Question Diving with epilepsy

[Lancerator]

Hey my daughter really wants to lean to dive. She has had a few sezures in her life. Shes 14. Never had one on her meds over 2 years now. Doesnt throw up when she has had one.
Thoughts? Am I nuts for even thinking about it? Also was thinking of full facemask since that seems like a good option.
Thoughts or experience would be appreciated.

 

[arkstorm]

What form of epilepsy does your daughter have?

What sort of seizures does she suffer, e.g., tonic clonic seizure, absence seizure, etc?

What does her doctor recommended?

I know it is tempting to seek encouragement among the diving community but this is probably one of those questions better left to truly qualified expert opinions.

 

[arkstorm]

Can the moderators ask Duke Dive Medicine to chime in on this thread?

Please and thank you.

 

[rhwestfall]

@Duke Dive Medicine

 

[arkstorm]

@Duke Dive Medicine

Thanks.

 

[BoltSnap]

This thread is better moved to the diving medicine forum. I am reporting it to be moved.

 

[The Chairman]

Sure, why not? @DiveHeart should chime in here. We've taken all sorts of people diving, including paraplegics, quadriplegics, autistic, blind, and more. Jim can elucidate more on the topic.

 

[Duke Dive Medicine]

Hey my daughter really wants to lean to dive. She has had a few sezures in her life. Shes 14. Never had one on her meds over 2 years now. Doesnt throw up when she has had one.
Thoughts? Am I nuts for even thinking about it? Also was thinking of full facemask since that seems like a good option.
Thoughts or experience would be appreciated.

We typically advise people with seizure disorders not to dive. A full face mask might provide an added layer of safety for her, but her care and rescue should she have a seizure would be up to those around her, which itself is not without risk.. That said, as @The Chairman mentioned, DiveHeart specializes in adaptive diving and they may have a system in place.

If you're in the greater Salt Lake City area, both LDS Hospital and Intermountain Medical Center have hyperbaric units with physicians who can perform fitness-to-dive examinations. If you'd like an in-person consult, I'm sure one of them could accommodate your daughter.

Best regards,
DDM

 

[SpeedyJ]

Hey my daughter really wants to lean to dive. She has had a few sezures in her life. Shes 14. Never had one on her meds over 2 years now. Doesnt throw up when she has had one.
Thoughts? Am I nuts for even thinking about it? Also was thinking of full facemask since that seems like a good option.
Thoughts or experience would be appreciated.

One of my dive buddies has epilepsy and has it managed with medication. He has an agreed upon set of parameters for his diving with his physician based on his case. As he is a very cautious individual, I don't give it a second thought to go diving with him.

 

[The Chairman]

That said, as @The Chairman mentioned, DiveHeart specializes in adaptive diving and they may have a system in place.

I don't remember us having anyone with epilepsy, which is why I put a shout out to @DiveHeart's head honcho, Jim. Great friend and mentor, and he'll give you the skinny on if they can accommodate you or not.