skin bends?

[DocVikingo]

Hi Lidja,

It is extremely unlikely that you have "skin bends" (cutaneous DCS).

This condition characteristically involves a marbled/mottled/bruised-looking violaceous rash with some very slightly raised areas, but typically is without anything resembling "bug bites" or allergic reaction. Allergic rash typically is reddish to scarlet with distinct raised red bumps, but without clear marbling/mottling. Once you've seen both, it's often easy to distinguish between them. Below are medical photos of “skin bends” (cutaneous DCS), some of which I have previously posted on this forum.

Onset typically is quite rapid, not "the day after diving". It usually resolves within a couple or hours, and almost always no longer than 24-hrs. It is unheard of that it would last over a week, as you report. Additionally, it does not cause itching over the entire body, but tends to involve the shoulders, upper chest, abdomen & buttocks.

Please keep this forum posted on your progress--it's how we learn.

Regards,

DocVikingo

This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual, and should not be construed as such.

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[lidja]

So... in the spirit of sharing information (trying to ignore the fact that I feel like a complete idiot), it appears as though I have been suffering through a rather significant bed bug episode. Eeee-yuck!!! Now, not only does my skin itch, but it's making my skin crawl, too! Blech!

Pharmacist has recommended Benadryl cream.

Telling myself that this, too, shall pass...

Thanks everyone for your input and sage advice. I should also mention that the medical technician I talked to at DAN stressed the importance of calling the emergency hotline with ANY questions at ANY time and not to wait for the regular toll-free number office hours. She was very professional, very helpful, and very understanding - not in any way annoyed that I called with questions about a concern that wasn't quite an emergency.

Thanks again, all.

Lidja


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[DandyDon]

So... in the spirit of sharing information (trying to ignore the fact that I feel like a complete idiot)

Nope. If you'd ignored it and ended up paralyzed without bladder control, that would have been bad. Your confusion was understandable.

it appears as though I have been suffering through a rather significant bed bug episode. Eeee-yuck!!! Now, not only does my skin itch, but it's making my skin crawl, too! Blech!

Pharmacist has recommended Benadryl cream.

Telling myself that this, too, shall pass...

Yeah, or hydrocortisone cream, or both mixed. We get stings.

Thanks everyone for your input and sage advice. I should also mention that the medical technician I talked to at DAN stressed the importance of calling the emergency hotline with ANY questions at ANY time and not to wait for the regular toll-free number office hours. She was very professional, very helpful, and very understanding - not in any way annoyed that I called with questions about a concern that wasn't quite an emergency.

That's why we pay them the big bucks.

 

[Dr Deco]

Hello Lidja:
This problem presented late and persisted too long for a DCS problem of this nature. As others suggested, call DAN and rest your fears - which you did.:blinking:

 

[Allison Finch]

My sister has had two bouts with skin bends. As said, it presented on the torso with mottling and itching. She had dived WELL within safety limits, but got it anyway. Luckily both resolved fairly quickly with O2 administration. Good thing as we were WAY out in the middle of nowhere on a liveaboard.

Maybe you had a contact dermatitis with a marine organism. I knew of someone who rubbed on corallimorphs only to find out how dangerously toxic they are. He ended up in a hospital. The dang things stung right through a lycra dive suit.

 

[bergersau]

Background:

Yesterday, I started studying for my Deep Dive cert. and ran across the information about itching as a sign of Type I DCS. As I filled in my log book with the Sri Lanka dive data, I noticed we dove at the extreme edge of the tables (2 DMs on the two dives, and we dove according to their computer data).

Lidja,
Be careful of 'Trust Me' dives. You either need your own computer or you need to plan the dive IN ADVANCE with tables and then dive your plan.
As a general rule following another divers computer is a bad thing - For example: What if it is a repetitive dive for you but not that other diver?

The only time I've relied another divers computer was to get me out of the water after my own computer failed on a dive. We were using computers with the same algorithm and we had both made the same dive earlier with a long surface interval. The second dive was WELL inside NDL when my computer reset to surface mode. As it was relatively shallow and I used my DSMB and buddy's instrumentation to control my ascent and safety stop as I didn't have an easily visible depth gauge after the failure.
Not ideal, but best I could do at the time.
We had a laugh on the surface later. I'd signaled 'Something is wrong' and pointed to my computer - he initially though I was had exceeded NDL way before him. Then he took a second look at my display and realised my computer had rolled over on me.

 

[lidja]

bergersau,

I agree with you. I'm shopping now. I'm choking a little on the cost, but trying to convince myself that dive computers have basically been perfected now, and anything that comes out in the future is just going to be a refinement, not a complete re-invention rendering my purchase obsolete. Would you agree? (Kind of like the iPhone 6 and the GoPro 4---really nice and sparkly gadgets, but not "back-to-the-drawing-board" significant tech upgrades from previous versions)

Lidja


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[bergersau]

For a relatively new diver.
I'd suggest looking at Suunto zoop or Viper, Mares puck, or Hollis DG03 as being good entry level computers.
Don't get caught up in the hype over tank pressure monitoring or multiple gases if money is tight. A basic SPG does the job just as well or better and if a computer is expensive to you then you'll really choke on the cost of trimix diving.

 

[DandyDon]

For a relatively new diver.
I'd suggest looking at Suunto zoop or Viper, Mares puck, or Hollis DG03 as being good entry level computers.
Don't get caught up in the hype over tank pressure monitoring or multiple gases if money is tight. A basic SPG does the job just as well or better and if a computer is expensive to you then you'll really choke on the cost of trimix diving.

Except do get a Nitrox computer for when you get into that, or get out of diving and sell your gear. Oceanic makes some good, reasonably priced models with great customer service.