Stoned and Diving

[Francis James]

I have recently been diagnosed with kidney stones which are in the process of breaking up and making their way out of my body with all the resulting pain and discomfort. Not excruciating but a bearable pain though.
Fortunately it is not so bad that I need hospitalisation but I have had all the scans, x-rays etc and am waiting for the next visit to outpatients to find out what form of treatment I can expect.
I have asked my doctor about diving and he said just carry on as normal.
I am due for my HSE medical in a couple of weeks and did not know if I should mention anything to the doctor during the medical.
I am interested if anyone has any experience of such a condition and the potential problems that it may cause when diving.
Without going into too much detail, I am finding it more expedient to dive in either a semi-dry or a wet suit! :eek:

[Martin Stephens]

Not a medical man but some personal experience! This is from a sports diver viewpoint not diving at work, HSE etc

Believe me if a stone gets caught-up on the way out the pain is excruciating - you certainly wouldn't want to be underwater when it happens! I had a kidney stone episode last year and was fortunate in that my GP at the time was also a diving doc, he kept me off diving for about 4 months until I had the stone zapped and then got the all clear from the consultant that there were no more on the way.

Perhaps not what you wanted to hear but HTH anyway

best of luck

Martin

[Nigel B]

During a bout of renal colic a few years ago, the pain was all that existed. I was given 2 x 10 mg shots of morphine to reduce the pain to something tolerable having been taken to hospital; there was no position which reduced the pain. Only the drugs worked. Being underwater is the last place you would want to be when experiencing this as you are then a casualty who needs immediate pain relief. Another side-effect is vomiting.
I would advise ensuring you are free of stones by ultrasound scan BEFORE venturing into the water.

[Alwassia]

The title suggested a different subject discussion. Sorry for your problems.

Kahled

[Nigel Hewitt]

I have recently been diagnosed with kidney stonesBitch ain't it?
I am finding it more expedient to dive in either a semi-dry or a wet suit! :eek:Noooooooo!
Don't 'go' anywhere where you are not in total control. You don't want chunks moving about when you can't get to... your... um... gear.

[David Tombs]

As a medic I cannot but agree with the above opinions. Renal Colic was allways described as the worst pain that you could get,worse even than childbirth! If you have stones that are probibly going to pass down your Ureters then you do not want to be underwater when it happens.

[Finless]

As a medic I cannot but agree with the above opinions. Renal Colic was allways described as the worst pain that you could get,worse even than childbirth! If you have stones that are probibly going to pass down your Ureters then you do not want to be underwater when it happens.

Yeah, especially if the water pressure starts shoving them back up again!!

:):)

As always, pls just ignore me as I rarely make any sense.

http://www.yorkshire-divers.com/forums/images/smilies/spliff.gif

[MSutcliffe]

As a medic I cannot but agree with the above opinions. Renal Colic was allways described as the worst pain that you could get,worse even than childbirth! If you have stones that are probibly going to pass down your Ureters then you do not want to be underwater when it happens.
Is there not one particular type of jellyfish bite which is reputed to result in much more severe pain than renal colic?? I recall reading about in one of those 'it happened to me' (otherwise know as "I'm a prat, lets laugh at me") columns in the back of one of the magazines.?? i did look it up, but can't now find the details.

[Nigel Hewitt]

Is there not one particular type of jellyfish bite which is reputed to result in much more severe pain than renal colic??I doubt it. Renal Colic puts the systems on the end stops and I don't think the nervous system has much more to give. This is where I discovered writhing in agony. Writhing does help. Not much but you'll take what you can get.

However if you walk into casualty and say "Kidney Stones, the renal colic is building up" to the triage nurse it's a great queue jumper. I assume that is because they know if they send to many people in before you you will, regretfully, need to kill everybody else in the waiting room to get treated sooner. It resets your pain thresholds too. After RC toothache is an annoyance and broken bones are irritating.

On the other hand passing the stones isn't too bad but it can catch you needing to... help it along. They only move when you 'go' so diving is no problem but that's why I thought the idea of wearing a wet suit was baaaad baaaad baaaad.

[Francis James]

Well, it looks like a spot of surface cover then till I get the all clear, seeing as our boats are booked and accommodation sorted.
I am hoping for good news from my next out patients visit. Fingers crossed.:(