New Diver, Lots of Questions, with quite the experiences for my first year.....

[FrannieC]

Hello to my fellow divers. I am new to Scubaboard and a little nervous about posting.

I certified in August of 2011 in Maui. I was so nervous, I can barely remember those first dives. I had some serious ear problems initially, so I didn't get to dive too much on that first trip. A couple of months later, my sweet hubby took me to Grand Cayman to get more experience, and finally got into double digits on my dive count! I loved diving Cayman and I did 8 dives in 10 days.

We scheduled a trip to Belize in July 2012 and I was so excited to extend my dive experience. The dive shop was great, the water was warm, the dives were amazing although the viz wasn't great... but I was a new diver and just so thrilled to be in the water. (A little side note: my husband was certified courtesy of the USN many years ago, so he a ton of dive experience and and very strict training which I get the benefit of. Also, my idea of good diving includes jumping into warm water, from a boat... basically "diva diving").

It was Belize, mid July, trip of a lifetime... and I ended up with dcs and did 2 rounds in the chamber. Devastated to say the least. Day 5 of a 17 day trip. I had no symptoms immediately, in fact, I had did another dive, returned to the condo, cleaned up my gear and it wasn't until I got into the tub I noticed a problems. Severe itching, pain in my abdomen, breast pain, severe back pain... and red itchy spots, trouble urinating. (Boy, this may be TMI for some folks, but honestly without straightforward info on this website, none of us can help anyone, right?) I was also having trouble walking, I was extremely unsteady. I had no idea what was wrong. My dive computer showed nothing. I thought I just needed to eat. Several hours later we call DAN and they directed me to go immediately for medical treatment.

DAN was AMAZING and the people at the chamber on Ambergris Caye were wonderful. Although the check of my dive computer showed no problems, but when the data was downloaded the problem was clear. An ascent too fast at the end of the dive, because I didn't have good enough buoyancy control.

I returned home and DAN helped me arrange for a complete physical with a dive physician at the hyperbaric department at UC San Diego, which is near my home. They were very helpful and did a thorough work up. After reviewing the data from my computer and the physical I was cleared to dive again. I wasted no time and was back to Maui in October.

This time things went great, I paid lots of attention to my ascent and descent rates, my bottom time, my everything.. I tried to be so meticulous. However after my 3 day of diving (2 dives per day) I noticed the itching again but that was all... absolutely NOTHING like before. No blotching, just itching. After the four day of diving (3 dives on day 4) I was exhausted. I could not believe how tired I was. The itching started again and the breast pain, but there were no red blotches. No severe pain. I was fatigued and felt a little pain in my back, but I chalked that up to getting in and out of the boat, walking up and down the stairs at the condo, etc. I felt like I KNEW what dcs felt like and this was NOT it. I took a couple of aspirin and went to bed. When I woke up the next day, I felt great. No problems.

Fast forward, it has been 4 weeks today since my last dive. I began having pain in my knee a couple of days after the last dive. I actually went to the doctor in Maui, and then to my physician last week. I have been diagnosed with bursitis in the knee. Now it almost feels like the pain is moving into the joint. I do have some intermittent tingling in my fingers, but not constant and that was problematic before this trip.

I have decided to have the test done for PFO (tomorrow is my test day) so I can rule that out as an issue. I purposely set out in Maui to dive very conservatively and I feel like I did. I stayed with 2 other dive partners and no one else had any problems. I purposely increased the time for my safety stop, and paid close attention to my computer.

I don't know if I am paranoid or an idiot for not going in for treatment. Is it paranoia or dcs??? Is it possible for the nitrogen to still be in my system after so many weeks? How concerned should I be? Gosh, I feel like a diving train wreck!! I worked so hard to get my certification (I was very cautious and somewhat reluctant and took quite awhile to get comfortable with all the gear, etc, but I want to dive so bad I refused to give up!).... I am very frustrated and concerned.

I am head over heels in love with diving, and I am determined to figure this out. Any input here would be appreciated.

 

[diverdoug1]

Onset of symptoms of DCS 4 weeks post hyperbaric exposure is very unusual. PERSISTENCE of DCS symtoms can be permanent.

 

[latestartfish]

Welcome to the Board, FrannieC!

I don't think, in a place like this forum, that there is such a thing as TMI, although I've not put it to the test yet. I haven't even been certified yet, but I do know that I've learned more than I thought possible already just by asking questions here.

I've learned something from YOUR post, that DCS can present symptoms I've never heard of, and late after the dive is over. I also, in my limited contact with DAN, have been very impressed with them. Their goal in life is to keep divers safe, and they seem to know virtually everything that could go wrong, and what to do about it.

Loved your phrase "head over heels in love with diving" and I feel just that way! I've only had an intro dive in the LDS pool, but although I was VERY excited about beginning scuba, that dive infused it into my blood (figuratively :blinking. BTW, Just because you may be paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get you... LOL

Welcome again; I think you'll like it here!

LSF

 

[al248005]

Were you diving with air or nitrox? If you were diving with air that might explain why you feel like crap after doing that many dives. It's not uncommon to have a little headache or feel kinda tired after doing multiple dives on air over many consecutive days.

 

[TSandM]

In general, the vast majority of symptoms of DCS will become apparent within 24 hours of diving. Joint pain that began two or more days later is far less likely to be associated with decompression. On the other hand, diving involves hauling gear and climbing ladders with a lot of extra weight, which is just the ticket for aggravating any underlying problems in the knee joint.

You do not give your profiles, but I agree that multiple dives/multiple days on air is likely to leave you feeling fatigued and/or crummy. If the dives pushed no-deco limits, or you were riding your computer, that raises the risk for decompression problems, whether it's just stress (manifested as fatigue and malaise) or frank DCS.

At our age, although there is some theoretical concern for increased DCS risk, the concern for musculoskeletal injury is far from theoretical!

 

[FrannieC]

---------- Post added November 30th, 2012 at 02:33 AM ----------

Were you diving with air or nitrox? If you were diving with air that might explain why you feel like crap after doing that many dives. It's not uncommon to have a little headache or feel kinda tired after doing multiple dives on air over many consecutive days.

I was diving on air but it has been suggested to me that I get my Nitrox cert, dive Nitrox but leave my computer on air.

---------- Post added November 30th, 2012 at 03:11 AM ----------

In general, the vast majority of symptoms of DCS will become apparent within 24 hours of diving. Joint pain that began two or more days later is far less likely to be associated with decompression. On the other hand, diving involves hauling gear and climbing ladders with a lot of extra weight, which is just the ticket for aggravating any underlying problems in the knee joint.

You do not give your profiles, but I agree that multiple dives/multiple days on air is likely to leave you feeling fatigued and/or crummy. If the dives pushed no-deco limits, or you were riding your computer, that raises the risk for decompression problems, whether it's just stress (manifested as fatigue and malaise) or frank DCS.

At our age, although there is some theoretical concern for increased DCS risk, the concern for musculoskeletal injury is far from theoretical!

I felt very comfortable that my dives were within the no-deco limit, and although I was paying close attention to the computer, it was not to "push the limit" but rather to ensure I was not close to the limit. I was pretty nervous since this was my first time to dive without my husband, who has always been by my side in the water. (He was not able to go at the last minute because of work, so I dove with our friends who were going on the trip with us.)

The second thing I learned from my Belize trip was to "visit" the 70-80 foot level briefly and then gradually work my way up, enjoying the view as I spend the rest of the dive slowly ascending. (The first thing I learned from my Belize trip was to have much better buoyancy control for my safety stop... no bouncing!! Belize was my first dive experience with no line for SS.)

I am amazed that I continue to learn so much on every dive, and each time the confidence level inches up bit by bit.

 

[Johanan]

If the dives pushed no-deco limits, or you were riding your computer, that raises the risk for decompression problems

What did you mean by "riding your computer"?

 

[MMM]

What did you mean by "riding your computer"?

It means that you spend sufficient time at depth to become very close to (but not exceeding) your computer's no-deco limits and then continue to remain just outside of them by slowly ascending to different levels during the dive.

 

[Johanan]

Thanks, MMM! That's a new term for me. Starting deep and slowly ascending when the NDL comes closer is what I usually do. What would be "very close to the limits" in minutes, to call it riding the computer so that it increases the risk of DCS? 1? 10? 15?

 

[MMM]

Thanks, MMM! That's a new term for me. Starting deep and slowly ascending when the NDL comes closer is what I usually do. What would be "very close to the limits" in minutes, to call it riding the computer so that it increases the risk of DCS? 1? 10? 15?

I am no expert, for sure and I doubt there is an actual agreed upon definition since it is a more colloquial term.. However I would say the increments would be in minutes - 2-3 or so.