Plea for help = medical and diving related

[Simon TW]

This sounds similar to what I experienced a month ago. I breathed of a rebreather that hadn't been used for a couple of years. I know that I should have disinfected it first but I didn't even think and just gave it a couple of sucks to remove the gas from the loop.

In the early hours of the following morning my son had to call the hospital I was so ill. I was shaking violently I was so cold, he placed 2 duvets over me and the heating up on full. To touch I was red hot but I couldn't stop shivering. I was hallucinating and thought my end was near, I really did I felt so bad.

The NHS direct people who he was referred to thought it could be meningitis. I'd recently returned from Egypt and the symptoms apart from the rash. Eventually they told him to open windows and keep me cool regardless of the shivering.

Two days later I was okay to get up but my lungs were bad and I was coughing a lot. It was only when I'd come around and I was thinking what could have caused it did the couple of breaths from the rebreather spring to mind.

It took a week to feel up to diving again. This happened on Good Friday and I'm now 98%. Reading this thread has been a bit of a shock.

I really feel for your friend, please keep us informed of his condition.

[Mrs Calamity]

Moya,
Sorry to hear about your friend. I sounds a very sad situation.

What what I understand from your post it sounds as if he has an as yet unidentified nasty infection in the lungs which is causing them to fail. I would hope he has been transferred to a large teaching hospital and has the input of an infectious diseases specialist and respiratory physician and back up support at the university if needed.

It sounds like a very unusual infection and the fact that no one has been able to identify the bug causing the infection which means that targetting treatment is really difficult / impossible. It is possible that the infection is came originally from his wing bladder but it may well carry so many different bacteria viruses and other nasties that sending swabs off is unlikely to be helpful in identifying the pathogen responsible -it wont tell you what is in his lungs. I can understand why the hospital docs feel that it won't be helpful.

There are other causes for symptoms like this I take it they have ruled out TB and immune system problems ?

I really hope your friend gets better
Suzie

[Moya]

he is in Leeds in St James so a huge teaching hospital

[Moya]

just an update for you all on this -
had a text last week from the guy whilst we were on hols
Drugs are working - Fungi is receeding but not gone - found a prof in Manc that does fungi - have been referred for more tests this week - walking slowly - gaining weight - target date for hoke 4 weeks - breathing still poor - but working on it!

he is slowly getting better - thank you for all your help and good messages - there is hope at the end of the tunnel i think!

[Morag]

That is good news. I hope the treatment continues to work and he makes a full recovery now that he is getting the help he needs.

[Maria_UK]

Crossing fingers for his full recovery.
Take care

[CotoChris]

He must be going through hell, poor bloke. Best wishes to full recovery.

[paramedic paul]

That is good news, wish him a speedy recovery from all of us when you see him next!

[Blu DL]

My best wishes and hopes for a full recovery.

What a nightmare! It's made me think again about basic bladders on wings and breathing off them - even accidentally...

Please keep us updated of his condition -

Wish I could help but I'm not a lung infection / fungi boffin. Hope this new guy sheds some light on the cause.

[Tunicates]

Having gone up to AOW on different hols in Egypt we were very surprised on doing a days diving in Crete when we were told to fill and rinse the bladders of the hire bcd's in their bleach bath. ??

Bleach bath??

Well it makes perfect sense now after reading this post.


Hoping he makes a continued recovery - wishing all the best.