Snot explosion into mask

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Dannyboyy - 24 May 2005 04:14 GMT

My brother living in NZ suffers from horrible sinus problems and right now
he is on the mend inthe hospital from what they think is a case of
menengitis - very scary. He had a sinus infection for the last 2 to 3 weeks
and was diving at only three feet down when his mask filled with mucus. (I
think this event occured probably before the infection) Either way he knew
something was wrong with his sinus's. Has anyone heard of this happening?
We are very concerned that something else might be going on as they have not
locked it down to menengitis.

Reply to this Message

Lee Bell - 24 May 2005 11:32 GMT

> My brother living in NZ suffers from horrible sinus problems and right now
> he is on the mend inthe hospital from what they think is a case of
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> not
> locked it down to menengitis.

Not at 3 feet. Then again, most of us don't dive when we're having severe
sinus problems.

A mask full of snot is not all that unusual. As you descend, the pressure
increases in all of the sinus cavities as they equalize internal pressure
with that of the surrounding environment. You ascend, that pressure
equalizes in the opposite direction and, sometimes, carries other things
with it as it exits.

A messy mask is the least of reasons for staying on the surface while
congested. To avoid damage to the ears, internal pressure must equalize
both during descent and ascent. If the passages are blocked, it can't.

Lee

Reply to this Message

Dannyboyy - 24 May 2005 22:42 GMT

Thanks for your replies. My brother was featured in Rodales working diver
years ago and is now a Dr. of marine ecology working on post doc in NZ in
Fyordland (sp) so he is definately an experienced and careful diver. He has
chronic sinus and alergy problems. I sent out this post looking for help
based on all I knew at the time. That approx. three weeks or so ago he had
a mucus blowout into his mask at 3 feet and it really scared him. Like,
perhaps his sinus's were going in a different bad direction. I think it is
a volume thing that freaked him out. I know this is gross but he is now
recovering from meningitis and wants to see an ENT for a consult. Perhaps
DAN might have some addl info?

Thanks again.

> > My brother living in NZ suffers from horrible sinus problems and right now
> > he is on the mend inthe hospital from what they think is a case of
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
>
> Lee

Reply to this Message

Greg Mossman - 24 May 2005 23:12 GMT

> Thanks for your replies. My brother was featured in Rodales working diver
> years ago and is now a Dr. of marine ecology working on post doc in NZ in
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> recovering from meningitis and wants to see an ENT for a consult. Perhaps
> DAN might have some addl info?

Is the socialized medicine in NZ so bad that they have to resort to asking
rec.scuba for advice? Instead of wanting to see an ENT for a consult, why
doesn't he see an ENT for a consult?

Rather than asking us whether DAN might have some addl info, why don't you
ask DAN?

Are you some sort of poorly worded troll?

Have you had the snot analyzed?

Reply to this Message

Lee Bell - 25 May 2005 02:15 GMT

> . . . and wants to see an ENT for a consult. Perhaps
> DAN might have some addl info?

An ENT is a good idea. If nothing else, DAN probably will be able to direct
him to one with diving knowledge.

Lee

Reply to this Message

Scott - 25 May 2005 02:15 GMT

> > . . . and wants to see an ENT for a consult. Perhaps
> > DAN might have some addl info?
>
> An ENT is a good idea. If nothing else, DAN probably will be able to direct
> him to one with diving knowledge.

Or, if it is just mucous related, the CLET guys...

Reply to this Message

Dillon Pyron - 24 May 2005 17:45 GMT

>My brother living in NZ suffers from horrible sinus problems and right now
>he is on the mend inthe hospital from what they think is a case of
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>We are very concerned that something else might be going on as they have not
>locked it down to menengitis.

I sometimes have snot in my mask when I'm healthy. It happens if I
get some water in my nose, perhaps if I don't clear my mask
sufficiently.

f.ck, menningitis is nothing to be laughed at. But why was he diving
if he felt "out of it", or did he not know he was sick?

Signature

dillon
Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend.
Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read.

Reply to this Message

Greg Mossman - 24 May 2005 17:58 GMT

> f.ck, menningitis is nothing to be laughed at. But why was he diving
> if he felt "out of it", or did he not know he was sick?

Maybe it was a good dive. I've made plenty a "rec" dive when feeling "out
of it" because to not dive would mean sitting on the boat feeling out of it
and then feeling depressed when everyone came up with stories of whale
sharks and mermaids. If you're really sick, you can puke underwater. Or
blow your nose like this guy did. For me, "feeling out of it" could mean
I'm coming down with something, getting over something, really hungover, or
just sea sick.

But I won't ever again dive a rebreather when feeling out of it.

Reply to this Message