Diving after brain surgery?

[SkyChi]

Hello All,
I had a procedure to repair a disected aneurism (sp?) of my right vertebral artery 2 years ago. A Vascular Neurosurgeon and an Interventional Neuroradiologist performed an Intervascular Coiling to in effect plug the artery. I have the utmost faith in the Doctors involved and have had a noneventful recovery. They recently lifted some of the restrictions they imposed for my recovery and expressed no real concern with SCUBA Diving. The only concern one of them had was the shock of flipping out of a boat backwards to enter the water. I assured him that I had never used this technique to enter the water in more than 600 dives. It was kind of funny that this was his only concern but showed a potential lack of knowledge of real diving problems. Having just found this Forum I thought it possible that someone might be here that would have some real world insight. So what do you think, should I or shouldn't I?
Thanks,
Mark

 

[ScubaFriend]

Hi

I would say without question contact DAN world leaders in Dive Medicine the can put you in contact with a specialist that understands diving

 

[The Wanderer]

That's a tough call SkyChi.

If your doctors have cleared you to dive, then I think that if I were you, I'd take it SLOW. Spend some time in a pool swimming.... then see how you feel. Then maybe do some snorkling for a while and then again see how you feel and then have a check up and perhaps a CAT Scan.

If all is still well and your doctors give you the OK.... well then its YOUR decision. You have enough dive experience to know the risks and rewards. But if its something you truly want to do..... then its your (and your family's) decision.

Good luck to you.

 

[jagfish]

Scubafriend's advice sounds solid to me...

JAG

 

[The Wanderer]

Hi

I would say without question contact DAN world leaders in Dive Medicine the can put you in contact with a specialist that understands diving

DAN Good advice, Scubafriend & Jag

 

[SkyChi]

I should have paid attention to LadyDivers post at the top of this forum but I overlooked it. My bad. The DAN website has some really good info on it pertaining to other brain procedures that made me more confident but I will see a Dive Dr. before going any farther.
Thanks again,
Mark