I already posted this earlier. However, it may be more suited to a new thread. Mods please feel free to edit as appropriate.
Hello. New to the site.
While searching for information on DCS, I found this thread. I'm hoping I can ask a few questions. While diving last weekend I may have taken an "unexplained" DCS hit after what I thought were very shallow dives (although in hindsight I embarrassingly now recognize several possible contributing factors: cold, not enough sit time between dives, not waiting long enough after dive before taking a shower). First dive 14m (avg. depth 11m) for 44min. Out for 53min. Second dive 14.1m (avg. depth 11.1m). Square profiles and both dives ended with slow ascents and 5m/3min safety stops.
I am outside the U.S. and due to a combination of stupidity on my part (I couldn't believe I could take a hit on that profile) and lack of facilities, I did not get to a doctor for about 30 hours. My original symptoms were headache (had a mask squeeze on first dive and blamed that) on and off tingling in my fingers in both hands (after showering) about 30 minutes after the second dive. Later experienced a burning feeling on the back of my wrists, arms and around my chin, similar to a sun burn, that all come and go. I thought I might have burned myself in the shower without realizing it, but no marks to show for it.
When I finally got to the hospital late in the evening the dive medicine doctor was not around but the doctor on duty said those symptoms were enough to warrant treatment in the hyperbaric chamber to be safe. Having been through two table 6 treatments the tingling in both hands and the numb/burning feeling in the chin still come an go. However, after the second treatment, I finished with a bad headache and felt bad again today (tired and vertigo). I have my next chamber treatment scheduled for tomorrow and will meet with the dive medicine doctor in two days to determine if one more is necessary.
I have many questions. Thanks in advance if anyone can address any part of them.
Does this sound like a mild DCS hit? I thought the burning feeling might suggest skin bends but I'm concerned about the tingling fingers. Is there any way to be sure?
Is it normal to feel bad (tired/headache/vertigo) after chamber treatment? Fortunately, the chamber is not extremely expensive here, but if this really wasn't a hit am I putting myself at any unnecessary risk?
It may be too early to ask, but assuming this was an actual DCS hit, what is the general outlook for this sort of injury? Does the tired and tingling feelings usually go away?
If the tingling does not go away after treatment, is that the end to diving? Is there any way to tell if it was not actually from a DCS hit?
The whole experience has left me embarrassed and a bit depressed. Both for my stupid mistakes noted above and for waiting to do anything about it. But also embarrassed that I might be going through all this for nothing. Thanks again for your comments.
Hello. New to the site.
While searching for information on DCS, I found this thread. I'm hoping I can ask a few questions. While diving last weekend I may have taken an "unexplained" DCS hit after what I thought were very shallow dives (although in hindsight I embarrassingly now recognize several possible contributing factors: cold, not enough sit time between dives, not waiting long enough after dive before taking a shower). First dive 14m (avg. depth 11m) for 44min. Out for 53min. Second dive 14.1m (avg. depth 11.1m). Square profiles and both dives ended with slow ascents and 5m/3min safety stops.
I am outside the U.S. and due to a combination of stupidity on my part (I couldn't believe I could take a hit on that profile) and lack of facilities, I did not get to a doctor for about 30 hours. My original symptoms were headache (had a mask squeeze on first dive and blamed that) on and off tingling in my fingers in both hands (after showering) about 30 minutes after the second dive. Later experienced a burning feeling on the back of my wrists, arms and around my chin, similar to a sun burn, that all come and go. I thought I might have burned myself in the shower without realizing it, but no marks to show for it.
When I finally got to the hospital late in the evening the dive medicine doctor was not around but the doctor on duty said those symptoms were enough to warrant treatment in the hyperbaric chamber to be safe. Having been through two table 6 treatments the tingling in both hands and the numb/burning feeling in the chin still come an go. However, after the second treatment, I finished with a bad headache and felt bad again today (tired and vertigo). I have my next chamber treatment scheduled for tomorrow and will meet with the dive medicine doctor in two days to determine if one more is necessary.
I have many questions. Thanks in advance if anyone can address any part of them.
Does this sound like a mild DCS hit? I thought the burning feeling might suggest skin bends but I'm concerned about the tingling fingers. Is there any way to be sure?
Is it normal to feel bad (tired/headache/vertigo) after chamber treatment? Fortunately, the chamber is not extremely expensive here, but if this really wasn't a hit am I putting myself at any unnecessary risk?
It may be too early to ask, but assuming this was an actual DCS hit, what is the general outlook for this sort of injury? Does the tired and tingling feelings usually go away?
If the tingling does not go away after treatment, is that the end to diving? Is there any way to tell if it was not actually from a DCS hit?
The whole experience has left me embarrassed and a bit depressed. Both for my stupid mistakes noted above and for waiting to do anything about it. But also embarrassed that I might be going through all this for nothing. Thanks again for your comments.