Diving with residual pneumonia

[GirlAtPlay]

Hi! I'm leaving for a dive trip to Belize on Friday. I had a bad case of pneumonia in January, was treated, and recently went for an x-ray to ensure that it is gone. There is some remaining pneumonia in my left lung and my doctor wants me to go back in a month for another xray to see if it has resolved itself. I asked her if it is all right for me to dive and she said it "should be ok", which doesn't exactly fill me with confidence. I'm thinking I should probably play it safe and not dive this time (sob!) but I don't want to be over-cautious if I don't have to. Any thoughts???

Thanks in advance!!

Lori

 

[donnad]

wow. I am not a doctor, just a diver, but i would be very concerned about diving with residual pneumonia. I know that it's really a bummer to not dive on a vacation, but risking your health and well-being has to come first. I'm sure one of the doctors will jump on here and explain the possible negative consequences one might face diving with residual pneumonia. I feel for you.

 

[TSandM]

Seeing residual abnormality more than three months after the original illness is somewhat worrisome, and I think you are right not to dive. There may be something causing obstruction to a bronchus, and preventing the pneumonia from clearing. This could pose a risk of gas embolism if you dove. An accomplished cave diver in Canada died a year or so ago from precisely this problem.

There is always another day to dive. Get this worked up, and you'll know a lot more about what is safe.

 

[GirlAtPlay]

Yikes, OK well thanks very much for the input & advice.... I'll hold off on the diving.

Cheers!

L