Lung squeeze and SCUBA

[kylemcburnie]

Hi guys,
I realize there are a lot of threads about lung squeeze and I've been reading up on it but I guess I had a more specific question...
Just to give some background -
Been on Bonaire since January and have picked up a freediving bug, my goal before I left (April 30) was to get to 100 feet. I've been diving no fins as I just enjoy it more, find it so much more freeing.

But anyways, so before yesterday my PB had been 80 feet, and I went out yesterday and made it to 85 feet. Upon ascending I was pretty happy, and I took in a few breaths and then coughed, as I often have in the past on deeper dives. I always attributed it to the trace amount of water I would suck in through the snorkel, except this time it tasted different and I spat out, and there was a fair amount of blood in my saliva.
I returned to land and coughed up more blood, spitting it out onto my hand to see how much there was and it pretty much covered my whole hand. I had no pain however, no dizzyness or shortness of breath...

So it's protocol of the study abroad program I'm currently at to bring me to the hospital, so they did and essentially they told me nothing was wrong, that I was fine, a one day break would be adequate.
So I did a little of my own research on lung squeeze - which is what I believe it to be - I equalize using valsava and on this particular dive had a pretty bad contraction at my max depth, a depth I had never been to before.

What I'm curious about is the healing time - I'd be pretty dissapointed if I had to take a break from freediving for the next 2 weeks I'm on the island (and not reach my goal), but I don't think I could go without SCUBA diving.
From what I've read, lung squeeze is really only a problem when you're reaching residual capacity, so I THINK if I'm just careful on SCUBA it really shouldn't be a problem? Since the volume of my lungs is remaining stable throughout the dive.

All help and opinions appreciated! I'd really like to get back out there rofl

 

[azapa]

first, I am not a scientist so these pointers are just my attempt to help.
To analyse your problem, on the day:

- did your sinuses hurt a little?
- were you really straining to equalize? (maybe reverse packing at depth?)
- was your breathing rough or raspy (sounds more so through a snorkel) afterward?

with those answers we can help a little better. Also, I doubt you were doing Valsalva at 80 feet, more like a combination of things. Plain old valsalva normally fails about 40 feet.

 

[kylemcburnie]

My sinuses didn't hurt at all, and I didn't have any congestion prior to the dive
I was definitely straining to equalize, had to flex my core to equalize completely, and i didn't notice any rough or raspy breathing afterwards - although I was coughing.

 

[azapa]

Sounds most like a squeeze and the cough is another indicator (tickly throat type cough). Regarding the raspiness: sometimes you really need to breathe in and out fully and slowly to notice it, maybe you just didn't.

Of course its very hard to know what to say, but most squeezes are made worse if you carry on diving in the first month or so after them, no idea about the scuba, but it sure would not help things heal. Some squeezes can be made so bad they never really let you dive again as before.

 

[Simos]

I don't know much either about scuba but i'd check it out with a dr or something before scuba diving as lung squeeze can happen while scuba diving as far as I know? Mostly it's the opposite ie if hold your breath while ascending etc. But not sure what happens while scuba diving at depth, I would imagine that there is still pressure on your lungs when you exhale etc so better ask someone who knows...
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[cdavis]

Scuba is not a great idea, although it would probably be safe. What you don't know about how much damage has been done is the problem. Sufficient damage can result in areas of the lung that don't equalize either going up or down. The possibility of something very bad happening can not be eliminated.

Freediving soon after a squeeze is also a bad idea. Like Azapa said, each time gets worse and takes longer to heal (unpleasant personal experience). Lay off entirely for a month or so and go very slow thereafter is the best policy, even if it is miserable in your case.

In general, straining to equalize is bad and will eventually get you in squeeze trouble. Learn mouthfil or get very good at Frenzel. If you are straining at 85, 100 is not in the cards without a lot of diving or better technique.

As to your particular case, what do your lungs feel like? Anything like the tail end of a chest cold, any urge to cough, especially on full exhale, feeling strange on a full inhale or full exhale, any general discomfort? Anything at all, even if it seems insignificant? If you have none of those or anything else, i.e., everything feels perfect, you might have had a trachea squeeze/tear. That should be much less of a problem. If you decide to go diving again, go slow, forget about 100 ft, don't strain to clear. There is always next year.

Good luck with it.

Connor