Doctor told me I would explode.

[Nova SS]

Well I do not have a DAN / Dive doctor in my area so I went to the local pulmonary doc for a physical and to ask about diving with my condition, asthma. First he said lets do all the work up.

I did the echocardiogram, pulmanary function test and jump threw a bunch of hoops. While all this was going on I kept asking the techs and doctors how this would effect diving, each told me they saw no problems.

When all done I asked the "doc" ( who ordered these test) again about diving with asthma. He said I would exploded and no body with asthma should dive.

Well I just got off the phone with a real dive doctor on the DAN list, she is a couple hours away and in another state, I have a physical next week.

Let this be a leason for all, dont waste your time and money ( like I did) with somebody who doesnt understand diving. Maybe she will fail me too but I think I will respect here answers more than a doctotr that told me I would explode.
l

 

[DennisW]

If this wasn't so serious, I would have laughed my backside clean off. Most Doctors haven't a clue to the effects of diving. You learned an expensive lesson.

I learned an inexpensive one years ago. And I must preface this with a note to ask that Medical Doctors on this board not get offended by my next statements.

Years ago I had a family doctor that just didn't seem to be very bright. So, I asked my kid's pediatrician, whom I respected a great deal about this physician. He looked at me and smiled and then he told me this: "You have to understand that the average IQ of medical doctors is the same as the general public."

You think about this for a while and you will then understand a great deal about our medical care in this country and all over the world. I then found a new family doctor that seemed to be a bit brighter, but he would basically do what I told him to do. In order for you to get good medical care, you have to ask questions and you have to research your particular situation thoroughly. Doctors simply don't have the time to do it themselves and many just aren't smart enough anyway. I am very lucky that my current family doctor is a very smart man. He's a pilot, too so we can talk about interesting stuff when I visit.

 

[dherbman]

On the other hand, serious asthma can result in barotrauma injuries.

 

[crpntr133]

I was so glad when I found a ENT that was also a diver. It wasn't through DAN but he understood what I was going through. Of course when I tell him that I have been diving in 40-50 degree waters he wants me to go see a shrink.

 

[MoonWrasse]

Well I do not have a DAN / Dive doctor in my area so I went to the local pulmonary doc for a physical and to ask about diving with my condition, asthma. First he said lets do all the work up.

I did the echocardiogram, pulmanary function test and jump threw a bunch of hoops. While all this was going on I kept asking the techs and doctors how this would effect diving, each told me they saw no problems.

When all done I asked the "doc" ( who ordered these test) again about diving with asthma. He said I would exploded and no body with asthma should dive.

Well I just got off the phone with a real dive doctor on the DAN list, she is a couple hours away and in another state, I have a physical next week.

Let this be a leason for all, dont waste your time and money ( like I did) with somebody who doesnt understand diving. Maybe she will fail me too but I think I will respect here answers more than a doctotr that told me I would explode.
l

Hmmm...aside from poking fun at doctors, perhaps he thought your airways would swell up, thus restricting exhalation on ascent, which might result in your lungs exploding due to your lack of pressure equalization.

Asthma and Scuba Diving
https://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/faq/faq.asp?faqid=124
http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/articles/article.asp?articleid=22

 

[speedhound]

I was so glad when I found a ENT that was also a diver. It wasn't through DAN but he understood what I was going through. Of course when I tell him that I have been diving in 40-50 degree waters he wants me to go see a shrink.

I hear that's a common referal for divers...just one of the risks that we minimise

 

[Nova SS]

Hmmm...aside from poking fun at doctors, perhaps he thought your airways would swell up, thus restricting exhalation on ascent, which might result in your lungs exploding due to your lack of pressure equalization.

Asthma and Scuba Diving
https://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/faq/faq.asp?faqid=124
http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/articles/article.asp?articleid=22

I think he was playing it safe, He wasnt sure of the effects of asthma on diving so he kind of "generalized" his answer.

 

[Cacia]

well, asthma is a type of COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease so I would like to know why it is safe. I understand why it can be dangerous "blow a bleb" but now why is it ok? Anybody know?

I am not sure I agree with the IQ thing. (Doctors having the same average intelligence as the general popoulation.) I thought average was an IQ of 100. Most physicians I know are...higher than that.

where are the MENSA people when you need them? Frank?

 

[Daylonious]

I'm just always reminded of the statement:

"Remember, half the doctors out there graduated in the bottom half of their class"

D.

 

[Ber Rabbit]

The YMCA scuba program has a whole protocol for evaluating divers with asthma. You might want to contact them to get a copy of the protocol and see if you are a candidate for diving. You can do some research at Scuba-doc's website and find a lot of really good information. Any disease that causes air trapping in the lungs can pre-dispose you to serious injury or death when breathing compressed air underwater, even at shallow depths. The diagnosis of "fit to dive" should not be taken lightly and it sounds like your doctor was erring on the side of caution though he gave you a VERY simplistic explanation of why.
Ber :lilbunny: