65 year old wants to start again - advice plz

[Pedroinspain]

I am 65 years old, AOW PADI certified, have 115 logged dives. I am retired, and am active and well-occupied; little lounging in front of the TV. Vacation planning is in full swing, focussed on value-for-money travel. I have dived only twice in the past seven years. In November we go to Marsa Alam (Red Sea) for 2 weeks (almost exclusively diving and snorkelling with my wife. A month-long visit to Indonesia is planned for May 2013 which will included significant amounts of diving - Bunaken, Lembeh, Komodo and perhaps Raja Ampat (the cumulative fees, transport and lodge prices give me value concerns versus say more Komodo/Bunaken). I intend to take a break every second or third day for bird watching. I will be very conservative when starting again in Egypt.

So I visited my cardiologist (of the past eight years) last week - full spectrum of blood tests; blood pressure; rest ECG; ultra-sound heart and valve examination and a few days later a stress-ECG. Everything was normal; or even better than normal. The coronary arteries were in good shape and pulmonary functions were extraordinarily good. I needed to lose some weight and had to reconcile myself to a life on the cholesterol-lowering statins.

Now I need some forum advice:
1) Can my cardiologist provide a medical report on my health which will satisfy dive operators, or is it a must that I find a specialist in diving medicine to do the same tests (and others?) again?
2) I intend to confine myself to 18m depth, especially since I will be mainly using natural light for photography (aimed at ID rather than art). Nonetheless is there any reason at my age and with the above results not to go to 30 metres? I would stay well away from any risky dive profiles.
3) I sometimes used to take decongestants to help clear my Eustachian tubes. Is this considered to be a no-no?

Thanks in anticipation,
Pedro

 

[DocVikingo]

Bully for you, Pedro.

Your questions:

1) Can my cardiologist provide a medical report on my health which will satisfy dive operators, or is it a must that I find a specialist in diving medicine to do the same tests (and others?) again?

You present yourself as being in very good health overall. If you do not have any worrisome health issues to report on the routine medical questionnaire required by reputable dive ops, then you will not be asked to produce documentation of medical clearance to dive.

However, the significance of your seeing a cardiologist for the past 8 years is unclear at this point. Are you seeing this specialist because you have a history of cardiac issues? Do you have a history of any other medical issues that could adversely impact safe scuba?

In any event, for the venues you are planning to dive a licensed cardiologist is an acceptable source to provide written clearance to dive and clearance from a diving medicine specialist is not required. However, if one’s medical history is unusual or complicated it may be prudent to see such a specialist.

2) I intend to confine myself to 18m depth, especially since I will be mainly using natural light for photography (aimed at ID rather than art). Nonetheless is there any reason at my age and with the above results not to go to 30 meters? I would stay well away from any risky dive profiles.

In the absence of any medical or other reason to avoid depths up to 30 meters, your age, in-and-of-itself, would not be a sole reason for such avoidance. Nevertheless, conservative dive profiles are considered prudent for the aging diver.

3) I sometimes used to take decongestants to help clear my Eustachian tubes. Is this considered to be a no-no?

Provided that you are able to clear gently & completely, and the decongestant does not produce side effects of concern (the type you take is not specified), the use of such a medication, in-and-of-itself, is not a contraindication to scuba. However, you will want to take a long-acting/extended-release form of decongestant lest it wear off during a dive.

The fact you have dived only twice in the past seven years is of concern. It would be wise to take a refresher course before resuming the recreation. Also, if you are not renting, have your gear inspected & serviced.

Have blast.

Regards,

DocVikingo

This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual, and should not be construed as such.

 

[Pedroinspain]

Bully for you, Pedro.
Your questions:
1) Can my cardiologist provide a medical report on my health which will satisfy dive operators, or is it a must that I find a specialist in diving medicine to do the same tests (and others?) again?

You present yourself as being in very good health overall. If you do not have any worrisome health issues to report on the routine medical questionnaire required by reputable dive ops, then you will not be asked to produce documentation of medical clearance to dive.

However, the significance of your seeing a cardiologist for the past 8 years is unclear at this point. Are you seeing this specialist because you have a history of cardiac issues?

My father (very heavy smoker) died of cardiac arrest when he was 63 and my mother's brother when he was 69. I stopped smoking 12 years ago. I judged it prudent to have check-ups by a specialist every second year given this family history.

Do you have a history of any other medical issues that could adversely impact safe scuba?

I suffer from bad seasonal allergies, but with modern medication these can be easily controlled. My only other ailment is psoriatic arthritis, but other than for the annoyance factor, that is not an issue. My biggest niggle is having to pay ridiculously close attention to equalising often and descending VERY slowly over the first 3 metres.

3) I sometimes used to take decongestants to help clear my Eustachian tubes. Is this considered to be a no-no?

Provided that you are able to clear gently & completely, and the decongestant does not produce side effects of concern (the type you take is not specified), the use of such a medication, in-and-of-itself, is not a contraindication to scuba. However, you will want to take a long-acting/extended-release form of decongestant lest it wear off during a dive.

I used to take Sudafed, but only if I had problems 'popping' in the early morning. Is that still the medication of choice?

The fact you have dived only twice in the past seven years is of concern. It would be wise to take a refresher course before resuming the recreation. Also, if you are not renting, have your gear inspected & serviced.

I will enquire as to the cost/availability of a refresher course. I have to be honest and admit that I have been checking out the Padi videos on YouTube and will be repeating them before I go. I also included video instruction for my new dive computer. I was intending in fact to do some pool practice on arrival at Marsa Alam and then to seek a slack period on my first day or two and do the house reef at Brayka Bay twice with a DM. €€ are a bit tight. I rechecked my gear yesterday and will be taking it all in to a dive shop here is Spain before we leave.

Many thanks for the sound and sympathetic advice, Doc.

 

[DocVikingo]

Good response to my questions, Pedro.

So, it seems you indeed are in excellent health and wisely seeing a cardiologist on the basis of a family history of cardiac disease alone.

As for the "Sudafed" you occasionally use, that's pretty nonspecific as there are lots & lots of choices --> Sudafed Nasal Decongestant and Sinus Relief Products - SUDAFED®. For effectiveness and duration of action, divers in the know seem to like SUDAFED® 12 HOUR - SUDAFED®.

Regarding the refresher course, I appreciate that money is tight, but it should be relatively inexpensive; you're not getting re-certified. However, your plan to do some pool practice followed by a couple of DM observed dives on the shallow house reef before getting into more serious scuba appears a reasonable course of action.

Arriba.

Regards,

DocVikingo

This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual, and should not be construed as such.

 

[photog]

3) I sometimes used to take decongestants to help clear my Eustachian tubes. Is this considered to be a no-no?

Provided that you are able to clear gently & completely, and the decongestant does not produce side effects of concern (the type you take is not specified), the use of such a medication, in-and-of-itself, is not a contraindication to scuba. However, you will want to take a long-acting/extended-release form of decongestant lest it wear off during a dive.

The fact you have dived only twice in the past seven years is of concern. It would be wise to take a refresher course before resuming the recreation. Also, if you are not renting, have your gear inspected & serviced.

Some of the divers on my trips (60's - 70's, male) use Guiafenesin / Mucinex after their physician recommended they not use Pseudoephedrine / Sudafed drugs.

I used to pop a lot of Sudafed on trips (reverse block was my problem) and didn't realize until I stopped taking it how bad it made me feel.

Any comment on the Mucinex?

 

[Kilili]

I'm 67, have a pacemaker & 8 stents, take meds for heart, cholesterol and blood pressure. I carry a letter from my cardiologist, saying it's safe for me to dive without restriction, and that my pacemaker has been certified for 150 ft. I'm not concerned about any of this, though seldom go below 30 metres, more because it gives me less camera time than anything else. I wouldn't be concerned about going to 40 meters, though I can get a little mentally unfocused below that.

No one has ever questioned the letter, and I don't think anyone has even asked to see a copy of it,

Indonesia and Philippines are great, and I see a lot of "seasoned" divers on my travels. In Anilao, 2 years ago, I was in a group of 5 diving, and was the "youngest" diver.

 

[DocVikingo]

...and that my pacemaker has been certified for 150 ft.

Hi Kilili,

I'd appreciate knowing the brand name & model of your pacemaker & where the company indicates certification to that depth.

Appreciate it.

Regards,

DocVikingo

---------- Post Merged at 01:25 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 01:12 PM ----------

There are lots of Mucinex products, photog -- > Reckitt Benckiser North America Product Information, so it depends.

In my experience, guaifenesin by itself does little. If you mean one of the Mucinex-D products containing both guaifenesin & pseudoephedrine, then effectiveness seems likely.

Regards,

DocVikingo

This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual, and should not be construed as such.

 

[Kilili]

Hi Kilili,
I'd appreciate knowing the brand name & model of your pacemaker & where the company indicates certification to that depth.
Regards
DocVikingo

Mine is Guidant 1297. For current info, please contact Guidant Technical Services at 1-800-CARDIAC (1-800-227-3422) for details about your specific device model.
They maintain documentation for such.
I would expect most mfg would have such a contact. Doctors know very little about such, can only ask the local rep, who will likely have to make the same call.
I found a proactive stance to be the best approach. I only had about 16 hr of lead time to research & make a decision.

Not all models undergo the same testing, and some mfg do not test beyond much lower limits.
Could be fine, but no guarantee.

 

[Pedroinspain]

Good response to my questions, Pedro.

So, it seems you indeed are in excellent health and wisely seeing a cardiologist on the basis of a family history of cardiac disease alone.

As for the "Sudafed" you occasionally use, that's pretty nonspecific as there are lots & lots of choices --> Sudafed Nasal Decongestant and Sinus Relief Products - SUDAFED®. For effectiveness and duration of action, divers in the know seem to like SUDAFED® 12 HOUR - SUDAFED®.

Regarding the refresher course, I appreciate that money is tight, but it should be relatively inexpensive; you're not getting re-certified. However, your plan to do some pool practice followed by a couple of DM observed dives on the shallow house reef before getting into more serious scuba appears a reasonable course of action.

Arriba.

Regards,

DocVikingo

This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual, and should not be construed as such.

Just back from 2 weeks at Brayka Bay (Marsa Alam). I did the Refresher course with Extra Divers - €60. Since this included a guided dive the actual cost of the course was about €30. I judge that to have been good value for the confidence it gave me.

Would I insist on a formal refresher course for everyone who has had a break of a few years? I don't think so. However, let me be quite clear that simply "jumping in" after a long break is a far worse idea.

Instead I believe that a good 30+ minutes with an experience diver or a sympathetic dive master on shore covering gear checks; gear set-up; safety procedures; reminders regarding buoyancy control techniques, etc., and then a relaxed shallow dive with them would have achieved the same goal and probably even more in a more time-efficient way. I say "probably even more" because the course did not include finning techniques which are of course good for all, not just photographers. Anyone who has followed a "scissors finner" through a sandy bottom swim-through will of course be well aware of that. Neither did we do a weighting check at the end of the dive. Lastly the attention of our instructor was spread over 5 participants.

My dives went off without any problems and even some of those against a notable current were without stress. I judge my air consumption rate to have increased a bit, though. Probably the extra belly flab and the 2kg more in lead weights.

 

[drbill]

At age 65 you're still a youngster (at least that's what I think and I'm the same age). If you are in good health, as your posts indicate, and cleared by your doctor I don't see any reason why you can't enjoy diving for some time to come. Cousteau dove until he was 85 or 86 if memory serves me correctly, Leni Riefstiehl (sp?) dove at age 100, Zale Parry (of Sea Hunt fame and holder of the women's deep diving record of 209 ft back in the 1950s) is still diving.

Of course I;'m not a medical doctor, but I do play the other kind of doctor on TV.