bizarre breathing problem

PCDiver · 6th August 2006, 16:43

I noticed the following bizarre problem and would like to know whether someone else experienced this.

The following happened a couple of times to me on several dives. When I dive with my head down probably under an angle of 10 to 20 degrees, I sometimes get a weird feeling in the back of my throat. The feeling can be compared to snorring

. My airway seems restricted in my throat. It really hinders my breathing. When I dive with my head higher than my feet it goes away.

I noticed this on a couple of shallow dives, but paid no attention to it. It wasn't a real problem. On a recent deeper dive, I had to bailout because of this problem. I thought I had a massive CO2 hit, but I don't think this was the case.

The last week I made a couple of test dives and found out that it seems related to my position. But i'm not excluding other things like CO2, alergic reactions, ...

Very strange.

Info and help really apreciated.

Thanks,

Peter

**RichClark** · 6th August 2006, 16:58

Hi Peter,

I actually had the exact same problem. I tends to happen to me when my mask strap isn't tight enough - I think it's caused by a small amount of involuntary nose breathing.

Next time it happens, try holding your nose and see if the problem goes away.

Cheers

Rich

PCDiver · 6th August 2006, 20:52

Quote: (Originally Posted by RichClark)

Hi Peter,

I actually had the exact same problem. I tends to happen to me when my mask strap isn't tight enough - I think it's caused by a small amount of involuntary nose breathing.

Next time it happens, try holding your nose and see if the problem goes away.

Cheers

Rich

Thanks Rich,

Glad I'm not the only one. I'll try to tighten my mask strap.

But I already have mask marks on my face hours after each dive.

Anyone with a scientific explanation on what is actually going on.

Thanks,

Peter

***ScubaDadMiami*** · 6th August 2006, 21:11

Does this same thing happen to you on OC?

PCDiver · 7th August 2006, 01:00

Quote: (Originally Posted by ScubaDadMiami)

Does this same thing happen to you on OC?

This never happened on OC.

bendomatic · 7th August 2006, 02:58

Not sure what breather you have so consider this in relation to whether or not your counterlungs are OTS or backmounted etc. Do you think its due to slight pressure differential between your lungs and counterlungs ie like a squeeze, that you notice in the back of your throat because the uvula (the dangly bit at the back of the throat) and soft palate are sensitive.

PCDiver · 7th August 2006, 03:24

Quote: (Originally Posted by bendomatic)

Not sure what breather you have so consider this in relation to whether or not your counterlungs are OTS or backmounted etc. Do you think its due to slight pressure differential between your lungs and counterlungs ie like a squeeze, that you notice in the back of your throat because the uvula (the dangly bit at the back of the throat) and soft palate are sensitive.

It happened on my Inspiration with OTS lungs and it seems to occur more when I use BMCLs on my Inspiration. A pressure difference could be causing it, but I'm not sure why and how.

bendomatic · 7th August 2006, 04:05

Quote: (Originally Posted by PCDiver)

It happened on my Inspiration with OTS lungs and it seems to occur more when I use BMCLs on my Inspiration. A pressure difference could be causing it, but I'm not sure why and how.

if the BMCL are too low down the back, a squeeze sensation might be experienced by some.

the other thing i thought of is, that the glottis is closed and catching for some reason when exhaling

do you notice whether its more of a problem on inhale or exhale?

i must be trying to avoid work with all these questions.

anyways something to ponder.

i guess if you're not getting hurt or feeling sick and its only a temporary/intermittent problem then its probably not too serious.

regards
rachel

PCDiver · 7th August 2006, 04:22

Quote: (Originally Posted by bendomatic)

if the BMCL are too low down the back, a squeeze sensation might be experienced by some.

the other thing i thought of is, that the glottis is closed and catching for some reason when exhaling

do you notice whether its more of a problem on inhale or exhale?

i must be trying to avoid work with all these questions.

anyways something to ponder.

i guess if you're not getting hurt or feeling sick and its only a temporary/intermittent problem then its probably not too serious.

regards
rachel

I'm not sure whether it happens during inhale or exhale. I'll try to notice that next time.

But is not only inconvient. It got me in REAL trouble on a deep dive. I had to bailout during the last minute of our planned time because I couldn't breath properly. So I need to find out why it is happening. Not being able to breath unrestricted at 50-60 meters is no fun. It took me a couple of minutes to get my breathing back under control on OC. The breathing problem probably caused a CO2 build up. My RMV after switching to bailout was extremely high.

Thanks for the feedback Rachel.

decoweenie · 7th August 2006, 04:35

Did you check how full were your CL at the time of the incident ?

6th August 2006, 16:43	#1 (permalink)
PCDiver Submerge Productions Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Belgium Posts: 887	bizarre breathing problem I noticed the following bizarre problem and would like to know whether someone else experienced this. The following happened a couple of times to me on several dives. When I dive with my head down probably under an angle of 10 to 20 degrees, I sometimes get a weird feeling in the back of my throat. The feeling can be compared to snorring . My airway seems restricted in my throat. It really hinders my breathing. When I dive with my head higher than my feet it goes away. I noticed this on a couple of shallow dives, but paid no attention to it. It wasn't a real problem. On a recent deeper dive, I had to bailout because of this problem. I thought I had a massive CO2 hit, but I don't think this was the case. The last week I made a couple of test dives and found out that it seems related to my position. But i'm not excluding other things like CO2, alergic reactions, ... Very strange. Info and help really apreciated. Thanks, Peter
(Online)

6th August 2006, 16:58	#2 (permalink)
RichClark Classic KISS No. 226 Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hove, UK Posts: 759	Re: bizarre breathing problem Hi Peter, I actually had the exact same problem. I tends to happen to me when my mask strap isn't tight enough - I think it's caused by a small amount of involuntary nose breathing. Next time it happens, try holding your nose and see if the problem goes away. Cheers Rich __________________ The more I learn about women, the more I want to go diving... just don't tell my wife I said that To taste something a little different, try http://www.thechillikitchen.co.uk
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6th August 2006, 20:52	#3 (permalink)
PCDiver Submerge Productions Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Belgium Posts: 887	Re: bizarre breathing problem Quote: (Originally Posted by RichClark) Hi Peter, I actually had the exact same problem. I tends to happen to me when my mask strap isn't tight enough - I think it's caused by a small amount of involuntary nose breathing. Next time it happens, try holding your nose and see if the problem goes away. Cheers Rich Thanks Rich, Glad I'm not the only one. I'll try to tighten my mask strap. But I already have mask marks on my face hours after each dive. Anyone with a scientific explanation on what is actually going on. Thanks, Peter
(Online)

6th August 2006, 21:11	#4 (permalink)
*ScubaDadMiami* Moderator Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Florida, USA Posts: 1,896	Re: bizarre breathing problem Does this same thing happen to you on OC? __________________ Howard Packer IANTD CCR Instructor Miami Beach, Florida CCRDiveTraining.com
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7th August 2006, 01:00	#5 (permalink)
PCDiver Submerge Productions Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Belgium Posts: 887	Re: bizarre breathing problem Quote: (Originally Posted by ScubaDadMiami) Does this same thing happen to you on OC? This never happened on OC.
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7th August 2006, 02:58	#6 (permalink)
bendomatic it's a girl due 20th May Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Brisbane Australia Posts: 198	Re: bizarre breathing problem Not sure what breather you have so consider this in relation to whether or not your counterlungs are OTS or backmounted etc. Do you think its due to slight pressure differential between your lungs and counterlungs ie like a squeeze, that you notice in the back of your throat because the uvula (the dangly bit at the back of the throat) and soft palate are sensitive. __________________ why deal with idiots on the net when you have to spend all day dealing with them at work.
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7th August 2006, 03:24	#7 (permalink)
PCDiver Submerge Productions Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Belgium Posts: 887	Re: bizarre breathing problem Quote: (Originally Posted by bendomatic) Not sure what breather you have so consider this in relation to whether or not your counterlungs are OTS or backmounted etc. Do you think its due to slight pressure differential between your lungs and counterlungs ie like a squeeze, that you notice in the back of your throat because the uvula (the dangly bit at the back of the throat) and soft palate are sensitive. It happened on my Inspiration with OTS lungs and it seems to occur more when I use BMCLs on my Inspiration. A pressure difference could be causing it, but I'm not sure why and how.
(Online)

7th August 2006, 04:05	#8 (permalink)
bendomatic it's a girl due 20th May Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Brisbane Australia Posts: 198	Re: bizarre breathing problem Quote: (Originally Posted by PCDiver) It happened on my Inspiration with OTS lungs and it seems to occur more when I use BMCLs on my Inspiration. A pressure difference could be causing it, but I'm not sure why and how. if the BMCL are too low down the back, a squeeze sensation might be experienced by some. the other thing i thought of is, that the glottis is closed and catching for some reason when exhaling do you notice whether its more of a problem on inhale or exhale? i must be trying to avoid work with all these questions. anyways something to ponder. i guess if you're not getting hurt or feeling sick and its only a temporary/intermittent problem then its probably not too serious. regards rachel __________________ why deal with idiots on the net when you have to spend all day dealing with them at work.
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7th August 2006, 04:22	#9 (permalink)
PCDiver Submerge Productions Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Belgium Posts: 887	Re: bizarre breathing problem Quote: (Originally Posted by bendomatic) if the BMCL are too low down the back, a squeeze sensation might be experienced by some. the other thing i thought of is, that the glottis is closed and catching for some reason when exhaling do you notice whether its more of a problem on inhale or exhale? i must be trying to avoid work with all these questions. anyways something to ponder. i guess if you're not getting hurt or feeling sick and its only a temporary/intermittent problem then its probably not too serious. regards rachel I'm not sure whether it happens during inhale or exhale. I'll try to notice that next time. But is not only inconvient. It got me in REAL trouble on a deep dive. I had to bailout during the last minute of our planned time because I couldn't breath properly. So I need to find out why it is happening. Not being able to breath unrestricted at 50-60 meters is no fun. It took me a couple of minutes to get my breathing back under control on OC. The breathing problem probably caused a CO2 build up. My RMV after switching to bailout was extremely high. Thanks for the feedback Rachel.
(Online)

7th August 2006, 04:35	#10 (permalink)
decoweenie Crash Test Dummy Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cairo Posts: 5,510	Re: bizarre breathing problem Did you check how full were your CL at the time of the incident ? __________________ "...after a while you get bored offering advice to a bull that like to keep butting the fence with its head rather than walking through the open gate..." - Rebreather World PM
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