PFO Repair?

[krisfj40]

I received a call from my Dr. (hyperbaric med dr) today confirming my PFO test results were positive after receiving a couple of undeserved Type II DCS hits. I am scheduled for a meeting with a Cardiologist on Wednesday to discuss options for repair and specifically regarding an Occulur (sp?) implant. I'm trying to do as much research and be as educated as possible going into that appointment.

I'm interested in knowing who else has had their PFO repaired, what their experience was / is, how long it took before they were back in the water, etc.

Also interested in those who opted to not have it repaired. Are you still diving? What are you doing differently to avoid getting bent again? I think the risks of having a harder hit (or worse) are too great for me, but am intersted to hear your reasonings and experience.

Thank you,
Kris

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi Kris,

Suggest you contact Angela at rrcruises@yahoo.com--tell her I sent you. Also ask her for an email addy for EllenE who also had a PFO closed fairly recently.

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[lennyz1]

I am more than glad to talk to and share my experiences of my PFO repair. PM me and I will send contact info.

Yeah undeserved DCS is no fun. I have unfortunately been there more than once myself. It is even worse when you are in a third world country and get DCS and the chamber you have to go into is in someone's back yard in a shed.

I can say that I probably would give up diving if I had not had the PFO repaired. I will also give up diving if I get hit again, because I really do not want to spend anymore time in a chamber.

My repair was just done in September, so I cannot give much on statistics of getting back in the water for me since I am still grounded until late March and another Echo. I can tell you that it was an outpatient proceedure and the only issue was I was a little tierd for a few days because of all of the anesthesia but fully functional besides that.


Anyway, I sent you a PM.