PFO Decision

[Doc Intrepid]

Karen, thank you for sharing your experience.

Doc

 

[Dive-aholic]

Hey, thanks for the clarification, that makes sense.

I guess my point was that the whole bruising thing is a pain and as soon as I can get off the stuff, I will. I have to be more precise and know what the heck I am talking about when Dr's are around

Karen

Well, at least you got it now.

At least it's Plavix and ASA and not Coumadin, so a little easier to manage.

Thanks for the explanation, debersole. I'm going to have to remember that and use it with my patients!

 

[Karen Cleveland]

Another update: I visitied my cardiolist yesterday. He requested that I hold off on returning to technical diving depths until I see him again in July. I have been diving alot, but keeping it above 100ft. So a few more months of holding off will be fine...although a bit disappointing.

Karen

 

[ArcticDiver]

Thanks for passing on information about your experience.

A bit of curiosity if you don't mind:
Did he give a specific reason for the timing? Or, is it just a generalized caution on his part?

Why did you pick 100' as your cutoff depth instead of something else?

It is really neat for you to be willing to share.

 

[ianr33]

I have a question,not sure if it is a stupid one or not!

Why do the DCI symptoms you were experiencing only show up on deep dives? My thought is that properly planned and executed deep dives (say 250 feet) would not have any more bubbles produced than deco dives to,say 100 feet.

Not in any way suggesting this is a skill issue,just curious.

 

[Dr. Doug Ebersole]

Karen:

Glad to hear you're back diving. I'm sure your cardiologist is just being cautious. As I mentioned before it takes several months before the closure device has completely "healed over". As your nitrogen loading is less with shallower dives (in general) it is reasonalble to wait awhile before going back to deep technical dives. Don't worry -- those deep wrecks and reefs will still be waiting for you! By the way, Tek Week in Grand Cayman (Dive Tech/Cobalt Coast) is in late August. I'll be there with my Kiss CCR. Any plans on attending?

Doug

 

[Karen Cleveland]

Thanks for passing on information about your experience.

A bit of curiosity if you don't mind:
Did he give a specific reason for the timing? Or, is it just a generalized caution on his part?

Why did you pick 100' as your cutoff depth instead of something else?

It is really neat for you to be willing to share.

Here is my paraphrasing : He said it takes from 3-6 months for the tissue to cover, grow into or whatever is supposed to happen with the implant and it could be covered at 3 months or might take as long as 6 months. But by 6 months it will be covered. So I believe he is just being cautious. I also believe his caution may have to do a bit with his personal issues around diving. We have had conversations about that.

For the first dives after the procedure, I stayed around 60ft. Since that went well, , I decided to move that to above 100ft last weekend. 100ft was a personal limit I set for myself. I think because I personally consider 100ft recreational level...even though many view it as 130ft.

Karen

 

[Karen Cleveland]

I have a question,not sure if it is a stupid one or not!

Why do the DCI symptoms you were experiencing only show up on deep dives? My thought is that properly planned and executed deep dives (say 250 feet) would not have any more bubbles produced than deco dives to,say 100 feet.

Not in any way suggesting this is a skill issue,just curious.

They didn't ONLY show up on deep dives....they only showed up on deco dives. Not on every deco dive, but on a few. Same profile and gases at exact same dive spot one trip was fine and the next it wasn't. Hence the PFO test. I was able to remain symptom free for pretty much 7 months by adding O2 to every deco dive, even if it would usually only warrant 50% and no O2. I would add O2 anyway.

I really think sometimes the deal is associated with physiology and I just can't explain that. So I am not sure I can answer your question.

Karen

 

[ArcticDiver]

Here is my paraphrasing : He said it takes from 3-6 months for the tissue to cover, grow into or whatever is supposed to happen with the implant and it could be covered at 3 months or might take as long as 6 months. But by 6 months it will be covered. So I believe he is just being cautious. I also believe his caution may have to do a bit with his personal issues around diving. We have had conversations about that.

For the first dives after the procedure, I stayed around 60ft. Since that went well, , I decided to move that to above 100ft last weekend. 100ft was a personal limit I set for myself. I think because I personally consider 100ft recreational level...even though many view it as 130ft.

Karen

Thanks for sharing your reasoning. In situations like this my education comes as much, or more, from the why of a decision as the decision itself.

Oh yes, the "personal issues": Everytime someone reports something like that I thank my good fortune that my docs are all thinking people who have realistic views on life activities.

Looks like you are in for many years of fun.

 

[Cacia]

Did you mention the cost of this procedure...ball park?