headache after dive

[rexters]

<font color='#FF0000'>hi after every dive i get a really bad headache, its worse the deeper i go and worse after each dive, i know my air source is good so i dont know whats causing it but its ruining my diving, does any body else get this or had it and what causes it hope some one can help

[Helen F H]

<font color='#000080'>It could be from blood pressure being elevated during the dive. &nbsp;
As you may notice if you need a pee at the start of the dive, you will be desperate by the end! &nbsp;This is cos the body tries to get rid of what it sees as too much water by the only way it effectivley can - making you pee. &nbsp;Make sure you are fully hydrated before you dive to avoid getting dehydrated - a major contributing factor to many bends.

I had a stonking headache two days running in scapa - but i know this was due to the bloody ferry coming in at 3am and fannying about with the bow thrusters which sounded like someone hoovering the deck of the boat.

Our ex-DO used to get a headache whenever he worked hard underwater - he used to say it was a CO2 headache, but as far as i know you must be doing something wrong to get one of these (but i may be wrong) i think they are more likley with full face masks.

Is the neckseal of your drysuit tight? &nbsp;This can cause pressure on the vagus nerve (part of the parasympathectic nervous system, i think its the 9th cranial nerve...not sure there either) which can cause all sorts of havoc with the body, and also bugger about with the blood pressure in your head.

Lastly, do you wear glasses? &nbsp;You may need a prescription mask if you do, as eyestrain may cause probs too.

However, a headache can be a symptom of a bend, so i would suggest you talk to the DDRC, they are quick to reply and very helpful via email.

ddrc

[Dr Stevil]

Do you skip breathe? if so this can give you a headache due to increased CO2 levels

[rexters]

<font color='#FF0000'>thanks for your replys i dont skip breath and my dive plans are always very conservative i did think it may have been my neck seal but i have cut it down till its on the verge of leaking so thats ruled out i tried the link from porgs to the ddrc but it wont work do you know what the address is.
thanks for your replys you all certainly know your stuff hopefully i can get to the bottom of this and get on with enjoying my diving

[CotoChris]

<font color='#0000FF'>I occasionally get headaches from overexhaustion and takes me a couple of hours of resting before getting better. Your case seems to be more than this, does it happen when you are doing warm water diving?

[Mark]

<font color='#000080'>Dehydration causes headaches (can be really severe!) so make sure you drink plenty of water before diving. Don't drink booze the night before and stay off the coffee prior to diving. Fitting a pee-valve to your dry suit helps for when you are properly hydrated

Blocked sinuses can also give you severe headpain which can be mistaken for 'headaches'.

HTH

Mark.

[Paul Beal]

Rexters,

You don't seem to be having a very good time of this whole diving lark! Hope you have stopped the feeling ill after surfacing you asked about a while ago.

I used to get headaches after dives, I think usually due to dehydration. Assuming you have decided you have not got a bad fill, go for the avoidance of coffee/big night out the night before and drink plenty of water/squash. The key is to drink plenty in the time well before you kit up and then visit the little boys room at the last second before zipping up - or get a Pee valve!

HTH

Paul

[rexters]

<font color='#FF0000'>hi thanks again for all the replys some very usefull ideas, i am going to make sure i drink loads next dive and see how i go in reply to the question about diving in warm water i have done a few dives in the red sea and i never had even a slighteset headache which points towards drysuit neckseal but now i have adjusted it i cant see it being a prob so unless anyone else can think of anything it looks like dehydration.
well spotted paul with my last post, i think the feeling ill was related to &nbsp;one of my headaches thats how bad they are and on that paticular dive we were a bit deeper than usual so i think it was more severe.

[chrisch]

Try Nitrox

I have been diving for over 15 years and still get the odd headache when diving air. &nbsp;Last time was a 12m dive with a 3m safety stop !! (Suunto again..)

I have recently decided to use nitrox even on these shallow dives and so far have always had a clear head afterwards.

The extra few quid are well worth it.

Chris

[Noel Johnson]

Drink lots of water. I used to get the head aches but not now. The reason you may not get the aches in the Red Sea is possibly becaudse of the increased fluid consumption (water that is) associated with hot weather.

HTH

Noel