Diving after DCS II

[dreammermaid]

Anyone had or know of anyone who had a bad case of the bends and returned to diving. How did the dive profiles look?
Thanks, Leila

[triplefin]

There are quite a few accounts on here of peoples experiences Leila if you do a search.

[Steve S]

Hi Leila,

depends what you define as bad, I had a vestibular bend last july and was cleared to dive after 5 weeks, I started on the richest nitrox I could get away with and rebuilt my confidence gradually [also did module 1 ccr but haven't bought one yet]

Post bend I have done 36 dives to a max of 37m mostly on nitrox. I have loads of dives booked this year which I am looking forward to with equal amounts of excitement and trepidation also I can tell you that your first forays back into the water will take it out of you with every twinge making you wonder if you are off again.

With regard to profiles I don't know if your bend was explained or a sh*t happens one like mine, but I would in no particular order after the obvious clearance by a dive medical, dive nitrox, stay shallow for the first few dives, pad out any stops you have and acsend as slowly as possible, avoid exertion before and after the dive, drink loads of water possibly with isotonic stuff in and expect your nerves initially to be worse than ever before.

ATEOTD only you know how much you want to get back and how far you are prepared to push yourself.

HTH and good luck.

Safe diving,
Steve

[dreammermaid]

Hi, thanks for the advice. I had a pretty bad case with difficulties walking that are mostly cleared up after almost a year but with some numbness yet. My Dr. (Dr. Montoya at Mercy Hospital in Miami (my Hero!!!) Told me to wait a year and call him. He agreed that he is very conservative. He advised against flying for 4 months. (The QM2 is a great way to travel between NY and UK)
On my release form he checked no further diving recommended but told me too call him in a year as I proceeded to have a meltdown in his office. It was definitely a case of knowing how it happened -a deserved hit
Since diving is my career it's been a struggle but others' stories are interesting to read. Thanks again, Leila

[David Tombs]

I would be very,very carefull,especially with residual neurological symptoms and signs of DCI. You will be much more likely to have a further hit,and much less likely to recover if you do get one. Diving is fun,but so is walking.I am a Doc. and would be very reluctant to say that you are fit to dive.

[chrisch]

Google on Richard Pyle.....

Chris

[Simon TW]

Originally Posted by chrisch

Google on Richard Pyle.....

Chris

I've done it and posted the links. I know that many have read them before but its good to read and learn from the mistakes of others.

Dive safe.

http://www.bishopmuseum.org/research...utz97/cmd.html

http://www.deepcaves.net/diving/confessions_II.html

[John N]

I knew a dive guide who got bent - not sure what type though.

She carried on working, but was limited to 30m max and could only dive on nitrox. The profiles were generally very conservative involving very gradual multi-level ascents.