My wife is now saying that she has talked to her doctor and he said that diving should be off limits. Any thoughts on this subject, so maybe I can convince her it is OK.
Hi sherm1234,
Since your wife's doctor has neither examined nor treated you, and does not appear to be either a vascular or diving medicine specialist, s/he does not seem to be in a proper position to comment with confidence about your return to SCUBA.
In an otherwise healthy and fit individual, a history of a single episode of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) that resolved completely with anticoagulation (which was then discontinued), does not constitute an absolute contraindication to diving.
Of concern is that an individual who is predisposed to clot formation on a genetic (e.g., Factor V Leiden) or other (e.g., obesity, cigarette smoking, hypertension) basis may develop future DVTs and that one of these will move to the lung and lodge there as a pulmonary embolism (PE), a potentially fatal situation.
Moreover, a number of experts believe DVT's relationship to flying has long been underestimated. Travel itself does predispose to DVT (e.g.,
Meta-analysis: Travel and Risk for Venous Thromboembolism ? Ann Intern Med).
I am not aware of any research linking DVT and SCUBA. However, there are some possible effects of diving (e.g., dehydration, platelet aggregation and coagulation activity in response to circulating gas bubbles) that could conceivably contribute to/aggravate DVT.
Diving should only be resummed after clearance by a qualified specialist.
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.
