UKDMC medical after positive COVID 19 test

[Mustard Dave]

Hi all,

One of the Ocean Diver trainees at my club has had a positive COVID 19 test. He came into contact with somebody who had tested positive so he took a test himself. He said he did not feel ill, other than a slight sore throat, which I understand is a possible, but less common symptom. Since then he has had no other signs of illness and feels in good health.

As he now has to answer 'yes' to a question on the self-declaration, he will need to be signed off by a UKDMC referee.

As he is a new diver, I'm hoping to be able to provide some reassurance if possible.

I was wondering if anybody has had a medical following a positive test. What did the medical involve? Was it easy enough to arrange?

Thanks,

Dave

[Allan Carr]

One of our members went down with Covid-19 and had mild symptoms but suffered chestiness. He failed his first diving medical but passed OK 6 weeks later.

Because of our age, my wife and I have annual medicals. The medical is a standard diving medical which includes lung function tests which our member failed first time. It measures force of exhalation rather than volume. Our grandson, who is a medical scientist specialising in respiiratory medicine says that it often takes a bit of practice to get it right so your member should try blowing out with a short, sharp exhalation. Some referees will also do an ECG. Other tests include neurological function and other general medical tests.

Our medicals this year and that of the member who suffered Covid-19 were carried out by Dr. Margaret Clamp in Nottingham because a lot of the more local medical referees are not currently doing them due to the Covid-19 situation.

[Tim Digger]

It may be worth contacting a medical referee. Given the circumstances. IE no illness. Merely positive test. They may pass him sight unseen. On a telephone interview. If no other medical conditions.

[Aqua Maria]

Given your location, I recommend Dr Tim Fitzsimmons in Merseyside.

If your trainee emails Dr Fitzsimmons, he will advise on the best way forwards.

There is a scorecard on the UKDMC website for guiding Covid action http://www.ukdmc.org/medical-conditi...irus-covid-19/

[Mustard Dave]

Thanks for the replies. I have given him the number of Dr Tim. I had a medical with him last year because my GP would not sign the medical form I needed to dive in France; the PADI instructors from the place I first learned to dive with speak highly of him.

Dr Peter Miles has been recommended by our membership secretary, who requires a certificate due to asthma. Her certificate expired during lockdown, but she was able to get a video consultation and get signed off. I'm hoping the chap with the positive test may get signed off in the same manner, but won't count on it yet.

[Nowhereman]

I have had a diving medical after a suspected case of Covid back in April last year. The medical itself involved doing a self-assessment/questionnaire beforehand and on the day getting all the normal vitals taken (blood/urine sample, blood pressure, etc.) and then a short fitness test. In my case it was just stepping onto and off a platform at a set rhythm (getting gradually faster) while wearing a heart rate monitor. Then I had a lung capacity test, which involved blowing into a tube with as much force as possible.

It was pretty simple to arrange, though I'm down in London so don't think there's much point giving recommendations to you (if anyone reading is interested I went with Dr. Oliver Firth https://www.hyperdive.co.uk/) but the whole experience was very standard for a medical check up, nothing very intense. I didn't have any lingering symptoms from the illness (lucky!) but did need to get the medical check off.

[jturner]

It may be worth contacting a medical referee. Given the circumstances. IE no illness. Merely positive test. They may pass him sight unseen. On a telephone interview. If no other medical conditions.

It didn't work for our chap who had that level of symptoms but maybe it's down to the doctor's discretion, as it is a less usual symptom?

One of our members went down with Covid-19 and had mild symptoms but suffered chestiness. He failed his first diving medical but passed OK 6 weeks later.

This was pretty much the experience of our chap too. He narrowly failed on the lung volume/flow tests IIRC first time out (not by much) but passed it a few weeks later second time around.

[timmyg]

Both myself, and I know of at least another have passed HSE medicals post COVID.

I was asymptomatic & only know I had it from a routine test at work (as we had our own mobile team on site weekly). The other who is a full time pro was much more serious, but is (was pre-lockdown) back to teaching.

Ultimately it varies from person to person.

TPG


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[cathal]

Just wondering has an official post covid diving medical been formulated yet by any Agency or medical body? Or is this just the usual diving medical that’s being utilised?


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[N Bailey]

http://www.ukdmc.org/information-for-divers/

Info on here

[cathal]

Cheers, the HSE have some guidance on returning to diving post Covid here as well - https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/f...-extension.htm


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[simon mitchell]

Just wondering has an official post covid diving medical been formulated yet by any Agency or medical body? Or is this just the usual diving medical that’s being utilised?


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Hi Cathal,

A very well thought out (quite conservative) guideline was published in DHM last year.

You can download the paper here:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7755459/pdf/DHMJ-50-278.pdf

Simon M

[cathal]

Hi Cathal,

A very well thought out (quite conservative) guideline was published in DHM last year.

You can download the paper here:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7755459/pdf/DHMJ-50-278.pdf

Simon M

Many thanks Simon for the link

[sim667]

I’ve got another medical due in June and hoping it won’t just be limited to a year again.

I had one last June after testing positive for antibodies (it was inevitable I was going to get it due to my job), but I’ve never actually had a positive covid test, so I’m a bit of a grey area, I’ve got no lasting symptoms and I hope they update the guidelines soon so I don’t have to pay £100 year after year for a new medical

[DaveBarber]

I’ve got another medical due in June and hoping it won’t just be limited to a year again.

I had one last June after testing positive for antibodies (it was inevitable I was going to get it due to my job), but I’ve never actually had a positive covid test, so I’m a bit of a grey area, I’ve got no lasting symptoms and I hope they update the guidelines soon so I don’t have to pay £100 year after year for a new medical

The criteria must have changed since June 20. Surely 40 million people will have got antibodies from the vaccinations.