Deb In Venice
Registered
As, of today, I have jumped through medical hoop #1 of 3. I would like to share my experience with the new and wannabe asthmatic divers hoping that is will be helpful.
Ive been lurking here on Scubaboard for a little over a month now trying to glean as much information as I can before I take my first certification course. Through my readings I became aware of the differing opinions on asthmatics diving. I am asthmatic and have wanted to dive for years. Many posts lead me to the conclusion that I needed to see a Pulmonary specialist with particular experience in dive medicine. None of the posts I read (and I did not read all of them) told me how to find a specialist or what to expect.
So I joined DAN because I learned that they have a physician referral program. I sent an email to the correct department and later that afternoon received a list of 3 doctors in the Los Angeles area. Two of the three are part of the Blue Cross PPO network, so my insurance would cover my appointment with a $10 co-pay. Those same 2 doctors have a loose partnership out of the same office building and are involved with the Gonda Center for Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Medicine at UCLA. I had an appointment with one of those doctors today.
The hour long appointment began with the usual medical history paperwork. There was a blood pressure check (104/78), and that little oxygen sensor they put on your finger. I tested at 100% which I was told was a small and proud group to be part of.
When the doctor arrived we went into great detail my attacks. Questions like (these are just the few I can remember):
- How long have you had asthma
- How old were you when you first remember having an attack
- What triggered it
- How long did it last
- How often do you have attacks
- How severe are they
- How long do they normally last
- How do you treat yourself after an attack
- Do you have wheezing
- Do you have pain
- Do you have sinus issues like a runny nose
- Have you been hospitalized for an attack, explain
- Are your symptoms worse during the day or at night
- Do you have exercise induced attacks, examples
- Do you have allergen induced attacks, examples
- Do you have cold air or cold water induced attacks, examples
- Any history of Sickle Cell Disease in your family (may be a person of color question only)
- What medications have you taken for your asthma and how often
- Have you taken any steroids
- What non-asthma medications are you taking
After the Q&A, there was the testing of the reflexes and muscle function... checking of the ears, nose and throat... peering deeply into the eyes with a very bright light... listening to the lungs and heart and some poking around in search of herinas and such.
On the whole, he feels I am in very good health and believes there should be no problem with me diving BUT he will not give me a certificate until I complete 2 more sets of tests. 1) a Pulmonary Function test to get a baseline reading and 2) a Cardiogram with a bubble study to R/O. :06: I dont have details of what these last 2 sets of test involve, I had to get to work and couldnt stay longer to ask more. Ill come back with more details as I complete the testing (hopefully next week). I will add those posts to this thread.
If you are in the L.A. area and would like the names of the doctors I was given, please PM me and I will pass the names along.
Ive been lurking here on Scubaboard for a little over a month now trying to glean as much information as I can before I take my first certification course. Through my readings I became aware of the differing opinions on asthmatics diving. I am asthmatic and have wanted to dive for years. Many posts lead me to the conclusion that I needed to see a Pulmonary specialist with particular experience in dive medicine. None of the posts I read (and I did not read all of them) told me how to find a specialist or what to expect.
So I joined DAN because I learned that they have a physician referral program. I sent an email to the correct department and later that afternoon received a list of 3 doctors in the Los Angeles area. Two of the three are part of the Blue Cross PPO network, so my insurance would cover my appointment with a $10 co-pay. Those same 2 doctors have a loose partnership out of the same office building and are involved with the Gonda Center for Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Medicine at UCLA. I had an appointment with one of those doctors today.
The hour long appointment began with the usual medical history paperwork. There was a blood pressure check (104/78), and that little oxygen sensor they put on your finger. I tested at 100% which I was told was a small and proud group to be part of.
When the doctor arrived we went into great detail my attacks. Questions like (these are just the few I can remember):
- How long have you had asthma
- How old were you when you first remember having an attack
- What triggered it
- How long did it last
- How often do you have attacks
- How severe are they
- How long do they normally last
- How do you treat yourself after an attack
- Do you have wheezing
- Do you have pain
- Do you have sinus issues like a runny nose
- Have you been hospitalized for an attack, explain
- Are your symptoms worse during the day or at night
- Do you have exercise induced attacks, examples
- Do you have allergen induced attacks, examples
- Do you have cold air or cold water induced attacks, examples
- Any history of Sickle Cell Disease in your family (may be a person of color question only)
- What medications have you taken for your asthma and how often
- Have you taken any steroids
- What non-asthma medications are you taking
After the Q&A, there was the testing of the reflexes and muscle function... checking of the ears, nose and throat... peering deeply into the eyes with a very bright light... listening to the lungs and heart and some poking around in search of herinas and such.
On the whole, he feels I am in very good health and believes there should be no problem with me diving BUT he will not give me a certificate until I complete 2 more sets of tests. 1) a Pulmonary Function test to get a baseline reading and 2) a Cardiogram with a bubble study to R/O. :06: I dont have details of what these last 2 sets of test involve, I had to get to work and couldnt stay longer to ask more. Ill come back with more details as I complete the testing (hopefully next week). I will add those posts to this thread.
If you are in the L.A. area and would like the names of the doctors I was given, please PM me and I will pass the names along.
