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

[Johanan]

Thanks again!

J.

 

[pasley]

... 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.....

To make this a short story so we can focus on the revelant facts.
1. Symptoms of DCS started within hours of surfacing on day 3 of a 4 day dive trip.
2. Symptoms progressed as time went on and got worse.
3. It is a mistake to think that because you have had DCS you know what DCS feels like. DCS comes in many forms, and one incidence may not be like the other. You may have skin bends (red blotching of skin and itching) one time and paralysis the next. It all depends on what type of hit and where you took the hit.
4. Some symptoms (tingling) were a problem before the trip and so may not be DCS.

I note you saw a doctor in Hawaii, I hope it was a dive medicine physician so you could be properly evaluated for DCS. Physicians who are not familiar with DCS may not be your best choice. I hope your PFO test comes out in your favor.