Not the end...but the beginning of the end?

[Steve S]

Hi all I hope you’ll forgive this self indulgent post, but it’s something I need to get off my chest.

About a month ago I went for my annual physical, part of which is an eye exam to look for signs of diabetic retinopathy, this is the main cause of loss of sight in the UK apparently.

Unfortunately they have found I have background retinopathy, thankfully not bad enough to need any treatment as yet, but as the UKSDMC don’t certify diabetics to dive with anything other than mild background retinopathy, [and I wouldn’t consider diving without a medical cert’ for life assurance reasons] it would seem that the seeds to my eventual retirement are sown.

My GP and diabetes clinic obviously can’t give me any idea of the time span for any possible visual impairment, and from what I have read it will hang over me like the sword of Damocles with anything from weeks or months to years before any proliferation occurs.

I have started to come to terms with it, in that I have decided to carry on as I always have, living for the moment and trying not to worry about things I cannot change until there is no choice but to face them, but as diving has been such a huge part of my life for the past 10 years and apart from my family the most important thing, I really don’t know how I would cope without it as it has given me so much joy over the years, when I’m not diving I’m planning diving or talking about diving….a dive bore according to Tracy

I’m mostly pretty upbeat and I’m sure my usual positive mental attitude will surface and hopefully see me diving for many more years to come.

If there is anyone, especially medical professionals on here with any knowledge of retinopathy, and in particular diving with retinopathy I would appreciate any advice please, my control is always excellent and my HBA1C blood tests are always below 7 and my last one was 6.8 so there is little I can do to improve that result without the risk of hypo’s, also I don’t have blood pressure and I exercise regularly.

Apologies again, thanks for reading this....and can I wish you all good health and safe diving in 2008.

Safe diving,
Steve

[MartyC]

Steve,
Don't know what to say except, I hope you find a way to keep diving, best wishes m8 and good luck.

[GLOC]

You too Steve (season's greetings) and I hope that you can continue to dive, something which you obviously love.

Besides, if you can't dive, are you allowed to be a MOD?

Take care Steve.

[Captain Deco]

Hello mate. I don't know knob all about anything medical, but whilst you can still dive you'll never want for a buddy as long as I draw breath. Any time you want a splash I will do what I can (which might not be that much - you know what the emergency services are like!!)to get in the water for dives with you.

Get on down with the DUE!!!

[ratcliffe]

Aww Steve, thats a bummer on a massive scale. But I am glad that you are taking it the best way, and looking to enjoy the diving for as long as is possible. Make sure you plan all the good trips that you "have always fancied doing", this will actually cause you to focus more on what you want to do, I am sure.
Hopefully events will unfold, if they do at a very slow rate, many years into the future. Meanwhile, enjoy what you have, as you have a lot

[Juz]

Originally Posted by scubajay

you'll never want for a buddy as long as I draw breath. Any time you want a splash I will do what I can to get in the water for dives with you.

Jesus Jay, talk about kicking a bloke whilst he's down!

Steve, Let's hope it's years and continue as is for as many of them as we can!

Juz

[Madfish]

Originally Posted by Juz

Jesus Jay, talk about kicking a bloke whilst he's down!

Steve, Let's hope it's years and continue as is for as many of them as we can!

Juz

I was a bit worried about the girl hug he gave him!!

Anyhoo Steve, cheer your miserable self up - you are diving on the 2nd aincha? We can add an eye check to our bubble check @ 6m and then I'll l give you the GUSAC eye-test .... Firstly I'll show you some 'special' signals, making sure you can see & understand them then have a quick peek into the mince pies with the 18w Salvo..... If you can still see - we can continue the dive, if not, I'll abandon you like the last time

I blame vindictive MP - more than once he said that it was a case of the 'Blind leading the blind'...... I did wonder what he meant!

Don't worry too much matey

Di

[Diving Dude]

So, l now have to change your name form just 'Old gammy leg' to 'Old Gammy eye & leg', maybe l'll just shorten it to 'Old wreck'

Oh and bad luck with the buddy offer from scubagay ooops l mean Jay

[Adrian Kelland]

Hi Steve,

I'm not sure what to say - I can't say I know how you might be feeling. I do know that I would miss diving a lot if I had to give it up. I would run the club RIB and things like that, but not quite the same...

I hope the condition, if it does deteriorate, that it is very slow.

Adrian

[Kent Tooling]

Originally Posted by Madfish

I'll l give you the GUSAC eye-test .... Firstly I'll show you some 'special' signals, making sure you can see & understand them

Di

Dianne you are not FLASHING again are we

Happy Christmas by the way

John