open water medicals

[ken s]

Hi All
I am a new diver and have completed my book work and confined water training, on my medical form I put that I had suffered from asthma in the past this has now been diagnosed as an alergy to house dust but I need a medical as I am not allowed to change my form, I take no medication for the allergy other than what you can buy over the counter or don't do dusting. I went to my doctor but she is not willing to sign a form because she says that she knows nothing about scuba diving and that I could sue her if anything goes wrong.
I dived in Feb/march this year in Mauritius three times to 12 metres but without a medical certificate I am unable to get certificated. I was referred to a doctor privately by my local dive school and he said he wasn't worried about the allergy as I'm not likely to find any dust whilst under water. The only reservation he had was my weight. He told me to lose a stone and then he would sign my form. I have lost the weight but he can't see me until 12th Oct. (we leave for St. Lucia 30th Sept).
Could anyone reccommend a doctor in York (or close to) where I can get a recreational scuba diving medical? (before I leave for St. Lucia as I really want to complete my open water cert).
regards
Ken S

[Adrian Kelland]

Hi Ken, welcome to YD.

You really need a medical from a doctor who knows something about the effects of diving on various conditions. Your doctor has been remarkably honest in this regard.

A list of appropriate doctors may be found here http://www.uksdmc.co.uk/main/Medical%20referees.htm

St Lucia - Rodney Bay area?

Adrian

[Duff_Daddy]

Hi Ken,

I found Dr Brooke (on the list Adrian gave the link for) very friendly and helpful, he is in Bradford, depends which side of York you are.
Welcome to the forum and good luck.
St Lucia huh! i'm not in the slightest bit jealous

[waterbutt]

I'm in a similar position i.e. allergy asthma

BSAC has some v good guidleines on their website which you should read.
http://www.bsac.org/medical/r_asthma.htm

Essentially - well controlled allerfy asthmatics can dive.
I expect that you will need to have a medical (rather than a phone interview) to prove that you are a well controlled asthmatic - i.e. that you don't have active asthma.
Expect to have your lung capacity (peak flow etc) measured before and after some excercise which will get you well out of breath.
:-)