HAEMOCHROMOTOSIS

[bobwilsonsaa421]

Please could somebody tell me if it is safe to dive with the disease haemochromotosis. If so, would there be any limitations.

Regards


Bob Wilson

[DIVE BUDDHA]

hello,

can you please provide advice regarding any precautions and/ or risks accociated with a person scuba diving who has hemochromatosis.

regards,

john

************************************************** ******************************

Hello John:

Simply put, hemochromatosis is the condition caused by excessive iron stores in the body. The condition causes some symptoms, none of which are adverse to diving, unless in the last stages of the condition. (fatigue, joint pain, abdominal pain, or organ damage.)
More about hemochromatosis.

The treatment of the condition is 'phlebotomy' (blood donation), as often as twice weekly for the about the first year of treatment then periodically thereafter, depending on the rapidity of the rebuild of the red blood cells
(about 120 days in most individuals) and the serum ferritin (iron) and TIBC (iron binding capacity).

Phlebotomy can cause temporary decrease in blood volume, which is thought to increase the risk of decompression sickness. It generally takes about 24 hours for the actively hydrating individual to get his blood volume back to what it was before the donation - so one would be advised not to dive for about that period of time.

Also, some individuals have feelings of faintness, nausea and weakness after donating. Of course, if present, these would be inimical to the diver.

I hope this is helpful!

Ern Campbell, MD
Scubadoc's Diving Medicine
Scubadoc's Diving Medicine

[GLOC]

I have it but it also depends on how much you are a sufferer.

It was ony detected in me due to genetic screening as my father was diagnosed with it but he was verging on alcoholism and had suffered from Hepatitus many years ago. This led to his genetic pre-disposition to be accentuated.

I do not have any symptoms and my liver function tests are negative.

If you are at the level of blood letting to reduce the iron, I would definitely speak to a diving doc to get a good answer.

[bobwilsonsaa421]

Thank you all for your replies. They are most appreciated.

Safe diving

Bob

[bobwilsonsaa421]

hi all
i,ve spoken to 4 diving docs, 3 have said i can still dive the 4th would like to see how far it has advanced, fair do,s the levels are 3000 & 90 i realize these levels are high . but the phllebotomy treatment has just begun .
how bad is it ,what do you suggest ? help needed .
many thanks bob