Pictures of Skin Bends

[poco]

Here are some pictures of my skin bends.
I hope it educates others in ways that I was not previously.
I was diagnosed as having an allergic reaction the first three episodes.
I emailed pictures to dive shop owners, other experienced divers and was continually told it was an allergy. I was not diagnosed until I called a DAN Doctor.
This final episode sent me to the chamber for 5 hours. It affected me neurologically as well and should not be trifled with.
I have one more picture that is really good, but I can't figure out how to shrink it enough to be acceptable.
If you or another diver even looks like they might have skin bends, administer O2 as soon as possible. The problem is they will probably not appear until 1-2 hours after the dive. O2 delivered, even as late as the next day, will help, so don't convince yourself that it is going away and you don't want to look like a baby asking for Oxygen.
And ignore anyone who acts like you are being a baby. It is your body.
They don't have to live in it.

 

[Gombessa]

Ugh, pretty crazy. Hope you're OK, and can you describe how it occurred?

 

[TSandM]

Thank you very much for posting these pictures, for the education of those of us who might be faced with a patient like you in the future.

 

[texdiveguy]

Here are some pictures of my skin bends.
I hope it educates others in ways that I was not previously.
I was diagnosed as having an allergic reaction the first three episodes.
I emailed pictures to dive shop owners, other experienced divers and was continually told it was an allergy. I was not diagnosed until I called a DAN Doctor.
This final episode sent me to the chamber for 5 hours. It affected me neurologically as well and should not be trifled with.
I have one more picture that is really good, but I can't figure out how to shrink it enough to be acceptable.
If you or another diver even looks like they might have skin bends, administer O2 as soon as possible. The problem is they will probably not appear until 1-2 hours after the dive. O2 delivered, even as late as the next day, will help, so don't convince yourself that it is going away and you don't want to look like a baby asking for Oxygen.
And ignore anyone who acts like you are being a baby. It is your body.
They don't have to live in it.

How many times has this occured to you....you mention 3 previous diag. being incorrect??

 

[SkullDeformity]

I've got a genetic skin thingy that makes my pores huge, as a result, lots of places on my skin are reddened/bumpy. Detecting a rash like that would be pretty difficult for me.

To make pictures smaller, open it with paint by right clicking on it --> select open with --> choose paint. Click on "image" and then "stretch/skew," enter in a percentage to shrink it by, like taking it down to 10% of its original size or 25%, or if you want to embiggify it enter a percentage higher than 100. Don't shrink and then re-expand the picture, as you will cause it to be very grainy, if it is not as you desire, use edit --> undo and then try a different percentage. That should make the picture smaller to upload.

 

[maj75]

Since I can't see anything particularly wrong in the pictures could you describe the signs and symptoms more specifically?

 

[FFMDiver]

Hard to distinguish these images from something to be concerned about but very helpful to know - thanks

 

[metaldector]

I used to get these on my legs and arms about 10 years ago. Had a 7 hour ride in the chamber on my arms and lost all feeling in the skin for about 5 years after that. The cure for me was NITROX and careful accents. Early on I thought I had sunburn as it felt like that. Denial is a great problem! Sunburn through a 3mm wet suit? Hummm. Older and wiser now. You'll get over this but watch and accents and use NITROX.

 

[alijtaylor]

Since I can't see anything particularly wrong in the pictures could you describe the signs and symptoms more specifically?

I suggest you click on the thumbnails to enlarge, it is definitely a rash of some sort and a rash after diving has to be a candidate for bent skin.

 

[wedivebc]

Thank you for posting these pics. Have you been tested for a PFO? If you do please let us know the results. I have heard that unexpected skin bends along with neurological problems are often the result of a PFO. You could certainly add some data to that hypothesis.