Ill during a dive

[benjamin]

Early one morning my buddy and I were getting ready to make a long swim at Peacock. We decided to eat breakfast after the dive. While we were getting ready I noticed I had not taken my (superman) B vitamin the day before, so I took 2 of them on an empty stomach. We hit the water and were having a great dive. When we reached about the most vulnerable place we could be for something to go wrong, I got sick as a dog. With the feeling of power barffing coming on strong, I stopped, got on the line, checked my time + D stop to open water was half hour out (that created a few miserable thoughts). I covered my mask and reg with my right hand so I wouldn't blow either of them out or off, got my thought life together and waited for the fun to begin. I violently threw-up, projectile vomited, and dry heaved 'til there was nothing but dust left. This lasted just over 5 minutes, (doesn't seem long 'til it's you doing it) when things settled down I ok'd my buddy and thumbed the dive. We had a great swim out. Something so small and seemingly insignificant suddenly turned to a possible life-threatening situation for me and possibly my buddy. I made a mistake that day and I learned something from it. Hope this helps somebody.

[FW]

This was worthy of it's own thread.

[JeffBerry]

That happens to more than a few of us on the great lakes during rough DECO! Do you think it was the B vitamin with no food? That is a terrible feeling!

[Squirrel Girl]

Vitamins/minerals/supplements can make me feel a little queasy on an empty stomach. Add the conditions of a dive, and I can well believe you became ill from it.

On the final dive of my cave certification, another guy wound up feeding the fish. Ever since, if I get the flu or otherwise have to barf (which is rare), as I heave into the toilet, I gasp for breath afterwards and think "if this happened U/W, I'd be dead." So I'm really curious. You survived, obviously. How close a call was it? I know you're supposed to leave your reg in. And I know those few times I've tossed my cookies unviolently, I think "I'd survive this U/W." So what can you tell us? Did you have to purge before sucking air back in? Anything else?

[scububa]

I can't take any vitamin on an empty stomach. Not even a multi-vitamin. I learned that a long time ago during a morning run.

p.s. So, I never take a vitamin except after a meal and I quit running

[benjamin]

Vitamins/minerals/supplements can make me feel a little queasy on an empty stomach. Add the conditions of a dive, and I can well believe you became ill from it.

On the final dive of my cave certification, another guy wound up feeding the fish. Ever since, if I get the flu or otherwise have to barf (which is rare), as I heave into the toilet, I gasp for breath afterwards and think "if this happened U/W, I'd be dead." So I'm really curious. You survived, obviously. How close a call was it? I know you're supposed to leave your reg in. And I know those few times I've tossed my cookies unviolently, I think "I'd survive this U/W." So what can you tell us? Did you have to purge before sucking air back in? Anything else?

I had never thrown-up through a regulator and didn't really know how things were going to go and the thought of it was really messing with my head because we were so far in the system and the passage was low and silty. Anyway I concentrated on controlling my breathing and not to try to involitarily breath through my nose, I heaved and then inhaled as quick and deep as I could. I kinda got a rhythm going with it, after about a minute and a half or so I was fairly comfortable and got through the rest of it. I never had to purge the regulator, if I hadn't held my regulator and mask on as tight as I did I would have would have lost them both for sure. That would have bagged me a drowning for sure. It's amazing how fast the mind can go either direction, if it starts to go bad stop it and turn your thoughts in the other direction. Think things through, there is always an answer.

[JeffBerry]

I had a buddie puke grapes throug his reg! You need to keep it in!

[RN]

I've come close to this point on a few dives. Usually it's because all the snot in my sinuses has finally worked its way to my nose and throat and I start to gag (I have a really bad gag reflex). Only one way to take care of it.

As for pills, there are very few I will take on an empty stomach. I remember taking a sudafed on an empty stomach a while back and had to scrap the dive before I even left the house because I was suddenly nauseated about 15 minutes after taking it. Now I wait 15 minutes after eating before taking most pills.

[Squirrel Girl]

I had never thrown-up through a regulator and didn't really know how things were going to go and the thought of it was really messing with my head because we were so far in the system and the passage was low and silty. Anyway I concentrated on controlling my breathing and not to try to involitarily breath through my nose, I heaved and then inhaled as quick and deep as I could. I kinda got a rhythm going with it, after about a minute and a half or so I was fairly comfortable and got through the rest of it. I never had to purge the regulator, if I hadn't held my regulator and mask on as tight as I did I would have would have lost them both for sure. That would have bagged me a drowning for sure. It's amazing how fast the mind can go either direction, if it starts to go bad stop it and turn your thoughts in the other direction. Think things through, there is always an answer.

Sadly, I am glad you provided TMI. It might help me and or others. There are several dives where I came mighty close to barfing. I knew to keep the reg in, but I'm not sure I would have thought of holding on to the reg (and even less the mask). Maybe I would have held onto the reg. I probably would have had my hand at the purge button and ready to purge if necessary.

I'm thinking it's a new drill for classes. Ipecac in the open water.


It's sad that we have an emoticon for this thread!

[BigBoB]

Another reason not to wear a ffm!