Can I dive again? fingers crossed...

[PurpleRonald]

I'm 46yrs.old...and I was once an experienced diver ie. cave diver,wreck diver, a little surface supplied diving, current/drift diving, night diving, shark encounters... BUT I haven't been diving since 1979 when I then used a Watergill At-Pac... I had sorta dismissed the thought that I'd ever dive again ie. I had moved onto other things in life and it seemed to be just a part of my past...UNTIL about 1yr. ago when I was struggling to give up the bane of my existance - CIGARETTES. I smoked for 30years...and thought I'd never quit - but about 1yr.ago I did quit! I smoke a pipe occassionaly(very infrequently) but do not inhale it... I have not smoked a cigarette or inhaled tobacco in almost a year. I was treated for what a pulmonary doctor told me was a very mild case of asthma caused by cigarettes and a post nasal drip caused by sinus scar tissue related to a botched oral/tooth surgery years ago. I used an inhaler infrequently and have since quitting cigarettes felt a bit of an improvement. Last week I went 'skydiving' from 14,000ft. The pulmonary doc. pointed to my chest once and said 'You've got a tiny little block about right there(upper chest)and a very mild case of asthma...and if you don't quit smoking you could develop emphysema in about 5 years...' I'm not overweight now(had put on a few extra pounds - but now I'm a 6'2 185 lb. fellow) I'm exercising, trying to get in better condition. I don't have any shortness of breath, but occasionally(if you have a stethoscope) one might detect a very slight wheeze(such as after heavy exertion) I do not care about doing any bold deep diving - but would like to revist the reefs. Part of the problem is finding a doctor who understands ie. one doc said 'no problem' but he seemed to not know zilch about diving...and I also don't want to be unfairly excluded... Any of you been in this position? I would like to work out, increase my fitness(I just restarted working out with weights and I now swim laps)and take another dive course(last time there were no computers and there were fewer colors)
I'm getting scuba fever... I stare in lust at the new gear... BUT is it all in vain? What do I need to get cleared to dive? Are there any tests that can rule out 'air trapping' as being a real problem...?

 

[SubMariner]

What do I need to get cleared to dive? Are there any tests that can rule out 'air trapping' as being a real problem...?

What you need to do is actually see a physician who is trained in hyberbaric/diving medicine. A trained medical professional can assess whether or not you are fit to dive, not someone on an internet forum.

Bonne chance,

 

[PurpleRonald]

Actually - I don't see any 'physicians trained in hyperbaric medicine' in the phone book!
Thought this might be a place to find one!

 

[Dr. Doug Ebersole]

As a cardiologist, I would recommend calling DAN for a referral to an appropriate physician in your area to assess your individual situation. Pulmonary function tests can be done to get an idea of what degree of obstructive disease you have and how responsive this is to bronchodilator therapy. Additionally, there are now certain situations where "asthmatics" (not really your situation as yours is probably more of an emphysema/chronic bronchitis from smoking) can dive. I know SSI has such a published policy on their website. Best of luck and I hope you can again return to diving -- but return safely.

By the way, I loved my old At-Pac with the lead shot as weight in the back, along with my old Scubapro Deco meter (in retrospect some people felt it guaranteed you to have DCS!)

 

[PurpleRonald]

Thanks,
I work with a RN Practitioner who seems to think I'm fine(I look well...) and that's what's been a bit frustrating ie. I've encountered various professionals(not really familiar with hyperbaric medicine who nevertheless tell me I'm completely normal or that I'm dead.) I think a lot has to do with the demon of a 'smoking history' ie.folks react with prejudice and treat me like a cigarette to be exterminated or they tell me I'm completely fine... One doctor actually said to me that 'the water pressure squeezes down right?' I went ahead and saw a pulminary physician - did the spirometery<sp>lung function test...and it came back in a fairly good range of over the 80% level. My O2 levels have all come back 'normal' and my pulmonary doc. says 'I'm normal but to stop the cigarettes - have done so - and to use the inhaler whenever(rarely - if ever) I might need it...and to come back in about a year. That's where the need for the right doctor comes into play. I talked to a dive instructor who's supposed to check on one for me - but I'm looking for one who'll do the right work up and tests - and not just ask me a few questions and check off something in a rule book. (The Air Trapping/Obstruction aspect is what concerns me most at this point...moreso than any worry about 'shortness of breath') Afterall, if I wanted to get medical clearance - I'm sure I could do so - but I want honest medical clearance - not just 'legal medical clearance.' I think a lot of middle-aged folks are concerned about getting the right information. When I studied commercial diving back in the 70's my physiology instructor was a chain smoker - and we were all told to switch to 'light cigarettes' ; ) I know what it's like to overexert/overbreath a regulator(I did so many years ago on a wreck dive)and it taught me a lesson about paying attention and not getting in a hurry. Wish me luck - but I just wish folks could have half the many wonderful dives I'be already enjoyed! I dived with the creator/inventor of the old WaterGill At-Pac back in the 70's in Belize at a place then called 'Caye Chapel'. I had my first real shark encounter there - a little grey reef shark got excited and put on quite a show for us over a bag of speared groupers... I remember our Scubapro DC Meters all had different readings after completing the same dives ; ) (The only consolation was that it was better than the 'Farallon DC Meter' - I used mine twice before it was allowed to rust in peace. I miss throwing my At-Pac inflated into the water, jumping in after it, donning it - all to the horror of divemasters wearing horse collar bc's... Diving is a wonderful sport. I wish I had never started smoking - but I have enjoyed that habit too. ; ) Life is wonderful. Last week I went skyding and loved it...but I'm in a quandry - I can't get get my wife to go jumping out of an airplane with me...but I can get her to go scuba diving with me...but of course only if I 'truely' check out 'okay.' I'll give DAN a call...

 

[Rick Inman]

BTW, if you are able to dive again, the good news is that At-Pacs are back in style again. Today they're called Backplate and Wings.

Good luck!

 

[SubMariner]

Actually - I don't see any 'physicians trained in hyperbaric medicine' in the phone book!
Thought this might be a place to find one!

Very true!

Incredibly, I was able to find one in my area through the website for my health plan.

Meanwhile, as already mentioned, DAN is a great resource http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/ as is our own Scubadoc http://scuba-doc.com/.

Bonne chance,