Diver insurance.

[jbd]

The second event was most likely not a new DCI but a continuation of the first one that was not completely treated as I was hard headed and the doctor did not insist or argue (the dive doctor I should have seen left at 4:00 p.m. after giving up on me comming in, thanks to the mis-handling by the emergiency room. Note, if you think you have the bends remember you are in a life threating situation and be a big pain and babby and insist on treatment and attention. If you don't the emergency room, seeing no blood or heat attack will treat you as a flu or cold and bottom priority.) Yes, I drove from Hemit directly to the Chamber, do not stop by house, and yes, I did two rides as recommended and stayed dry for 30 days (dove on day 31).
That was 2001. Foot tingled for the first year all the time, you really forget about it, then the 2nd year it was less, but more noticable after a dive, or maybe I just paid more attention then. Foot, ankle was the site which is unusal itself, but as I was Airborne for 11 years, the doctor figures all those military jumps probably created some damage in the ankle (they do click and pop when I walk). Yesterday I did dive 150 and 151 and no complications.

The major point here that I want to communicate are these:
1. with out dive insurance I would not have gone to the emergency room and chamber to be evaluated.
2. The bends is not always Mike Nelson rolling around on the deck in extreame pain like we saw every episode on Sea Hunt. It can be more subtle - at first. My bend involved the nerves and because I waited 2 days some lingering effects. I was luckly. Not every paitent walks out, or ever walks again.

Your experience is well worth reading. Your concluding points are important to note especially point #2. Which may be helpful in self diagnosis which should lead a person to get treatment.

Thanks again for sharing your experience and I am glad things worked out OK for you.

 

[cornfed]

Dive profile indicates this is what is now called unexpected DCS. 19 minutes surface to surface, 110 feet, slow ascent. DAN, when I called said DCS was not likely given the profile but to get it checked. The emergency room doctor, after 4 hours and drawing some blood (not sure what that would do) came back and said "definitely bent".

There is some research that shows your immune system reponds to DCS by producing antibodies which are detectable in the blood stream. There was an article in Immersed magazine a while back about this. And now back to your regularly scheduled insurance debate...

 

[^*^BATMAN^*^]

I just bought PADI insurance, and comparing the two different insurances (padi vs dan), it looks like PADI is the better choice, more coverage, no life time limit, two of the three possible insuraces from DAN do have a lifetime limit.

 

[pasley]

There is some research that shows your immune system reponds to DCS by producing antibodies which are detectable in the blood stream. There was an article in Immersed magazine a while back about this. And now back to your regularly scheduled insurance debate...

Thank you. That was informative. I had not heard anything close to it before. The emergency room doctor was very emphatic that I was bent. I was, at the time not so sure. The chamber people also agreed I was bent. The treatment did help, so it would appear they were right. The trip to 1,400 feet confirmed the diagnosis.

 

[ShakaZulu]

Get the insurance my friend, it can make a difference between life and death, yours............

 

[DanielVance]

In my book, diving insurance is the number one priority, not an option. One diving incident could cost several thousands of dollars. I've used DAN for years. Great deal for the few bucks. BTW, DAN provides free insurance for diving students until they are certified for open water.

Daniel

 

[Danny-Louise]

[disclaimer_on]I am a new diver so my claim to credible information is limited [disclaimer_off]

I just booked a trip to Belize and was asking my travel agent (he only books SCUBA trips) about dive insurance and he told me to avoid DAN because they are having financial issues... whatever that means. For the few extra dollars (and I'm usually a financial tight-***) I think I'll play it safe and go with Padi.

Louise

 

[H2Andy]

he's probably talking about the past president of DAN and his alleged misuse of
funds? hard to say... i haven't heard anything about DAN being in financial trouble,
but you never know

here's an article on the subject that seems
pretty comprehensive (I have only read parts of it).