lidja
Registered
Background: I just got back to the US from a trip to Sri Lanka. On Jan 3, I dove two afternoon dives with a 5-star PADI shop. Flew to China (altitude: 35,000+/- ft) 48 hours later. Then flew back home (altitude 35,000+ ft again) two days later.
The day after diving, I noticed severe itching in extremities (legs below mid-thigh and arms above the elbow to the wrist). I assumed I had been attacked by mosquitoes in the night, and in fact, noticed 10-12 new bug bites on my body (Sri Lanka is very hot and humid compared to my hometown of Salt Lake City.) I thought it was weird that I was itchy EVERYWHERE on my legs and arms, though, and not simply at the sites of the bites, but didn't think too much of it.
Seven days later, I am still itchy all over. Bug bites have scabbed over and the swelling of the bites is gone, but the itchiness remains. I do not have any signs of bruising or discoloration, but the skin surface *feels* bumpy like I have a rash.
Yesterday, I started studying for my Deep Dive cert. and ran across the information about itching as a sign of Type I DCS. As I filled in my log book with the Sri Lanka dive data, I noticed we dove at the extreme edge of the tables (2 DMs on the two dives, and we dove according to their computer data).
I am not totally convinced this is a case of "skin bends," but it seems suspicious for several reasons: I was wearing a shorty, and the itchiness corresponds to the areas that were unprotected. It came on just hours after we finished the dives, even though I had been in the hot, humid, bug-infested environment for the previous six days.
Other possibilities that come to mind: allergy to unusual laundry soap (but that usually manifests with a rash around the waist?), nervous reaction to the high-stress of traveling abroad? Seems like I'm grasping at straws here...
Anyway...if this IS a case of "skin bends," will it run its course and eventually subside? Or do I need to get it checked out even this long after the dive event? (what would they check out?) Is there an increased danger in diving again in a couple of weeks (for my deep dive cert)?
TIA,
Lidja
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
The day after diving, I noticed severe itching in extremities (legs below mid-thigh and arms above the elbow to the wrist). I assumed I had been attacked by mosquitoes in the night, and in fact, noticed 10-12 new bug bites on my body (Sri Lanka is very hot and humid compared to my hometown of Salt Lake City.) I thought it was weird that I was itchy EVERYWHERE on my legs and arms, though, and not simply at the sites of the bites, but didn't think too much of it.
Seven days later, I am still itchy all over. Bug bites have scabbed over and the swelling of the bites is gone, but the itchiness remains. I do not have any signs of bruising or discoloration, but the skin surface *feels* bumpy like I have a rash.
Yesterday, I started studying for my Deep Dive cert. and ran across the information about itching as a sign of Type I DCS. As I filled in my log book with the Sri Lanka dive data, I noticed we dove at the extreme edge of the tables (2 DMs on the two dives, and we dove according to their computer data).
I am not totally convinced this is a case of "skin bends," but it seems suspicious for several reasons: I was wearing a shorty, and the itchiness corresponds to the areas that were unprotected. It came on just hours after we finished the dives, even though I had been in the hot, humid, bug-infested environment for the previous six days.
Other possibilities that come to mind: allergy to unusual laundry soap (but that usually manifests with a rash around the waist?), nervous reaction to the high-stress of traveling abroad? Seems like I'm grasping at straws here...
Anyway...if this IS a case of "skin bends," will it run its course and eventually subside? Or do I need to get it checked out even this long after the dive event? (what would they check out?) Is there an increased danger in diving again in a couple of weeks (for my deep dive cert)?
TIA,
Lidja
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
