no more diving

[tekkydiver]

I have little faith in the Canadian Medical System

 

[FishWatcher747]

My problem is a lifetime of endurance training leaves me with a resting pulse around or even below 50 BPM

Not sure if you know this but your lifetime of endurance training increases the risk of atrial fibrillation. It at least doubles the risk and some estimates are higher. If you are a good candidate for ablation you should explore that possibility.

None of these statements are medical advice, consult your Doctor.

 

[wlecyt40]

We have a friend that is a cave diver. He recently had open heart and he is back in the water. His doctor is a diver and cleared him to continue diving. Get a second opinion and ask if that provider is a diver. Talk with DAN as well.

 

[rgkv]

For most tropical diving, 20-60 feet is where the bulk of life and the best coral is! I could live with that limitation but; to each their own. Good luck!

again, the problem is I have to quit taking one of my meds to do a dive. Then I have to keep my fingers on my pulse, goes up, back on the meds. If I have paid for a week away to dive and this happens after the first day,,, now what, sit and watch

 

[ontdiver]

again, the problem is I have to quit taking one of my meds to do a dive. Then I have to keep my fingers on my pulse, goes up, back on the meds. If I have paid for a week away to dive and this happens after the first day,,, now what, sit and watch

I would wager that very few divers would accept this level and complexity of risk. Not only will you not have emergency medical help on board if you get into a critical situation but the likelihood that you can get to a fully equipped medical facility within the "golden hour" is remote.

 

[Joneill]

again, the problem is I have to quit taking one of my meds to do a dive. Then I have to keep my fingers on my pulse, goes up, back on the meds. If I have paid for a week away to dive and this happens after the first day,,, now what, sit and watch

Understood, I was simply referring to your depth restriction statement where you stated “with me, 60 ft in nothing, useless for me”. However, I do understand why you would not want to dive to ANY depth given the risk.

 

[kinoons]

again, the problem is I have to quit taking one of my meds to do a dive. Then I have to keep my fingers on my pulse, goes up, back on the meds. If I have paid for a week away to dive and this happens after the first day,,, now what, sit and watch

As I referenced before - taking a beta blocker does not absolutely contraindicate diving.

Once a patient is stable on their meds, no other conditions are present that would exclude diving, and a patient is able to tolerate physical activity, there is not a need to stop the beta blocker to be active.

There are patients who play sports on beta blockers. There are active adult runners who take beta blockers. Depending on the type of diving you wish to participate in I would not consider simply taking a beta blocker to be an absolute no go for diving.

 

[rgkv]

As I referenced before - taking a beta blocker does not absolutely contraindicate diving.

Once a patient is stable on their meds, no other conditions are present that would exclude diving, and a patient is able to tolerate physical activity, there is not a need to stop the beta blocker to be active.

There are patients who play sports on beta blockers. There are active adult runners who take beta blockers. Depending on the type of diving you wish to participate in I would not consider simply taking a beta blocker to be an absolute no go for diving.

it is the depth that is a problem. I was told as I go deeper the med increases in strenth 2 to 3 times, causing me to passout... so I'm told

 

[rgkv]

Emergency Medicine NP here - so also not a cardiologist, but I deal with a flutter and fib pretty frequently.

The mainstay of definitive treatment for atrial flutter (and often fibrillation) is ablation. How quickly this is done can widely vary based on location, urgency, and patient preference.

When I asked the cardiologist if the problem can be fixed he said yes. I'm not sure what he called it but I am thinking it might have been Ablation. He said its an operation but the problem is once the operation is done and the problem fixed, I still need to take the meds and they are an even bigger problem than the problem.. so still no diving

 

[dlofting]

I've taken beta blockers for 35 years. For me they are the best med to control high blood pressure. They do not impact my ability to exercise nor cause any problems for deep recreational diving. So I'm sure the key is getting your body stable on them, which I obviously am.