Multiple Sclerosis and Diving

[BUZU]

Hi all,

Although I have being surfing the Internet for a while trying to find opinions about Diving and MS I have not found so far a clearcut advise wether MS and diving goes well together or not.

I have a special interest in this subject because it happens that I suffer MS myself. I must confess I am quite reluctant to tell anyone in the diving community I suffer MS and my disabilty is not too evident so far. But I guess MS will progress and my disability will not be able to be concealed for ever.

Does anybody know where can I get information about this subject. ?

Any help will be much appreciated. Thank you

[Adrian Kelland]

Buzu,

There is a bit of information from the UK Sport Diving Medical Committee here http://www.uksdmc.co.uk/standards/Standards-%20multiple%20sclerosis.htm As always it is best to treat conditions such as MS on a case by case basis, so clearcut advice is probably not appropriate.

It is possible to dive with MS openly, I have dived with someone with the condition. It may also be better for your buddies if they understood the issues, and they might also be in a better position to help you should a problem occur.

Adrian

[David Morris]

Isn't MS the one you can get prescription cannabis for?

Its probably not a good idea to take your "medication" then dive :P

[Paul Miley]

Buzu


Diving with MS is absolutely possible. My wife has the disease and actually learned to dive whilst still in need of a wheelchair for land mobility. She has clocked up 100 dives so far.

Key things:

- get your consultant on board (there is no medical reason why underwater pressure will affect MS - quite the converse, many patients have hyperbaric pressure chamber treatments)
- get a letter to that effect to show the dive school. Many just say no because of their insurance.
- know your physical limits and be honest with the instructors
- have a reliable and consistent buddy
- understand how your medication, if any, affects you. Avoid taking too close to diving pre- or post-. Bit like booze really, be smart.

Don't push the dive envelope and then you won't have any issues. Particularly watch out for:

- MS often brings numbness and tingling in joints; can be worryingly misinterpreted as dive related
- cold leading to extreme shivers (my wife wears full plus shorty 7mm plus 7mm even in warm climes)
- sudden temperature changes setting off spasms (hot sundeck to cold water)
- fiddly kit; poor co-ordination in fingers can be troublesome. Well designed and maintained kit no problem.

Practical stuff we have overcome:
- trying to maintain balance on a boat with all the kit on; sit at the edge, rear entry
- strength to climb a ladder back onto boat or jetty; jettison all the kit in the water and pass up to crew or extra buddies
- be prepared not to dive. Sounds obvious but MS can lead to fatigue and on multiple dives sometimes you just have to say no.


hope that helps


Paul


PS the cannibis is prescribed in inhalers, not as everyone imagines !!

[BUZU]

Thank you Paul

Your advise has been tremendously helpful and supporting.

Cheers to your wife. I hope she enjoys diving as much as I do. I have no intention to give up diving whilst I am strong enough to move my ears.

Cheers

[Paul Miley]

Good for you mate...

......I forgot to mention that attitude is 90% of it. Once you are diving you will love it. She finds it a release from the issues on land - neutral bouyancy on a gentle drift dive in tropical waters is as close to freedom from your body as you can get.

We are off to the Maldives next week - whale shark season so fingers firmly crossed.

I'm not a regular on this forum (signed up to get some info ahead of next week's trip) but saw your post. Good luck.

Paul