decompression sickness

[Gene_Hobbs]

There are lots of folks with personal experiences that can be quite educational...

I am a big fan of listening to a another diver's experience. That is how most medical professionals learn. We bring in a couple of our former patients every year to talk to our new hyperbaric fellows.

It absolutely escapes me why individuals with no knowledge or training in medicine, let alone diving medicine, feel so entirely free to offer medical advice...

The posts which add nothing (and there are scads of these), but don't do any real harm, are merely distracting and annoying. I mean, what is the point of being the fifth poster in a row to say, "call DAN?"...

Just one man's opinion.

I second that opinion. (and quoted my favorite parts.) I would however take the opinion of Benthic or many medical professionals.

As for something we could all do before the call, the following thread has some good information in it.
http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=140169&highlight=neuro+exam

One link in that thread I know did change (kind of partial to the info here but I am biased). The exam was posted with permission from Ed so it bears a striking resemblance to the DAN site.
http://www.gue.com/Projects/WKPP/Procedures/neuroexam.htm or http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/neuroexam.asp

The link to the Catalina site is a great one. I am a firm believer that a picture beats a thousand words. Karl has done a stellar job on this video. http://wrigley.usc.edu/hyperbaric/neuro/neuro.htm

For numbness, it never hurts to locate the edges of the affected area and track those. Never underestimate the power of a good pen and watch if symptoms are still changing. There is a ton simple stuff that anyone can do while talking to the medics at DAN.

There is one resource that is in production now but it will still be a few months. I'll make sure something is posted here upon completion.

 

[sfhs40]

thanks for all who responded. I did speak to the rep from DAN who gave me the name of a doctor who treats DCS in Chicago. He did mention that breaking in new gear could cause the numbness in my feet. I did have new fins, so that could have contributed to the problem. So far I have not had any of the other symptoms, but if need be, I have a medical professional to contact.