forum search engine to allow easier access to a specific topic?

Scott

[Alun]

Your blood spitting problem is not caused by going too deep. 60 feet is not deep enough to create any form of negative pressure in your lungs (assuming you're taking a full breath). Actually, with adaptation it's possible to dive this deep with hardly any air in your lungs and still not generate excessive negative pressure. By excessive, I mean to a degree that will cause any form of lung injury. So, it's not from going too deep...
If you are not relaxed and having very big contractions down there, then that could possibly be a factor. Related to that-- look at how you're equalising -are you using the Valsalva? ie. contracting your abdominals to increase the air pressure. This method is far from ideal, and could be the cause. If so, then you should learn the Frenzel... find Eric Fattah's article on equalising.
I would also recommend that you only dive when you feel 100%. Dont dive if you feel in the slightest bit 'chesty' or not 'clear' in the lungs. Give yourself plenty of rest before you dive again.


alun