Looking for Doc in Dallas -- Yet another asthma question

[DallasNewbie]

My wife had/has asthma that has been treatment and attack free for at least 4 years. This weekend we did our OW cert dives yesterday and today she has a pain in her shoulder. She says it doesn't feel muscular, but that it hurts her shoulder when she coughs or takes a deep breath. She called DAN and got the name of a doctor here at Presbeterian.

She called and spoke to the nurse who said, "If you come in and see the Doctor they will tell you never to dive again." The nurse said that there was no way to determine if the pain she is feeling was due to her asthma or something completely unrelated and so they wouldn't chance it.

I've read a bunch of threads here and elsewhere that make it seem like the modern thinking is that based on pulmonary function, many asthmatics can dive. Of course she won't dive if it will put her life in danger, but I don't want to base that on someone who's willing to make that call over the phone. Can anyone recommend a pulmonologist in this area who would actually be willing to diagnose the problem and make an informed recomendation as to my wife's fitness? Is it likely that isolated pain in her shoulder is a sign of barotrauma?

edit: To give some perspective on my wife's asthma, she is a personal trainer, jogs and bikes with clients, and teaches 10 aerobics classes every week.

 

[DallasNewbie]

A good friend who is a PA checked out my wife this evening and told her she has pleurisy. She said it was no big deal, probably caused by two days of stressful breathing and would likely go away with Advil or Aleve. I'm finding nothing about Scuba and pleurisy. Assuming that's what it is, is it a problem for future diving?

 

[AllenG]

Please go find a diving doctor. This is not intended to detract from the skill that your PA friend brings to the table. There is a perspective that a specialist in diving medicine should be able to provide that you simply are not going to get from most other docs.

 

[DallasNewbie]

Please go find a diving doctor. This is not intended to detract from the skill that your PA friend brings to the table. There is a perspective that a specialist in diving medicine should be able to provide that you simply are not going to get from most other docs.

I agree. I trust the diagnosis, but our friend is not familiar with the implications for diving, and even though she said it would be fine I'd like to hear from a specialist. That's why I posted the question here looking for a local Dr. who isn't just going to say, "Don't dive." And also why my wife emailed DAN.

A Google search for pleurisy and diving revealed nothing other than it's asked about on all the medical history forms.