Hi NatureGirl46,
As you undoubtedly know, CFS remains a somewhat controversial diagnosis and has a history of misuse by the uneducated. Its symptoms are similar to many other conditions. Fatigue, for instance, can be seen in hundreds of illnesses. You'll want to be confident that your syndrome has been supportably diagnosed and is not the result of something more amenable to effective treatment. In this regard, you may wish to see -->
CDC - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) .
Like DAN & your PCP, I am not aware of any research or current info that speaks directly to the issue of diving with CFS.
However, for starters, research has shown that CFS can be associated with:
1. Anxiety, which may predispose to diver panic and/or hyperventilation, both of which can be problematic for scuba.
2. Exercise intolerance, which could prove dangerous under challenging dive conditions, such as surge, strong currents, long surface swims, buddy rescues, etc. And, in the severely affected, even mild exertion can result in profound fatigue. The following recent piece of mine might serve as a useful reference -->
How many MET's should the rec diver be able to handle?+
3. While not common, it has been associated with abdominal bloating due to excess gas in the intestines.
4. Generalized muscle & joint pain which, as well as being potentially distracting or limiting, could be confused with DCS.
As for matter of off-gassing nitrogen in a timely manner, this would appear to be low on the list of concerns.
Regards,
DocVikingo
This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual, and should not be construed as such.
