Return after DCI

[Howard Mason]

Back in 2000 I unfortunately got bent after diving the Tiberia in Belfast Lough , anyway I got potted and was told no diving for 5 weeks , 6 weeks later I dived the Paguntern ( I think thats how you spell it) in the Channel , well over 24hrs later I noticed symptons appearing again in my left shoulder , elbow and wrist , so I took myself off to Whipps Cross , where they said it was'nt a new injury but I had reaggrivated the previous injury , anyway the outcome was I was re-potted and told I could never dive again, this as you could imagine was the end of my world. I have heard of quite a few people being told this and there diving again , seemingly O.K. , has anybdy else been told not to dive and still do , I see a BSAC referee Wednesday, so fingers crossed.

[Chris Edge]

Nobody can actually forbid you to dive. The decision, in the end, has to be yours. You can, at the moment, always buy air and go diving by yourself or with friends, but you won't have insurance. However, having had one hit, followed in short succession by a very similar hit, means that you have neurological damage in a particular area of the brain. Now, each time that you experience damage, the area will become further scarred. It's really a question of how far you wish to go and whether you accept the possibility of becoming severely disabled. You must see what your medical referee has to say. He/she may refer the matter then to the UK Sport Diving Medical Committee for further comment. Having said this, the guys at Whipps Cross are very experienced and you would be a little unwise to ignore their comments.

[Howard Mason]

Thanks for your comments Chris. I fully understand there is nothing to stop me diving off my own back , but I'd be a fool to jump in on a whim a prayer , its just that diving was a massive part of my life back in 2000 and to have it suddenly come to a stop with some very exciting projects in the pipeline hurts . The Whipps Cross team are very experienced as you quite rightly state but I personally know two people who were told they could not dive again , got second opinions were passed O.K. and are diving uneventfully today , Richard Pyle the so called inventor of the Pyle stops did a free ascent from 60 odd metres after running out of air , was paralysed from the neck down and took 12 months to regain feeling in his body , and when eventually he did regain movement he had to learn to walk again , now if thats true you would think diving would be the last thing he'd return too but I read a while back that he was testing rebreathers with the D.I.R team in the states in up to 500ft of water. So you can see why I am wondering if I can return. Anyway got checked out today by a BSAC ref and he's made an appointment for me to have a PFO check.

[Chris Edge]

There's just one little difference - Rich Pyle depends on his diving for his job (he's a deep water ichthyologist) and I didn't get the impression from your post that your job depends on you diving. It's one thing diving for commercial reasons and entirely another diving for sport/pleasure etc.

[Howard Mason]

Sorry Chris I dont agree with you there , a human being is a human being whatever the occupation and the same laws of physics apply to us all and if you're diving commercially , I presume you will dive regulary , and to the depths he is diving you have to stay dived in , so my point being is, he is exposing his body to quite extreme hyperbaric situations regulary, with his DCI history he must have neurological damage so compared to me who's had a couple of hits in the left arm , and all I want to do is a few nitrox no-stop dives in the summer, I think the risk is minimal. I know your saying its his job but he has got to be at considerbly more risk than he's job is worth , besides he studys fish someone else can collect specimens for him , its not like he has to rely on diving for his living as a real commercial diver does , so he must be in the same boat as myself and have a passion for what goes on under the waves, incidently I was just about to about to embark on my HSE 1 air diver course had I not been hit and I dont think Mr Pyle would pass a commercial medical with his history . Dont get me wrong Chris if at the end of my examinations the powers that be say "you aint diving son" then so be it all I want is second opinion.

[Dave Covey]

I see a BSAC referee Wednesday, so fingers crossed.


....couple of points;

1) An influential Hyperbaric Physician recently told me he recommends a minimum of four months before a diver returns to the water after DCI.

2) I've treated several divers for a second time but have yet to treat one on a "Hat trick" (or they won't admit it)!!

3) checkout <a href="http://scuba-doc.com/" >http://scuba-doc.com/</a> or see my link to DDRC....

[Howard Mason]

I have'nt dived since my hit in 2000 cos my wife won't let me . It's taken me this long to get her o.k. , but only if I pass a medical, which hinges on my PFO check in a couple of weeks. Cheers for those websites Dave I'll have a good look at them ;0)

[steve lukey]

I have'nt dived since my hit in 2000 cos my wife won't let me . It's taken me this long to get her o.k. , but only if I pass a medical, which hinges on my PFO check in a couple of weeks. Cheers for those websites Dave I'll have a good look at them ;0)

I`m in the same predicament Howard,last year after a rapid ascent from a 57m dive i suffered a severe neurological bend that nearly killed me!
i spent two weeks in intensive care,i was paraplegic for almost six weeks.Now eight months on i can walk unaided, i recently visited DDRC Plymouth for a check up where after a brief conversation with Dr Phil Bryson it was he that brought up the subject of diving again,although he still insists i have a year out.
I believe for some people diving is in your blood, it certainly is for me and the lure of the ocean is too great wether it be for fun or commercial reasons.Its all very well receiving all the condiscending comments from the self confessed dive gods who are still diving and probably have never been bent, unless they have had first hand experience of dci i wouldn`t even give them the time of day.
DDRC have compiled a book/report-(survey of scuba diving for disabled divers)
At a cost of ?12.50 it won`t break the bank but it is an eye opening read and might help you make an informed judgement wether or not to return to diving.

[Howard Mason]

Cheers Steve I'll look out for that book. You've given me a bit of a moral boost with your post. When the pastime you love is taken away , especially when as you say ,"its in the blood", it bloody hurts , putting it mildy. Even my social life was diving orientated, so it completely changes your life and outlook, anyway mate best of luck for the future and hope you get back in the water, I've got my PFO check on the 12th May , so I'll post the results then :0)

[Howard Mason]

Well had me PFO check and its come up all clear , they did it 3 times to make sure and I was told my heart is in very good shape so its back to the med ref for his opinion , so far so good.

[Howard Mason]

Well I've seen the med ref and he has passed me fit to dive , now where's that old calor gas fire , I need to make some regs.