Imported post
About 1 1/2 years ago I was diagnosed with type I and II DCI.
I would consider myself a safe diver including relevant stops and following "correct" diving practices.
I would say that for all my diving life I have suffered from either headaches, muscle stretches post diving... But in no case did i ever really have a post dive symptom which I would not find another reason for...for example I always get headaches, I will admit I never drink my total 2ltrs of water daily on some occasions, which i usually considered my reason whether I was diving for not.
I used to be renound for carrying too much kit (twin sets etc) and I have a number of back, hip, and knee injuries from sports as a child.
None the less, for every symptom that I had i never considered it to be DCS as I have always had these type of symptoms since I started diving and never really knew any better I guess... (I suppose it could be considered as denial)
I am a nitrox diver and would always use as high a mix as I could relative to the depth. I will also admit a large majority of my diving was in a depth of 6-9mtrs.
So none the less I managed over a weekend of diving one day doing two dives in a day both to a depth of 9mtrs, second day two dives to a depth of 20mtrs. Reasonably cool water conditions (6degrees) and all relevant safety stops included and well within tables, again on sensible eanx mixes.
Post dive, I had my usual headache, so up toped up my fluids, felt fine...
I had a lovely walk in twin set and all to the top car park at a dive site in Leicester...
But none the less this was a usual weekends diving, nothing out of the ordinary, I would consider myself fit and healthy doing 5-8 dives a week, with a love for diving.
Anyway back to the bend, I had my normal headache and a little sore knee from the walk (note: I had an op on this knee as a kid and always have a prob with it) both otherwise felt fine...
Day after still a headache but otherwise feeling fine, knee felt muscularly sore. Had a shower that evening, got a rash (heat rash???), phone a particular insurance agency that suggest I sleep on it.
Day three went to chamber, diagnosed with type I and II DCS, still felt okay headache little worse then normal and knee still feeling muscularly sore....
So my options, It was the long walk back to the vehicle post diving? Not enough water during the day? Cold water conditions? fitness??? PFO??? well it could have been all of them...
None the less chatting to the Dr, he told me I was the worst case of DCS he had seen. All my symptoms were neurological and therefore had been dismissed. Every headache was likely to be another bend.. Every muscle stain was likely to be due to be damaged tissue which is a haven for bubbles.
So even though I could walk talk and act normally the continuous damaged that diving had caused was a problem...
So I had considered that I had had a PFO, since I was a premature baby and also a very ill baby.
The waiting lists were long and I needed to know, so I went private for a contrast echo which confirmed I had a sizable PFO, then about 4 months later I had an appointment to see an NHS surgeon, then in feb this year I had the op...
In the mean time I had sinus surgery, to realign a deviated nasal septum, just in case that could also be a cause for my post diving headaches.
So now I have a sealed PFO and all in all I shall see in good time if I am well post diving again.....
I chose not to dive post the bend due to the severity of my symptoms and also due to some residual neurological effects....
well if there is any info anyone needs feel free to mail me... hopefully I could shed a little more light on anything.....
rjv
NOTE: if there is anything I have learnt from this experience, that is even if you are not feeling well, a headache, small muscle pain, anything post diving phone your nearest recompression chamber and speak directly to the Dr, he can assess whether he/she feels you should need to visit them to see if you possibly have DCS…
What ever the case ensure you speak to a Dr, be wary of peoples advice, but still understand and acknowledge it….remember it is the dr at the end of the day who will decide if you are gonna end up in the pot….
