Diving with a PFO

[SeaHorse81]

I'm glad to hear you are able to get back in the water. Congratulations!

[farsidefan1]

Congrats, after an unexplained hit in Coz I got checked and found to have a pfo (actually not technically a pfo, an atrial septosomething defect, an asd but pretty much the same thing) so I had it corrected. No problems since including a 2 week trip to Palau. One of which was onboard the Aggressor. I didn't do all 5 dives every day but I did 3-4 every day. I now ALWAYS dive on nitrox if available, usually limit myself to 3 dives a day (ok, in Palau I was tempted above that which I could resist) and I drink gallons of water and don't do any significant exercise during the dive trip. I also let the crew take my bc before I board the ladder and make sure I don't hold my breath and exert myself climbig up the ladder. Oh, and I leave my computer set for air and just carefully monitor my depth, staying waaaaay above nitrox limits. These are my guidlines to avoid future problems. Perhaps some of them might be usefull for your consideration.

[Amazz]

Hi slindblade. I'm not much of an expert on anything in particular. However, I feel that I qualify to offer an opinion or two about diving with a pfo, as well as the pros and cons of closure. Funny, I just realized that I am "Ann" from the DAN study. LOL! Yes, I am a study participant and don't mind sharing my personal medical information if it can help a fellow diver continue to share the passion. I was getting bent so frequently that closure of the pfo was really the only solution for me to continue diving. Diving conservatively really wasn't a reasonable option for me. I continue to work as a divemaster on my days off and the depths and profiles in Jupiter don't really allow for conservative diving. I was extremely fortunate to connect with Doug Ebersole, who in a single day, saw me, tested me, diagnosed me, and scheduled my pfo closure. WOW. I know that's not typical service in medicine, but this guy really takes care of fellow divers. Since my procedure just over 2 years ago, I have made approximately 500 dives, mostly to depths in the 80 to 100 foot range. I have made several dives to 130 + feet, including repetitive dives in the 100 ft. range. I have not had a single episode of DCS since my closure. My results may not be typical. I got back in the saddle very quickly, even more quickly than the good doctor would have liked. Ha Ha!

Pros: DCS episodes are completely gone even with deeper and more repetitive diving, my circulation has improved: cold and burning hands and feet turning red and white (diagnosed Reynaud's) completely disappeared immediately after PFO closure and has not returned.

Cons: Had to take a day off work for testing, procedure, and follow-up. Three whole days to get my diving life back. Night in the hospital with an impossible and whiney roommate. Expensive if your insurance won't cover it. Mine did but I still had a $1500 co-pay. Taking plavix for three months and looking like a bruised and battered wife. Irregular heartbeat about 6 weeks after the procedure that lasted a couple of months. By far, the biggest con was not being allowed to dive for 3 months after the procedure. I lasted exactly 5 weeks and 2 days before I just had to make a dive. I was becoming dangerous to those around me.