Newbie Question : DCS

[vapovick]

Hello All, this is my first post. You have a nice board here !



Speaking to a friend of mine, she mentioned that when you get the Benz or DCS that you cannot dive again (EVER). I have not heard that yet, and was under the impression, as long as it was not bad, and your were treated that you could dive again.


Could someone please give more detail as wether or not this is correct.


Thanks !!

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Depends on alot of variables... One of which being, the intensity of the hit you've taken.

 

[Wijbrandus]

Welcome aboard, Vapovick.

Fill out your profile, let us know some more about you, maybe post a Hello! in the Introductions and Greetings section... http://www.scubaboard.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=19

Some people can be bent bad enough to never dive again. Most DCS injuries I've read about however, the diver has been back in the water within a year. It's not a permanent ban.

 

[pasley]

Hmm, let me see. I got bent in 2001, 2x in 7 days (was not fully over the first bout when, with my DR permission I went diving again). DAN and Doctor say dive after 30 days. 185 dives later I am still at it.

As has been said it depends upon a lot of factors. Was the person bent because of a congenital heart defect (PFO) or other predisposition to being bent? I know one diver who seems to get bent if he looks at water. He does not dive now. Yet for many, it is a temporary pause in diving.

The good doctors will answer better. This really was a question for the Ask Dr. Decompression ( a medical type from NASA moderates and answers many post there) forum of this board.

Not a Doctor or other expert. Heck, according to my wife of 30 years I don't know much. But then I married her so I must know something.

 

[String]

I know of people that have typically been told "about 3 months", occasionally its longer like 6 months.
Dont ever dive again ive never come across and im guessing is reserved for very serious hits and possibly medical problems that could lead to an increased risk (untreated pfo etc).

 

[DI_Guy]

You are more susceptable to the bends on future dives but there are lots of variables involved. What type of DCS you suffered ...

You may want to read the attached article" Confessions of a Mortal Diver "

There are actually two reports of this fellow that gets bent bad twice and lives to dive again. It took him two years to recover.

You'll be amazed and will have a new respect for DCS after reading it. I did.

DI_Guy

 

[H2Andy]

well... most divers who get bent dive again, and many get bent again, and then
they dive again

but i've heard of a few divers who have gotten bent so severely that they have
not been able to dive again. these are in the minority (all my info. is anecdotal)

 

[adurso]

I took a hit many years ago and am still diving. An acquaintance took a hit in Mexico, and after many chamber rides and two years is still a mess and will never dive again. One of our local tech guys got whacked hard with a vestibular hit and was in the water within three months. Everyone reacts differently, there are no hard and fast rules for recovery from a DCS hit.