PFO testing in the area ?

[annlaur]

Hi Sallye ! I'm planning to get on the island around Feb. 20th… but that will depend on the outcome of the meeting with the cardiologist and whether I can get screened here or there… Hope to finally meet you too.

 

[JenLoves2Dive]

Of course contacting D.A.N. ( and having an active membership) would be the most prudent.
Two of my very close diving pals (both women) had PFOs and subsequent surgery for closures.
There are extensive posts about their experiences on the D2D (diver to diver) Scuba Diving Magazine's forum.
I would highly recommend checking out their posts.

EllenE's story (link below) is probably THE BEST account of a PFO you will ever read.
TRIP REPORT (of a sort!): My Dry Dives and Other Adventures


Here's Amazz's story:
Medical issues and staying dry +


You can contact members Amazz and EllenE. They are both back in the water and extremely active divers.

This person also had a PFO.
PFO Fix


Many have had skin bends a time or two. You'll understand that correlation after reading their stories.
There also seems to be some correlation between PFOs and migraines.

 

[DandyDon]

I suppose that Annlaur's dive insurance is thru a European organization, perhaps DAN Europe which is quite different than DAN America's dive insurance. DAN America will be happy to help her with info tho, member or not.

I'm kinda surprised they had surgery from what I read in the DAN Alert article: PFO and Decompression Illness in Recreational Divers

 

[Pelagicsal]

I'm planning to arrive the 19th, so I will be hoping you are well for many reasons!

I am so ready to get wet, too! It's been since July - which is a long time for me in the past few years...

 

[Dr. Doug Ebersole]

I was the cardiologist who closed both EllenE's and AMazz's PFOs here in Florida. I also particpated in the article referenced by DandyDon above and I'm the principle investigator on a study with DAN looking at the correlation between PFOs and DCS.

We are looking for divers who have a documented PFO and have sufferred DCS -- whether or not the diver elects to close the PFO or leave it alone. We would love you to participate if you are interested. The information is at DAN: Divers Alert Network - Scuba Diving and Dive Safety Association. Thanks for your consideration!

Doug

 

[firstdive2005]

Hi Ann, I hope you take debersoles' offer up, this may be such a blessing to you. I wish you well chica! kev

 

[annlaur]

Thanks everyone for the answers.
EllenE and Amazz's stories are truly inspiring, I can relate to the denial part of the DCS, in Cozumel last year I often felt unusual fatigue, slight vertigo and very light tingling in the fingers after the second dive. It would start after getting off the boat and last less than an hour, I always dismissed it as "subclinical DCS" since it resolved quickly on its own.

I sensed something was really off when I got the serious hit (the tingling was very strong and was both in my hand and knee), but the dives had been the shallowest and shortest of my whole trip and well within the NDL, so I delayed treatment and decided to sleep it off.

I've always dove air and never had any side effect when I did only one dive, so I was thinking of changing my profiles for this trip : one shallow (less than 70 feet) dive a day maximum on Nitrox following air tables. Cozumel is not exactly the easiest place on earth to implement such a routine, but I have friends there that I want to be with and I love the island, so I'll find a way to work it out…

I haven't been screened for PFO yet, but if it turns out I have one, I will definitely enter Dr Ebersole's study for DAN.

DandyDon is right, I have a French insurance (AXA has a special policy for French diving federation divers), they paid for my chamber rides last year. Might switch to DAN Europe this year, since their top plan includes medical as well and I'm planning on long trip.

Kev, Sallye and others that might be on the island between approx mid-Feb till mid-May, I hope to see you guys. Will keep you posted next week after I meet with my cardiologist.

 

[mstevens]

I was the cardiologist who closed both EllenE's and AMazz's PFOs here in Florida. I also particpated in the article referenced by DandyDon above and I'm the principle investigator on a study with DAN looking at the correlation between PFOs and DCS.

I'm frequently blown away by the depth of expertise here.

 

[Dr. Doug Ebersole]

Thanks, but it's just "divers helping divers" here. We all have our lives outside of diving. Mine just happens to be cardiology.

Doug

 

[annlaur]

Great news. I was able to get an appointment for the PFO test here in Paris on Feb. 10th.
I'm now booking my plane ticket (should arrive on Coz on Feb 26th).
If worst comes to worst, I'll only do one dive a day using Nitrox with air settings.