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On Mon, 18 Apr 1994, Keith W Suderman wrote:
> really though, what is the technical diving communities stance on
> diving after DCS? should i explain the joys of nitrox and O2 deco? (he
> lives in minnesota- not much tech support there...)
I just got a note from Chris Mayer pointing out to me that my recent
contributions to this forum have been particularly brief and
non-controversial. I replied that I've just been too busy lately
to get caught up in any major on-line debates right now, but that I would
step in with something when I had time. Well, I don't really have time,
but since Keith's was the very next message I read, I thought I'd comment.
Eight years ago, I suffered a severe CNS DCS hit on a remote Pacific
island (it's a very long story: 18 single-spaced 12pt pages, to be exact,
in case anyone wants to read it). At the worst, I had sensory deprivation
below the collar-bone level, my legs were immobile, and my arm strength &
coordination were severely impaired. I regained by ability to habble
after a month or so (~30 chamber treatments), could walk reasonably
normally after a year, but suffer permanent impairment to this day
(basically, I can't distinguish very hot from very cold in my lower legs &
feet, and I can't dance very well....not that I ever could....).
By all accounts & perspectives, I really shouldn't be diving AT ALL. My
"bends doctor" expended a tremendous amount of energy trying to convince
me of this. I took a year off from diving altogether, and worked back
into it very gradually. I did a LOT of soul-searching during that year.
I finally decided that diving was too important in my life (it basically
IS my life!), and that alternate careers were not a satisfactory option.
Since my accident, I have made about 2500 dives, about 1/3 to 1/2 of
which were deeper than 50 meters. The craziest diving I've ever done was
in the period of 2-4 years after the accident. During that period, I
received two minor shoulder hits on different occasions, one of which was
successfully treated with IWR, the other I ignored until it went away. My
attitudes about diving have evolved a LOT since that period in my life -
and I am still in the evolution process. Fortunately, I am moving more
and more towards conservative habits (rather than more and more towards
risk-taking). This is not to say that I will not dive deep any more: I
now do 120m + trimix dives with what I believe to be a much larger margin
for safety than an average 50m dive during my "crazy" days
("craziER" days?) My goal in life is to die of a non-diving related problem.
When I get my Cis-Lunar rebreather (I've already sent in my downpayment), I
will likely go deeper.
Now....on the topic of whether or not someone should continue to dive
after a DCS hit: This is an extremely personal choice, which can only be
made by the diver. My recommendation to people in this situation is:
"NO. It's not worth the risk. If you can live with not diving, then DON'T
TAKE THE CHANCE!"
Although this may sound hypocritical, it is not. I still believe that a
once-bent diver should NOT continue to dive. This, of course, depends on
the severity of the initial hit. In my case, although my initial hit was
very severe, a life without diving - in fact a life without DEEP diving,
was simply not an option.
If someone with a DCS history feels that she/he MUST continue to dive, I
strongly recommend that they assume the following to be absolutely true
(whether or not they actually are true):
1. You are MUCH more likely to sustain a DCS hit than before.
2. A subsequent hit will be MORE SEVERE than the first.
3. Complete recovery from a subsequent hit is MUCH less likely, and the
probability of permanent damage is MUCH GREATER (this is ESPECIALLY true
for CNS hits).
Most of all, YOU MUST BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN ACTIONS! (this, I
believe, should be true of ALL divers).
In addition, someone with a DCS history who wants to continue diving
should learn EVERYTHING they can about diving physics & physiology (as I
have done, and continue to do).
We all have to make choices for ourselves. What's important is that those
choice be well-informed.
I imagine this one will draw a lot of fire. Please forgive me if it takes
a while to respond - I really am very busy these days. I will do what I
can to respond to all inquiries.
O.K., Chris, how was that?!? ;)
Aloha,
Richard Pyle
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