Hi,
I would like to get a medical advise how I should behave.
I suffered from a "light" pneumonia. In this context "light" means, that the doctor said she can see traces, but cannot state if it is starting to develop or already healing. At least the signs or not showing severe impact on my lung. For diagnosis: One could hear sounds from my lung even after coughing- I got a chest x-ray (there were some "stripes" seen), a lung function test and blood work. Blood work was generally ok with some small traces of an infection. I got antibiotics and some inhaler medical. I have to say, that I already coughed for two weeks when I recieved this diagnosis and it felt worse before I went to the doctor. When this started about 17 days earlier, initially my lung was considered to be OK. Because I got worse I went again to see the doctor. It is not clear if it was a bacterial or viral infection. This diagnosis of pneumonia had been on November 25th.
Of course I stopped diving! Talking to Aquamed I was suggested to wait for complete stop of symptoms and feeling good again. Then get blood work and a second lung function test to confirm diving is OK. The doctor, who is not specialised in diving, did say the same. Another chest x-ray would not be useful as one even on a CT could probably see small effects month afterwards, but they are not a problem for diving. I just should make slow and easy dives, preferably in warm water: Problem is that the expanded gas cools down significantly, which could restart a residual infection. Timewise and how my symptoms evolved they said probably the test will be good and it is to be on the safe side before this vacation.
My plan was originally to get these tests last week and try in a pool on last Sunday. However I did not quiet feel comfortable for it last week, so planend to do it right this week. While considering my fitness level, and overall health measured by my Oura ring, was already good on December 4th, I still had occasional mucus and my ears did not clear last week. Now I think its overal fine.
Now my "problem": On Sunday we are leaving for egypt. Unfortunately I could not make an appointment with a doctor before it (well my fault I waited too long), only after the vaccation. So I am unsure if I should do scuba diving there or better leave it out for health reasons. I consider to testbreath in my bath tub, so my wife looking after me and holding the tank outside the tub and I just breath for like 10m or 20min under water and see how it feels. At least there is a little bit of added pressure and the water temperature could be adjusted. But is that sufficient?
What would be your suggestion?
I would like to get a medical advise how I should behave.
I suffered from a "light" pneumonia. In this context "light" means, that the doctor said she can see traces, but cannot state if it is starting to develop or already healing. At least the signs or not showing severe impact on my lung. For diagnosis: One could hear sounds from my lung even after coughing- I got a chest x-ray (there were some "stripes" seen), a lung function test and blood work. Blood work was generally ok with some small traces of an infection. I got antibiotics and some inhaler medical. I have to say, that I already coughed for two weeks when I recieved this diagnosis and it felt worse before I went to the doctor. When this started about 17 days earlier, initially my lung was considered to be OK. Because I got worse I went again to see the doctor. It is not clear if it was a bacterial or viral infection. This diagnosis of pneumonia had been on November 25th.
Of course I stopped diving! Talking to Aquamed I was suggested to wait for complete stop of symptoms and feeling good again. Then get blood work and a second lung function test to confirm diving is OK. The doctor, who is not specialised in diving, did say the same. Another chest x-ray would not be useful as one even on a CT could probably see small effects month afterwards, but they are not a problem for diving. I just should make slow and easy dives, preferably in warm water: Problem is that the expanded gas cools down significantly, which could restart a residual infection. Timewise and how my symptoms evolved they said probably the test will be good and it is to be on the safe side before this vacation.
My plan was originally to get these tests last week and try in a pool on last Sunday. However I did not quiet feel comfortable for it last week, so planend to do it right this week. While considering my fitness level, and overall health measured by my Oura ring, was already good on December 4th, I still had occasional mucus and my ears did not clear last week. Now I think its overal fine.
Now my "problem": On Sunday we are leaving for egypt. Unfortunately I could not make an appointment with a doctor before it (well my fault I waited too long), only after the vaccation. So I am unsure if I should do scuba diving there or better leave it out for health reasons. I consider to testbreath in my bath tub, so my wife looking after me and holding the tank outside the tub and I just breath for like 10m or 20min under water and see how it feels. At least there is a little bit of added pressure and the water temperature could be adjusted. But is that sufficient?
What would be your suggestion?
