Medical Question - is there a Dr. in the house?

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jefffalcone

jefffalcone

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A friend of mine is on a very strong anabolic steroid called trenbolone. He is planning a dive trip. This seems very dangerous to me. I am no expert, but as I understand it one of the ways that steroids help you build muscle is buy helping your muscle tissue to retain nitrogen. Is there anyone with more knowlege than me who knows the actualy dangers of this?
 
Go to DAN and ask the question. Most of the foks on this website aren't medical people except for one or two maybe.
 
You might want to PM a moderator and ask them to move this thread to the Dive Medicine section, where more doctors (and other knowledgeable types) hang out more consistently, and would be more likely to see it.
 
Thanks for the advice garrabo. I haven't been around for a while. glad to see you're still here to tell everyone on here that they don't know what they're talking about. j.k

But seriously thanks for the suggestion.
 
bleeb:
You might want to PM a moderator and ask them to move this thread to the Dive Medicine section, where more doctors (and other knowledgeable types) hang out more consistently, and would be more likely to see it.
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I thought there was a dive medicine section, but I couldn't find it. I hate the new lay out with the pull down menues. Old way was so simple.
 
jefffalcone:
I thought there was a dive medicine section, but I couldn't find it. I hate the new lay out with the pull down menues. Old way was so simple.
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Me too. I liked the old simple layout better. I think there's a way to put your computer back to the old classic layout, but I'm not sure.
 
jefffalcone:
Me too. I liked the old simple layout better. I think there's a way to put your computer back to the old classic layout, but I'm not sure.
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You guys are so stupid. you just have to set it to scuba board classic in the menu on the bottom left. You'd have noticed it if you ever looked anywhere on the page besides the new threads list.























can I more shamelessly bump my own thread?:D
 
Doesn't the doctor that prescribed the steroid know the answer. Is he cleared to exercise ?

There could be mental issues though anxiety, agitation, and mental confusion. I always thought steroids also affected the heart rhythm so take this quote by scubamed with a grain of salt and really double check with DAN. I was recently on a steroid and I had no problem with exercising though.

I'd keep the dives rather conservative and not too deep.

This is from Scubamed.com

Steroids

These medicines are used to prevent inflammation. They are part of the family of hormones that are released by the adrenal gland. They are necessary for the stable state of the heart and circulation, for proper fluid balance, mineral balance, and the ability of the body to withstand stress. The steroid preparations are often used on the skin for treatment of allergic rashes, they are useful for treatment of fire coral and sea nettle reactions, they will stop an asthma attack, and can be used to stop or prevent severe allergic reactions. Steroids have no direct effects on diving, although in some animal studies, they made oxygen toxicity more likely. Long term use of steroids is usually avoided because of the side effects of this treatment. Short term use (days to a few weeks) has little consequence. Steroid creams used for treatment of skin disorders have no effects on diving. People taking steroids for many months will develop diabetes, weak bones, obesity and other problems.

BUT THIS IS CONTRADICTORY to DEEP Diving

In particular, the class of drugs called steroids can have some nasty side effects, to include fluid retention, electrolyte loss, and avascular necrosis of the femoral head (cellular death of the head of the upper leg where it joins the hip socket). Some studies showed rates of dysparic osteonecrosis (avascular necrosis) from 2.7% to 80%. The higher rates were with saturation divers, deep helium (greater than 500 fsw/150 msw) dives, and divers with numerous DCS events. Steroids can also lead to increased susceptibility to hyperbaric oxygen toxicity and infections.

I suggest checking in with DAN as the physician wont know of the bends or oxygen toxicity risks while taking steroids. I wouldn't expect the GP to know that.
 
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jefffalcone:
A friend of mine is on a very strong anabolic steroid called trenbolone. He is planning a dive trip. This seems very dangerous to me. I am no expert, but as I understand it one of the ways that steroids help you build muscle is buy helping your muscle tissue to retain nitrogen. Is there anyone with more knowlege than me who knows the actualy dangers of this?
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I did not know that. If it helps retain nitrogen, then I wonder if it increases the retention of nitrogen in other parts like the brain. If it did, then I would suspect that he would be much more susceptible to becoming narked.

Definitely a question for the experts, and I would have him call DAN or call them on his behalf.
 
ScubaSarus:
Doesn't the doctor that prescribed the steroid know the answer. Is he cleared to exercise ?

There could be mental issues though anxiety, agitation, and mental confusion.

I'd keep the dives rather conservative and not too deep.

This is from Scubamed.com

Steroids

These medicines are used to prevent inflammation. They are part of the family of hormones that are released by the adrenal gland. They are necessary for the stable state of the heart and circulation, for proper fluid balance, mineral balance, and the ability of the body to withstand stress. The steroid preparations are often used on the skin for treatment of allergic rashes, they are useful for treatment of fire coral and sea nettle reactions, they will stop an asthma attack, and can be used to stop or prevent severe allergic reactions. Steroids have no direct effects on diving, although in some animal studies, they made oxygen toxicity more likely. Long term use of steroids is usually avoided because of the side effects of this treatment. Short term use (days to a few weeks) has little consequence. Steroid creams used for treatment of skin disorders have no effects on diving. People taking steroids for many months will develop diabetes, weak bones, obesity and other problems.
Click to expand...

The question from the OP is in regard to anabolic steroids, your quote references corticosteroids - which are very different.

Give that the drug in question is trenbolone (which I believe is used by vets on livestock), the OPs "friend" is taking the drug illegally. If this is the case, diving is probably the least of his troubles.
 
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