Hi all,
First of all thanks in advance for taking the time to read this. I have searched everywhere for answers and am struggling at the moment, with my mental health taking a decline.
CONTEXT
I live in the United Kingdom / England and recently was diagnosed with DCS whilst on a trip in the Maldives. I have done about 12 dives in total and am a OW diver. On my trip I did 4 dives all with a single safety stop (profile below).
14th:
PADI refresher (no problems - 18m depth)
15th:
- dive 1: 1pm, 22m depth, 33 mins. I was very low on oxygen when surfacing and had to use buddy’s oxygen. There was a very strong current causing more exertion and a bit of stress. Upon surfacing I had nausea but thought this was due to small boat and sea sickness.
- dive 2: 2.30pm, 20m depth, 40 mins (still had nausea but not severe)
16th august:
6pm, 10.2m depth, 53 mins
To provide more context. I started feeling nausea after the first dive on the 15th. I had fatigue in the evening and in my right leg calf but chalked this up to me not diving for a while and exertion. The next day (16th) I started getting headaches (on and off) and spells of mild dizzyness but again, it wasn’t severe so thought it was unrelated to diving (this was accompanied by bouts of unsteadiness). On the 17th I began getting a tingling feeling in my left arm and after 2/3 hours of this was in a hospital being assessed. I was assessed, given blood tests and told that I likely have type 1 DCS (this was later changed to type 2).
TREATMENT
In this order over three days: 1. HBOT US Navy Table 5, 2. Table 6, 3. Table 6 (12.5 hours).
Medication whilst in hospital:
- oxygen
- IV fluids
- Ondansetron 4mg iv stat
- Pantoprazole 40mg if stat and OD
I was initially given a table 5 as the doctor thought it wasn’t serious however, I saw no improvement.
Overnight, I began getting a tingling feeling in my right leg in addition to my left arm. The next day I was given a table 6, showing minor improvement. I was also made to do an MRI of my brain and cervical spine which were normal.
The third day, I was again given a table 6 with more improvement and minimal tingling left in my left arm and right leg.
At this point I was told that I had enough HBOT treatment and that my prognosis was good.
POST TREATMENT
Medication:
- pregarbalin 75mg once per day for 2 weeks
- mecobion 1 tab for 2 weeks
- Donoan OD PO OD for 5 days
- Allegra 180 mg PO OD for 7 days
2 months later I am currently still presenting symptoms of a weak right leg that is sensitive to hot temperature (can still walk and do most things, just weaker). I also have nausea, a persistent headache in my lower back head and a stiff neck.
I have seen a neurosurgeon and a ENT who have both done MRIs and in-person tests. Both have told me that the MRIs are completely normal and that I should be fine. Despite this, they both acknowledged that they don’t have experience with DCS as the doctors are both in London. I have since read on scientific journals that normal MRI imaging does not necessarily result in full recovery which has made me doubt their advice.
Does anyone have any advice for what my recovery might look like and what I should do next? I am really struggling at the moment and my mental health has taken a massive decline. Any words of advice would be so greatly appreciated. Thanks again.
First of all thanks in advance for taking the time to read this. I have searched everywhere for answers and am struggling at the moment, with my mental health taking a decline.
CONTEXT
I live in the United Kingdom / England and recently was diagnosed with DCS whilst on a trip in the Maldives. I have done about 12 dives in total and am a OW diver. On my trip I did 4 dives all with a single safety stop (profile below).
14th:
PADI refresher (no problems - 18m depth)
15th:
- dive 1: 1pm, 22m depth, 33 mins. I was very low on oxygen when surfacing and had to use buddy’s oxygen. There was a very strong current causing more exertion and a bit of stress. Upon surfacing I had nausea but thought this was due to small boat and sea sickness.
- dive 2: 2.30pm, 20m depth, 40 mins (still had nausea but not severe)
16th august:
6pm, 10.2m depth, 53 mins
To provide more context. I started feeling nausea after the first dive on the 15th. I had fatigue in the evening and in my right leg calf but chalked this up to me not diving for a while and exertion. The next day (16th) I started getting headaches (on and off) and spells of mild dizzyness but again, it wasn’t severe so thought it was unrelated to diving (this was accompanied by bouts of unsteadiness). On the 17th I began getting a tingling feeling in my left arm and after 2/3 hours of this was in a hospital being assessed. I was assessed, given blood tests and told that I likely have type 1 DCS (this was later changed to type 2).
TREATMENT
In this order over three days: 1. HBOT US Navy Table 5, 2. Table 6, 3. Table 6 (12.5 hours).
Medication whilst in hospital:
- oxygen
- IV fluids
- Ondansetron 4mg iv stat
- Pantoprazole 40mg if stat and OD
I was initially given a table 5 as the doctor thought it wasn’t serious however, I saw no improvement.
Overnight, I began getting a tingling feeling in my right leg in addition to my left arm. The next day I was given a table 6, showing minor improvement. I was also made to do an MRI of my brain and cervical spine which were normal.
The third day, I was again given a table 6 with more improvement and minimal tingling left in my left arm and right leg.
At this point I was told that I had enough HBOT treatment and that my prognosis was good.
POST TREATMENT
Medication:
- pregarbalin 75mg once per day for 2 weeks
- mecobion 1 tab for 2 weeks
- Donoan OD PO OD for 5 days
- Allegra 180 mg PO OD for 7 days
2 months later I am currently still presenting symptoms of a weak right leg that is sensitive to hot temperature (can still walk and do most things, just weaker). I also have nausea, a persistent headache in my lower back head and a stiff neck.
I have seen a neurosurgeon and a ENT who have both done MRIs and in-person tests. Both have told me that the MRIs are completely normal and that I should be fine. Despite this, they both acknowledged that they don’t have experience with DCS as the doctors are both in London. I have since read on scientific journals that normal MRI imaging does not necessarily result in full recovery which has made me doubt their advice.
Does anyone have any advice for what my recovery might look like and what I should do next? I am really struggling at the moment and my mental health has taken a massive decline. Any words of advice would be so greatly appreciated. Thanks again.
