Sinus Squeeeeeeze.

[Greeker]

Hey everyone,

I don't mean to flog a dead horse, but this topic is very important to me as a diver.

I have been diving for years now, but in the past 2 years I have been getting chronic sinusitis and sinus squeeze "every" time I dive. To the point where I just can't dive anymore. I get the sharp pain in the forehead/eyes every time I try going deeper than 1 meter.

This summer, I was in the Med, and I got a throat infection. The doctors perscribed me antibiotics, and to my surprise, I could dive for the first time in ages with no problems as long as I was on the antibiotics. As soon as the perscription ran out, I got tube block again.

Does anyone have this problem to that severity?


I have heard of nasal irrigation, and I would like to know how to do itwithout the neti pot. All I have is a bowl and some salt packets that you get at places like McDonalds.

Any other suggestions?

 

[naiad]

All I have is a bowl and some salt packets that you get at places like McDonalds.

I think proper sea salt (from health shops) is better than table salt, which may contain additives and doesn't have all the minerals.

Lucia

 

[BennyB]

Simple way is to get a glass of pre-boiled water that is cooled down to about tepid, and put in about a teaspoon of salt. Taste it and it should taste very weak (you'll know if it's too weak/strong because it'll make your eyes water!).

Hold the glass up to your nose, cover one nostril with a finger and then dip the other nostril in the water and snort it up there, then let it run out your mouth. It's less "weird" if your nose is already in the water as it doesn't snort bubbles up there.

Slightly more posh version is to get a water bottle with one of those lids that you suck out of, and squeeze the water out.

Most posh is to get a NeilMed Medi rinse kit. These include a bottle with a tube in it so you can squeeze the bottle when it's upright and the solution comes out. Also comes with about 50 sachets of salt/bicarb mix. Cost me about £15 I think but it's pretty good.

Cheers,
Ben

 

[Yogaman]

Hey Greeker,

I know the feeling: You look forward to some good diving the whole weekend, you're physically prepared, mentally in sync, and amped up and all good to go. Then you get in the water, and after a dive or two (I've often found that my first dive goes perfect??) the squeeze kicks in. Really really really irritating - feel like a formula one that stalls on the start!!

My two cents worth of solutions? First of all everyone will tell you that diet is important, which I believe it is (although I've had days when I've had dairy products a while before and everything's been fine). Second, yes I think saltwater solutions are the way to go.

The best response I've had however, is when I've spent time in the ocean (read saltwater) for a while before. For example, after a surf, my sinus are usually clear, or after a longish while hanging on the surface freediving (and sniffing the odd saltwater) my sinuses seem good to go.


I used to do some dives and have a slight soreness in the sinus, but comfortable enough to carry on. However, this often lead to a nose-blead (from sinus tissue squeeze) which wasn't too nice.

Finally, I've been reading a book on how your subconscious/unconscious/conscious mind affects your state of health. Perhaps it's applicable to freediving too?? Visualising your sinuses super-clear and made for freediving...that kind of thing. More and more, society is waking up to how powerful this kind of thing is...

Anyway, that's my thoughts...

 

[gbo200]

Hi,

Check this thread.

[ame="http://forums.deeperblue.net/showthread.php?p=612098#post612098"]Sinus problems[/ame]

I have had the exact problem. I wouldn't bother squirting a bunch of wierd stuff up your nose. Go see you doctor and ask for a referral to an ENT.

Good luck and get well soon.

g.