PFO

[humpbackdiving]

Following several mild dci symptoms i.e.: mild elbow discomfort, shoulder discomfort, distorted vision, skin rash (all on different dives, dive profiles were not aggressive) I had my first part of the PFO investigation ECG. ECG showed nothing as expected and I am off tomorrow for Trans-Oesophageal Echocardiogram (TOE) tomorrow...

Is anybody aware of how accurate they are?

Will I need to push for additional/different type of scan or will it be sufficiently accurate?

All comments as always very appreciated.

[alrhem]

Have a search.
Mr summers has posted alot of useful info

[Devon Diver]

The first TOE I had under sedation was inconclusive so had a second without sedation and it showed PFO quite clearly. Did it without sedation so I could perform valsalva while they were looking.

[humpbackdiving]

I am not going to be sedated just local anesthetic... so fingers crossed

[farmershort]

I have read a few of these pfo threads (newbie) including the one by steve summers. I thought a fresh thread would be a good place to ask this:

there seems to be a bit of hesitation from divers with PFO's about the closure operation... are there any serious risks (apart from those with a normal op) that make this a difficult decision?

I would have though a free closure, too allow you to dive normally again, would be pretty much a blessing?

[humpbackdiving]

there seems to be a bit of hesitation from divers with PFO's about the closure operation... are there any serious risks (apart from those with a normal op) that make this a difficult decision?

I would have though a free closure, too allow you to dive normally again, would be pretty much a blessing?

I have hestiated but having read about them and complications that may casue later in life made me make up my mind. I am getting it sorted.

I know I have one and my only worry is for the doctors to be able to find it and then fix it in one op.

[farmershort]

what problems in later llife? this is the bit i dont understand..

[humpbackdiving]

what problems in later llife? this is the bit i dont understand..

"they say" that people who suffered from strokes also had been diagnosed with PFO however no offical statements have been released. Please do not qoute me as I am no specialist. This might give an option to get it fixed under private health insurance. I have not investigated this option yet.

[farmershort]

oh right, but that's if you dont have it fixed?

what are the risks if you DO have it fixed?

[Morag]

I have read a few of these pfo threads (newbie) including the one by steve summers. I thought a fresh thread would be a good place to ask this:

there seems to be a bit of hesitation from divers with PFO's about the closure operation... are there any serious risks (apart from those with a normal op) that make this a difficult decision?

I would have though a free closure, too allow you to dive normally again, would be pretty much a blessing?

There is no guarantee of the success of the op. At least on person on here has had to undergo open heart surgery in an attempt to resolve problems caused by having the operation to 'fix' a PFO.

You are having an operation on your heart. That is one of the organs that, if it stops working, so do you. To choose to have it operated on is, in my view, not a choice to be made lightly.

I haven't been tested for a PFO, but I might have one. If I was tested, would I have the op, just so that I could carry on diving? I don't know. I might choose not to and take up some other passtime instead.