This may be an obvious question, but here goes anyway..I am a diabetic who had a heart attack about 1 yr ago..not alot of damage..but have since had three stints put in..seem to have improved greatly..I have made numerous dives before this and felt something not quite right so was very conservative..Are my diving days gone forever?
heart stints
- Thread starter ibond
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Check with a Doctor who is also a diver, contact DAN. Do not rely on the internet for this one.
Your cardiologist is the person to talk to about this. There are too many variables to address over the internet: What is your ejection fraction? What's your exercise tolerance? Have you had any arrhythmias? Is there unstented disease? What meds are you on? And the last one is how much risk are you willing to contemplate? We all make risk-benefit decisions every day, and each one is personal.
RICHinNC
Contributor
Holy you know what dude. Most people here have problems with bandaids. Get to a professional and ask all the questions. DAN is real good about answering those kind of questions. Talk to those in the know.
H2Andy
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Do not discount your vague feeling "of something not quite right" when you weigh everything out. At least factor it in.
I totally think it is your decision.
IF it were me, I might dive with diabetes under control. *Once you add a cardiac history like an MI in the recent past....with several stints, I would probably give myself some time to "stabilize" a bit longer than 12 months. One good question to ask your cardiologist would be how far out timewise are the stints judged to be successful. They have a lot of data and I personally love the percentages when trying to make decisions. I am presently going through trying to make a call with the methotrexate my son has taken for several years.
Stay inspired and stay engaged in activities you love...you just might find some great new ones that would be better suited for you at least for awhile.
Just a layman's viewpoint....
Aloha
I totally think it is your decision.
IF it were me, I might dive with diabetes under control. *Once you add a cardiac history like an MI in the recent past....with several stints, I would probably give myself some time to "stabilize" a bit longer than 12 months. One good question to ask your cardiologist would be how far out timewise are the stints judged to be successful. They have a lot of data and I personally love the percentages when trying to make decisions. I am presently going through trying to make a call with the methotrexate my son has taken for several years.
Stay inspired and stay engaged in activities you love...you just might find some great new ones that would be better suited for you at least for awhile.
Just a layman's viewpoint....
Aloha
This is a question you need answered by someone who can review your medical charts and examine you. So, as the others have said, talk to your cardiologist or a dive doc in your area. In the meantime, don't give up hope. I've known a couple of divers that have had multiple heart attacks among other issues and have been cleared by their docs for diving.
DI_Guy
Contributor
I was recently diagnosed with Coronary Artery Disease and had no prior symptoms until Oct 10th 2006. Something in the left main coronary artery changed abruptly. I had the stress test and did poorly, had the angiogram and found a 90& stenosis in the left main coronary artery. ( This is the condition where atheletes fall over dead from a massive MI ) . I am one lucky fellow as I never had the heart attack. I was not a candidate for a stent or angioplasty, but I was a perfect candidate for a triple bypass. (55 yrs old, fit, not obese, never smoked, no hypertension, not diabetic, etc. ) I had the bypass on Dec 18th 2006 and am now recovering. My Cardiologist says that if a score well on a future stress test, he is sure I can dive again. My health was excellent prior to this and I expect a full recovery. I will contact DAN as well for their comments. I am more worried about the dive ops concerning a diver with a history of heart disease not allowing the diver to dive with them. I shall see what happens. Its going to be interesting. I hope it works out for you , ibond.
PS: I have done so much research about CAD in the last month. I have talked to cardiologists, interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons about which is the best treatment and have noticed quite a difference of opinion.
PS: I have done so much research about CAD in the last month. I have talked to cardiologists, interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons about which is the best treatment and have noticed quite a difference of opinion.
As a cardiologist, I'll chime in. As mentioned above, the best thing is to talk with your cardiologist who knows your individual situation the best. If he or she is not familiar with the stresses of diving, the general recommendation is that you should have normal heart muscle function, good exercise tolerance (13 mets on a treadmill -- they will know what that means), and no evidence of ischemia. For someone with stents the biggest risk of restenosis (renarrowing) is within the first 6 months or so. Thereafter, there is a greater risk of a new blockage developing than of the original stent renarrowing. I'll be glad to help you with any specific concerns or be happy to speak with your cardiologist if that will help.
Again, the best advice is to speak with your cardiologist and then get any further supplemental information from you need from DAN or a diving-knowledgeable cardiologist in your area.
Again, the best advice is to speak with your cardiologist and then get any further supplemental information from you need from DAN or a diving-knowledgeable cardiologist in your area.
fishoutawater
Contributor
debersole, I'm also a recent recipient of a stint in my left coronary artery, also caught early with little damage. Was told I shouldn't dive for a while, but I always did have a problem with following orders.
I have also been working out. Treadmill, weights, bicycle, much healthier diet, strict administration of meds etc.
I'll be due for a stress test in May.
I'm having trouble figuring out the "MET" thing. I found this utility: http://www.fedel.com/mets/ , and it tells me how fast and at what % incline I need to be running at to reach 13 METs, but it doesn't say for how long I'm supposed to be doing it.
Help me out with this?
I have also been working out. Treadmill, weights, bicycle, much healthier diet, strict administration of meds etc.
I'll be due for a stress test in May.
I'm having trouble figuring out the "MET" thing. I found this utility: http://www.fedel.com/mets/ , and it tells me how fast and at what % incline I need to be running at to reach 13 METs, but it doesn't say for how long I'm supposed to be doing it.
Help me out with this?
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