[Doug Parker]

November 17th, last year.  Dived on the Medoc out of Plymouth, planned the dive on Proplanner, dived the plan, No problems during the dive, done my stops, profile was fine. Got back into the boat, waited for the other 2 to surface, helped them into the boat, had a cup of tea and a fag. Came back into the harbour. Got our kit off the boat, stood around talking shite for half an hour while we arranged our next dive and then went home. Because of where i live it only takes me 10 minutes to get home from the harbour, halfway home i noticed a niggle in my left shoulder and by the time i got onto my drive i knew it was definately a bend ( i don't do denial ), i picked up another can of 80% on the way past my garage and asked my wife to phone DDRC, i went straight up there and they confirmed my bend.  This was all within 2 hours of getting out of the water. By the time i got to DDRC the pain was unbelievable in my left shoulder with slightly less in my right groin, right knee. I'd lost the feeling in my left forearm, my right leg was dragging, slurred speech, generally confused, balance and co-ordination had left the building. They slung me in the pot, 6 hours later (2 extentions) i  was out. Slight pain, slightly confused, still didn't pass the neurological tests but a definate improvement ( not that i remember any of it) so they let me go home. A week of 2 treatments a day with the non divers followed and by Thursday i felt nearly normal. I've been diving since but after the Shrewsbury shock i've decided to leave it until after the operation. If i knew then what i know now. Doug.
PS. I didn't post the incident previously because i'd only just joined YD and thought this forum might be the same as Divernet= Full of armchair flaming Hypocrites. Wrong.