Why not treat DCS yourself?

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WetSEAL

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From what I've read and heard from those who've had it, it seems that DCS symptoms come on fairly gradually, and get worse over the next couple hours.

The treatment is hyperbaric oxygen therapy, but time is of the essence, and the longer you wait the greater the risk of permanent damage. In most cases, it will probably be a couple hours before you get into a hyperbaric machine even if you call right away. In addition, because of the time sensitivity, you'll probably be taking an ambulance (at least $3000), in addition to whatever they charge for the emergency hyperbaric chamber -- probably at least $2000, and probably another few grand in Doctor's fees etc.

I'm struggling to understand why this is considered a "reasonable" treatment for a diver who is seeing signs of DCS immediately after a dive, but is still calm and in control. Why not simply have a spare 100% O2 cylinder in case of emergency, strap it on and go for a second dive? It would seem to give you the exact same thing as oxygen in a hyperbaric chamber, except you don't have to wait around for hours to get into a hyperbaric chamber while symptoms get worse, and instead of costing $5,000+ it costs only a $10 preventative air fill.

And if you don't have O2 available, why would you not recommend the person at least go back down and chill out for a few minutes at 15 ft with standard compressed air?

Note: Obviously, you'd have to be careful about the depth and time which you breathe 100% O2 on this treatment dive, but there could be simple tables that give you estimates of this based on your nitrogen loading -- or it could even hypothetically be a feature built into your dive computer if it detected you ascended too fast/ missed a DCS stop.
 
Why not buy DAN insurance and let a controlled chamber ride do the trick instead of risk O2 toxicity in a self treatment (that could go really bad -being under water)?
 
OP, look up innumerable threads on "in-water recompression" (IWR) and do some reading. The biggest single problem is that if you go deep enough for long enough to simulate a chamber treatment, you are risking OxTox, so even those who advocate IWR say you need a full-face mask and a safety diver with you. If no chamber is available, IWR may be better than nothing, but pure O2 at the surface plus a chamber is the clear recommendation.
 
I believe Paralysis is a fairly common symptom for serious cases of DCS. May be quite easy to turn DCS into DEAD if IWRC is attempted.
 
From what I've read and heard from those who've had it, it seems that DCS symptoms come on fairly gradually, and get worse over the next couple hours.

The treatment is hyperbaric oxygen therapy, but time is of the essence, and the longer you wait the greater the risk of permanent damage. In most cases, it will probably be a couple hours before you get into a hyperbaric machine even if you call right away. In addition, because of the time sensitivity, you'll probably be taking an ambulance (at least $3000), in addition to whatever they charge for the emergency hyperbaric chamber -- probably at least $2000, and probably another few grand in Doctor's fees etc.

I'm struggling to understand why this is considered a "reasonable" treatment for a diver who is seeing signs of DCS immediately after a dive, but is still calm and in control. Why not simply have a spare 100% O2 cylinder in case of emergency, strap it on and go for a second dive? It would seem to give you the exact same thing as oxygen in a hyperbaric chamber, except you don't have to wait around for hours to get into a hyperbaric chamber while symptoms get worse, and instead of costing $5,000+ it costs only a $10 preventative air fill.

And if you don't have O2 available, why would you not recommend the person at least go back down and chill out for a few minutes at 15 ft with standard compressed air?

Note: Obviously, you'd have to be careful about the depth and time which you breathe 100% O2 on this treatment dive, but there could be simple tables that give you estimates of this based on your nitrogen loading -- or it could even hypothetically be a feature built into your dive computer if it detected you ascended too fast/ missed a DCS stop.

The non obvious thing about oxygen toxicity is that it is less likely in a chamber than in the water, as well as the concequences being a lot less severe. This means that the initial treatment is at 18m. It gradually gets shallower, but it lasts for 5 or 6 hours.
 
Money is a non issue with Dan and health insurance.

There are procedures, depending on the country, for "in water recompression." Search that phrase and you'll read all about it.

IMO, IWR is based solely on the ability to get to a chamber, not money.

There are quite a few divers who self treat due to lack of insurance and/or money.
 
The other option is simply to not take DCS that seriously.

Check out this video. One of the female divers gets DCS and describes it as like her "arm being sawn off". They just sat her down, put her on 100% O2 and commented to the camera that she's "had a bit of minor DCS". I couldn't believe my eyes.
 
No video Tom
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/peregrine/

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