After 5 chamber rides, he is 1000% better, but still has alot of healing to do. He had his last treatment on Friday and has been confined to bedrest and seeing the Dr. everyday to evaluate his progress and symptoms. The Dr. released him today so he will be able to fly home on Friday.
He was diagnosed with inner ear DCS which is very rare in recreational divers, but nonetheless, can absolutely happen, even after only one dive...he is living proof.
We should all know this and practice this, but the way the Dr. described it was eye opening.
We all check our equipment before we go in the water, but what most of us don't do is pay attention to what our bodies are telling us. We need to take note of how we are feeling before every dive. If we come out of the water feeling different or worse than we did before the dive, get O2 and go to the chamber to get checked. If it's nothing, so be it, but if it's something, this prompt treatment can literally be the difference in 1 treatment or five and possibly permanent damage. Pay attention to your body and what your body is telling you! Do not dive if you feel bad, are dehydrated, extremely fatigued, etc.
He is very lucky and is expected to make a full recovery. I had dinner with him tonight and it was very encouraging to see how much he has improved from what I saw last week. The Dr. has actually recommend 6 months SYMPTOM free before he dives again, which will equate to about a year most likely.
He was diagnosed with inner ear DCS which is very rare in recreational divers, but nonetheless, can absolutely happen, even after only one dive...he is living proof.
We should all know this and practice this, but the way the Dr. described it was eye opening.
We all check our equipment before we go in the water, but what most of us don't do is pay attention to what our bodies are telling us. We need to take note of how we are feeling before every dive. If we come out of the water feeling different or worse than we did before the dive, get O2 and go to the chamber to get checked. If it's nothing, so be it, but if it's something, this prompt treatment can literally be the difference in 1 treatment or five and possibly permanent damage. Pay attention to your body and what your body is telling you! Do not dive if you feel bad, are dehydrated, extremely fatigued, etc.
He is very lucky and is expected to make a full recovery. I had dinner with him tonight and it was very encouraging to see how much he has improved from what I saw last week. The Dr. has actually recommend 6 months SYMPTOM free before he dives again, which will equate to about a year most likely.
Unless you can count a few weeks ago I had my picture taken with Willie Nelson. 
