DCS aftermath

Please register or login

Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.

Benefits of registering include

  • Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
  • A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
  • You can make this box go away

Joining is quick and easy. Log in or Register now!

I am a 44 year old female, not overweight and average fitness – far from an elite athlete but exercise a few times a week. Health wise, the only real issue I have had is a very long, slow recovery from glandular fever (mononucleosis) a few years ago. I overdid it work and exercise wise when I was supposed to rest, so you would think I would have learnt from that!

H20_kat, I really don’t know what went on in the Maldives. As time progresses I realize just how fuzzy headed and out of personality I have been over the past weeks. Think the doctor was German, and it was at a well facilitated clinic on an island resort- so I did not feel the need to question further. I also held myself together pretty well over most of those days and made jokes about my situation, as many of us Australians do when we are actually scared out of our wits! When I presented why I felt that I was still not right, I did feel he dismissed me though.

My current home is actually Bali. The people looking after me here have been great and really listened to what was going on. In addition the doctors at DAN Australia have been very generous with their time and patient with me over the phone. Even when I was deciding whether I should go back to Aus, my sister (a nurse) called a chamber in Melbourne and the doctor came to the phone talked her through things. So yes, the dive doctors in Aus are a pretty good bunch, who are obviously caring and passionate about what they do.

Thanks once again to all the people who have supported me through this thread- not one to usually share such things online, I am glad I have done it. It has certainly helped me to relax and take time out to heal.
 
Late to the game here but I agree with DoctorMike in that 12 meters for 2 hours on O2 is not standard of care for DCS. I'm going only by your report, but it's possible that initial under-treatment could explain the delay in symptom resolution. The fact that your symptoms worsened on the flight to Australia and improved significantly with further, proper hyperbaric treatment reinforces this possibility.

Recovery to baseline after decompression sickness is multifactorial and highly individual, and individuals with severe symptoms may not completely recover. Tincture of time is the only known treatment.

Best regards,
DDM
 
Thanks again for the input everyone. I thought an update might be useful to some.
2 weeks after my last treatment I was still not progressing and decided to go to Australia to see a dive doctor. For me, this has been a very positive move.
After very thorough discussions and examinations- a lot more thorough than I had had anywhere else, the doctor was able to help me realise and understand the extent of my injuries, particularly to my brain. He suggested I try a series of hyperbaric treatments with a view to wound healing.( not something that all docs would agree with, but hey I was willing to try anything!)
I had 9 in total- 2 hours at 10 metres. Progress was slow at first, but the numbing went significantly after the first few and I noticed an increase in strength in my arm. After the 5th session I felt a fog had cleared from my head- I was a little cautious, as symptoms come and go, but after the 6th session I felt clear headed and so much more my 'usual self'.
When I arrived in Aus, i felt my personality had changed; I had little interest in everyday things that I would usually get a kick out of, would give up on basic tasks and not care if tasks were left unfinished. My family and friends noticed the changes that had occurred in me too and helped me to recognise the extent of this. So getting back to my 'usual self' was significant progress- and brought me such relief. I am now able to focus and problem solve and getting so much more joy out of life again- it has been like being in a holding pattern watching my life go by- and now I feel as though I am a part of it again.
I still would not say I am 100% as I tire out at times, but I believe this treatment has given me a huge boost forward and given me back what I missed the most- my cognitive function.
Hopefully this post will help someone out and encourage others to consider exploring all options in treatment. Also, I would advise anyone who is unsure of the treatment they are receiving directly after getting a hit or concerned about residual symptoms, no mater how slight, to contact a specialist dive doctor through DAN straight away- particularly before flying.
 
Thanks so much for the update. :flowers: :praying: that everything continues to move in the right direction
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/swift/

Back
Top Bottom