Mild DCS ongoing effects

[sophieg1995]

Yikes! Sorry to hear of the hoops the docs put you through during what seems to have been a failed attempt to diagnose your signs and symptoms...If you can locate one, go to a doctor trained and certified as a hyperbaric/diving physician to at least rule out a diving related issue if that is the case.... A big red flag for me would be: "He told me it was due to the lung getting a bit damaged when scuba diving but he didn't give me an specific details." That means what? ....and the RAD means nothing if not detailed...none of this could be diving related....bottom line if I was you would I get a definitive diagnosis from a truly competent doctor and I would not be taking meds until that diagnosis specified exactly what the meds were meant to accomplish....I am not a physician and only giving my opinions.....good luck and hope you resolve this.....

Thanks for your input Wallowa

 

[sophieg1995]

Just saw this thread, something that I might mention but probably isn't relevant - to get from Tulamben where Sophie's dive logs show that she was diving to the hyperbaric chamber in Denpasar requires travelling over a pass that is about 500 metres above sea level.

Yes, I went to Saba hospital down south.
We did go through mountains in the car which worried me at the time. I don't think I felt any worse for it if that means anything.

 

[sophieg1995]

Hi everyone,
Thanks again for your thoughts!

Just to update the thread. I since went to a consultant in Vietnam, he did a high dose CT scan which came back clear, lungs and spine were good. There is a small nodule in one lung but he said it wouldn't be noticed.

After this scan, I felt good, probably the mental relief...

Now it is 3 months since the swimming, 4 months since the scuba. I would say I am more or less 100 percent. I have still been travelling and doing activities. I think intense cardio in the gym has a bit of an impact. Also spending a long time in heavily polluted areas without a mask (Bangkok now) can leave my chest feeling tight at night but asides from that I think all is well!

I will of course update if I notice anything (and I won't be diving in Thailand unfortunately )

 

[Duke Dive Medicine]

Hi everyone,
Thanks again for your thoughts!

Just to update the thread. I since went to a consultant in Vietnam, he did a high dose CT scan which came back clear, lungs and spine were good. There is a small nodule in one lung but he said it wouldn't be noticed.

After this scan, I felt good, probably the mental relief...

Now it is 3 months since the swimming, 4 months since the scuba. I would say I am more or less 100 percent. I have still been travelling and doing activities. I think intense cardio in the gym has a bit of an impact. Also spending a long time in heavily polluted areas without a mask (Bangkok now) can leave my chest feeling tight at night but asides from that I think all is well!

I will of course update if I notice anything (and I won't be diving in Thailand unfortunately )

Hi Sophie, glad to hear that your CT was reassuring to the physician.

If the symptoms reappear in heavily polluted areas, this would be consistent with the reactive airway disease diagnosis you received in the PI. This is probably going to be a lifetime thing for you. For diving purposes we'd look at this condition essentially the same way we look at asthma because it has similar effects on the airways. Here are the UK Diving Medical Committee (UKDMC) guidelines. This would be a good starting point for a conversation with a diving physician about clearance to dive. Of important note, if the symptoms appeared during or right after a dive, the dry air in a scuba tank could be one of your triggers, which would likely preclude diving because restricted airways could lead to pulmonary barotrauma.

Best regards,
DDM