Update - back in the water - though only the swimming pool...

[Hellvet]

Finally someone has said i can go back in the pool!

I've been quiet on keeping people updated, as I went for a second opinion, and wanted to see how it would turn out. Dr Wilmshurst felt there was nothing further we could do, so i went to see Dr Turner as if this is the case i have to think about giving up work, quite apart from the diving issues. He has done a battery of tests, and has plans to potentially attempt a second closure, depending on some tests and results we're still waiting for... He at least accepts that i feel doing nothing is not really an option!

We spoke last week and Dr Turner asked me if i actually wanted to dive again, to which i replied yes, but i would really prefer to avoid getting bent again. He said in that case he felt i should try to start diving again, as this might at least make me feel happier, even if its in a really restricted way. Part of the reason i've been holding off for so long is to get everyone to concentrate on fixing the rest of me, but the other reason was i felt i should wait till the PFO was fixed to give me the best chance of not getting bent. I also said to him that till i get back in the water i don't think i can be 100% sure about whether i can dive again even though i want to, as the last bend shook me up so much.

I've been waiting so long for this that i'm not sure whether i'm scared or excited, but its probably a bit of both - its just such a big thing for me to just be able to go in the pool. I've got an instructor all lined up to take me back in the first time (or possibly the first few!), cos it'll be over a year on tuesday since my last bendy dive (14 months, 18 days, and 4 hours to be precise, not that i've been counting...much!). I'm hoping its going to be like falling off a bike and it'll all come flooding back to me...but i have to bear in mind that it might not so i feel someone to hold my hand in case i freak out is a sensible step!

I got my kit out and reassembled it the night after he gave me the go-ahead, which all went well until i turned the air on and the high pressure hose started bulging and emitting an ominous hiss - after rapidly turning everything off and purging the system i have now removed it and stolen the contents gauge off my pony to replace it temporarily! Always a good idea to check your kit after a long lay-off...that may not have helped to discover that on arrival at the pool!

I'm trying to think through visualising everything and i think the thing that'll be the deciding factor is the first time i put my head under the water. If i feel how i used to then no questions asked, i'll work through it - if its a struggle or i'm not enjoying it I guess i'll have to decide what happens next...

[Richard Mason]

Speaking from my own experience of an extended layoff (8 or 10 years (not really sure), it was like I'd never been out of the water.

It seems to me that your "problem" has two components, getting back into the water and brushing up on some basic skills and then fear of getting bent again. Trying to deal with the two together is a rather nasty kind of multi tasking.

One step at a time is the way to go, just remember, PFO or no, you are highly highly unlikely to get bent in the average public swimming pool, otherwise you wouldn't have got through your training, so try to put the fear of getting bent to one side for the pool stuff as it's really not an issue and concentrate on doing your SCUBA review or whatever it is.

Have you thought about just doing some snorkelling for a few minutes first? That's "head in the water" with zero risk.

Once you've got your dive legs back and are doing some deeper stuff........then you can start looking out for the DCS symptoms.

[Janos]

Good news I'm glad you're making progress. And small steps is good.

Let me know if you need a buddy for the pool (although I'm teaching defibs this Wednesday).

Janos

[photek1000]

Excellent stuff, sounds like a worth while trip to get the second opinion.

Enjoy the pool, I'm looking forward to my first dip back in the pool in a few weeks (fingers crossed).

Hope it all goes well and you have fun in the wet stuff.

[Adrian Kelland]

Good Luck Helen.

Adrian

[Ali]

That's good to hear, why not use some pure O2, that would put your mind at total ease.
Also with all the hastle you've had and you still have your kit, SCUBA DIVIN has got to be in your blood.

Have fun Helen,

Ali

[Hellvet]

Originally Posted by Ali

why not use some pure O2, that ould put your mind at total ease.

didn't have any! - plus Dr turner said it should be fine on just air

Originally Posted by Ali

Also with all the hassle you've had and you still have your kit, SCUBA DIVIN has got to be in your blood.

You'd think so but i just wanted to be sure!

Oh My God - Loved it so much. Its such a fantastic high - and all completely legal, without the aid of drugs or alcohol!

Got to the pool and apparently my stressed email did not come across as stressed as it should have, and my instructor was surprised to learn that he had to watch for me stressing, though was very reassuring. I asked for and got a really simple try dive type session, sitting on the bottom and then lying on the bottom in the shallow end, 2 circuits of the shallow end, plus one excursion to the deep end. Started off very shaky and consciously calming my breathing, and very nervous. However it all started to relax very quickly, so i started to remember how much i enjoyed this and I even did some mask clears by the end. I felt my buoyancy was all over the place but my instructor said it all looked anatural and relaxed.

We're going to run through OD drills next week, and i'll probably want someone with me for the next week or two to build my confidence, but i think the decision about whether i want to dive again is made...(not sure there was even a question to be honest!) I'm so happy! Woo hoo - off to work now - shame!

[photek1000]

Good stuff, bet your looking forward to your next dip now.

[Ali]

[Dan Wilko]

Well done!

Good luck with your future diving