Bleeding nose

[Tommy85]

I was out spearfishing and was diving to around 15m, after a few dives my sinueses gradually got worse and worse to the point i was diving to not much deeper than 5m. I saw a big coral trout down deep, being the stubborn person that i am i pushed myself down, the pain was never that great so i kepts going, suddenly no pain at all, great i thought and shot the fish and came back to the surface, on my next dive as soon as i left the surface my mask started to fill up with blood, after resting for half an hour on the boat i tried to dive again only about 3m deep and blood began to flow again, ive learnt my lesson, i wont try and push through the pain again. I was wondering if anyone could please tell me what has actually happended and how long i should wait before i dive again, i have already passed up a dive trip its been about 3 weeks now, am i right to get back into it? Thanks

 

[Longfins]

You very likely experienced a sinus squeeze, where a sinus cavitiy was inflamed, shut off, and pressure from repeat dives to depth damaged it, which caused the bleeding. I had the same experience a few months ago.

This is a serious and potentially permanent injury. I don't know how long it will take for you to get back to diving. If you get in the water tomorrow and it hurts as you dive, it may still be blocked.

It's best to see an ENT doctor about this.

Peter S.

 

[Tommy85]

Thanks Peter, does this mean when i return to my diving if i experience any pain at all to return to the surface? how long did it take for you to get back in the water?thanks

 

[Longfins]

Well, if you dive and you experience a sharp stabbing pain like an icepick, diving as shallow as 1 foot, then your sinus passage is still blocked. In which case stop diving immediately!

In my case it took around 8 days before I can dive again (I was medicated every day though). However, the area is now sensitive to every little inflamation and if I do a negative pressure dive to 10m I would get the sinus block again. It's been a few months now and I really have to treat my sinuses really gently.

Peter S.

 

[Tommy85]

Its been 3 weeks now, and i have to travel for the next 3 weekends which will mean at least 6 weeks out of the water, im hoping this will be enough recovery time, are there any things you can do prior to a dive to help clear your sinuses at all?

 

[JPPLAY]

Its been 3 weeks now, and i have to travel for the next 3 weekends which will mean at least 6 weeks out of the water, im hoping this will be enough recovery time, are there any things you can do prior to a dive to help clear your sinuses at all?

You can go see a doctor so they can take a look and give you medical help if needed or tell you when you are all clear to dive.

 

[SurfnSpear]

Brand: New Era
Product: Combination Q Tissue Salts

New Era Bio chemic remedy, homoeopathically prepared from safe, natural and non-habit forming active ingredients. Active constituents: (in homoeopathic potencies) Equal Proportions Ferr.Phos (iron phosphate B.P.C.) 6x
Kali.Mur. (potassium chloride Ph.Eur) 6x
Kali.Sulph (potassium Sulphate B.P.C. 1949) 6x
Nat.Mur (sodium Chloride Ph.Eur.) 6x
Also contains Lactose






Hi, I had similar problem and I have been using these and after a week of taking them....no blood nose so far after 3 dives. They are Combination Q tissue salts aparently based on a 'Dr. Schuessler's Nutritional Biochemic System of Medicine'...still take medical advice whenever possible though.

Hope this helps

Regards

 

[John A]

Thanks Peter, does this mean when i return to my diving if i experience any pain at all to return to the surface? how long did it take for you to get back in the water?thanks

You need to see an ENT and a good one. I did a very similar thing about 20 years ago and just about ruined my sinus cavity under my right cheek. What I did by pushing it was shove all kinds of crud into the cavity and over expand it, it than gets stuck in there and festers. Compounded the problem by going to a GP (did not treat it properly) and had a sinus infection for about 5 years on and off, C-scan showed the problem. If you did what I did, than it is about a month of antibiotics and no diving. Since than I have had to be very careful with my diving. Good Luck.

John

 

[Tommy85]

Might sound stupid but what is an ENT doctor?

 

[naiad]

ENT = Ear, Nose and Throat

 

[portinfer]

Hi - I had a similar problem last year but maybe to a lesser degree - have a search for 'Orange Stuff' - I think that is what the thread was called...

Anyway I stopped going beneath the surface for a very long time and am now gradually getting back into it with 8m dives etc.

Serious stuff... treat your sinuses with care - I guess that it took 6 months for mine to get better and stop bleeding everytime I went below 3m.... So if you want my advice, dont go below the surface for a while - get used to shallow snorkelling... sad but at least you wont have a potential 5 yr problem like that other guy.

 

[Tommy85]

Thanks for all the replies and advice, i hadnt been expecting to get in the water for a few weeks yet but the sea's were so flat last thursday i had to jump in for a quick dive after work, i dove to around 6m with absolutely no pain, or blood, felt like going deeper but ill give it a few more weeks before i get back down there.