Diving after Kidney Biopsy

[Butchbs1985]

So I had a kidney biopsy on 6/26 and was told to take it easy for 5 days afterward. What I didn't ask was when I could resume diving. I called the Nephrologist last Wednesday 7/1 and they never returned my call. I called back yesterday 7/7 and was told that the doctor was out and the nurse didn't know. That said, I had planned to dive with co-workers last night and figured since I was well out of the 5 day 'take it easy' period, I'd be fine. We had two dives about 45 min each with a max depth of 40 feet. Then today, the nurse called back and said that the doctor said 'absolutely not' to diving.

Is there any real risk or is this just the doctor covering himself as he isn't familiar with dive medicine?

I feel fine and don't anticipate any issues but just want to see what everyone else thinks. Thanks!

 

[Saturation]

I see 2 issues: Why do you need a kidney biopsy and the surgery. To avoid complications you'd best not dive 2-4 weeks after a procedure as deep as a kidney biopsy to insure full healing. The disease they are looking for produces other issues, and could complicate diving and healing. Healing time varies for normal folks, most are on the shorter time frame, as little as a week, but if one were to err, it would be to err towards safety, and look at longer time span, 4 weeks.

The simpler question to ask the nephrologist, is when can I lift weights again? That is typically the issue with diving post biopsies around the abdominal cavity or the 'retroperitoneum'.

 

[Butchbs1985]

Thanks Saturation.

They are attempting to determine the cause of excess protein in my urine. They assume that it is due to residual damage from Strep Throat when I was a child and that there is little to be concerned about. The biopsy is just to make sure their theory is correct.

I will see the doctor next week and until then, I will follow his directions regarding no diving. I will also pose the question regarding when I can begin lifting weights as he will no doubt be more familiar with that than diving alone.

I wasn't very concerned about this procedure as it seemed very cut and dry when talking to the nephrologist. After speaking with others, it seems that the procedure is quite a bit more serious than he led me to believe?

 

[TSandM]

I'm assuming this was a needle, or core biopsy, and not an open biopsy? The major complications are urine leakage and bleeding. There are no implications to the biopsy from pressure changes. The effects related to diving would be related to lifting and carrying the weights.

The needles used aren't terribly large, and I would certainly think that two weeks would be plenty of healing time, assuming there have been no complications, and you are pain free.

 

[Butchbs1985]

Yes it was a needle Biopsy. They took four samples and just put a small bandage on my back which I was told to take off after two days. I have no pain and can no longer see the needle mark on my back so I have resumed normal activities (they said to take it easy for five days).

 

[ScubaDocER]

I agree with what the MODs have posted regarding your biopsy. The only thing I would add to TSandM's comments is that there is also the risk of infection especially at the insertion site. Most of the time I believe that the biopsy occurs without incident. I would have your doctor evaluate you for any consequences from the biopsy (as noted in the previous post and this one) and determine if you are healthy enough to dive. I concur with Saturation's assessment that you allow yourself proper healing time before you resume diving. Asking about your ability to lift, walk, and move without pain is a good beginning. Healing from the biopsy and the implications of protein in your urine may be two separate issues. Healing from the biopsy should occur without incident assuming there is no excessive bleeding or infection. The seriousness of the protein in your urine is best discussed with your physician.

 

[Will]

Just to throw this in for whatever its worth (if anything),

I had a liver biopsy done several years ago - and I was told to not dive or lift heavy weights for a minimum of a month to ensure proper healing.