HELP - just diagnosed with hernia and dive holiday booked for 4 weeks time

[nickb]

Speak to the guys at DDRC or the London Diving Chamber. Much as it may pain you (no pun intended), Borneo will still be there. I don't know enough about hernias or their 'behaviour' in hyperbaric situations, but get proper hyperbaric medical advice, not your GPs. With all due respect, they are unlikely to know jack-squat about hyperbaric medicine.

This has little or nothing to do with hyperbaric medicine. The guys at DDRC will say no diving but that doesn't mean it's sound advice. They told me not to dive whilst taking beta-blockers but many people do and I did just that.

I dived for months with an inguinal hernia that was the size of a golf ball. This was carrying a CCR and two AL80 bailout tins. It hurt like hell when I was clearing my ears and I had to keep pushing the fucking thing back in but diving didn't make it any worse.

No way would I miss out on a trip of a lifetime if I was able to cope with the discomfort.

[Tel]

This has little or nothing to do with hyperbaric medicine. The guys at DDRC will say no diving but that doesn't mean it's sound advice. They told me not to dive whilst taking beta-blockers but many people do and I did just that.

I dived for months with an inguinal hernia that was the size of a golf ball. This was carrying a CCR and two AL80 bailout tins. It hurt like hell when I was clearing my ears and I had to keep pushing the fucking thing back in but diving didn't make it any worse.

No way would I miss out on a trip of a lifetime if I was able to cope with the discomfort.

In the UK, nobody cares much, the helo is free, so is the chamber, the hospital etc.

Overseas a pre-existing condituon would wipe out insurance, that's one hell of an expensive gamble.

[Iain Smith]

This has little or nothing to do with hyperbaric medicine. The guys at DDRC will say no diving but that doesn't mean it's sound advice. They told me not to dive whilst taking beta-blockers but many people do and I did just that.

I dived for months with an inguinal hernia that was the size of a golf ball. This was carrying a CCR and two AL80 bailout tins. It hurt like hell when I was clearing my ears and I had to keep pushing the fucking thing back in but diving didn't make it any worse.

No way would I miss out on a trip of a lifetime if I was able to cope with the discomfort.

Nick,

Can you tell us your medical and surgical qualifications, your experience with managing the complications of a hernia and about the relationship between size of hernial defect and likelihood of complications and about the natural history of a hernia in a patient who will be lifting relatively heavy weights?

A history of ignoring medical advice does not qualify you to advise others to do the same.

Iain


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[braun]

This has little or nothing to do with hyperbaric medicine. The guys at DDRC will say no diving but that doesn't mean it's sound advice. They told me not to dive whilst taking beta-blockers but many people do and I did just that.

I dived for months with an inguinal hernia that was the size of a golf ball. This was carrying a CCR and two AL80 bailout tins. It hurt like hell when I was clearing my ears and I had to keep pushing the fucking thing back in but diving didn't make it any worse.

No way would I miss out on a trip of a lifetime if I was able to cope with the discomfort.

[img] removed << personal abuse not in the spirit of TDF
Not a jot of concern for the others in the company who are also on their 'trip of a lifetime' which is spoiled due to your pre existing condition being ignored by you who now requires urgent medical attention. Oh yea, I love people like you!!

[braun]

Sorry but couldn't resist

[BTS]

.to cancel this trip is not an option

it is the only option.

Edit, listen to the medical people on this thread... claim the trip back on insurance, re book again for another time....

[steelemonkey]

Miss one trip/ Cause permanent damage and never dive again?
I know what I would choose.

PS.
For a lady with no sticking out bits, may I suggest http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/breast-...roduction.aspx

[Iain Smith]

it is the only option.

Edit, listen to the medical people on this thread...

To be clear, the medical people on this thread have said "Go and get a specialist opinion". That requires the doctor to examine the patient and sufficient time to discuss the implications of the particular problem they have, including treatment options (including "none") and their potential consequences.

...which is why we don't tend to offer medical advice over the Internet!

Apart from anything else, the OP has no evidence that either Andrew or I are actually doctors!

Iain


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[nickb]

To be clear, the medical people on this thread have said "Go and get a specialist opinion".

And why should that specialist be an 'expert' in diving medicine? I'd sooner see a hernia specialist in this case.

To elaborate my earlier, admittedly off-the-cuff, and late-at-night advice: the DDRC are 'specialists' in diving diseases, the clue's in the name. A hernia is not a diving disease. In my experience, when one calls them to discuss diving with any medical complications, they will wisely err on the side of caution and advise against it. I'll bet that nobody there is an expert in this subject.

One cannot always put one's life on hold for what is often a trivial thing.

I was taking beta-blockers as a prophylactic for migraine, when I discussed this with the DDRC they admitted that they had no real knowledge about this and yet still advised against diving as beta-blockers are normally used to treat high blood pressure which is a contra-indication for diving, even though I repeatedly told them that I had no history of high blood pressure.

When I was treated there after my tox, I was potted. This was very sensible as I was taking a lot longer than expected to regain lucidity (not unusual for me) and they suspected a neurological bend. I was also complaining of shoulder pain. During the extended treatment my shoulder pain showed no sign of improving (it was caused by the guys on the boat removing me from my kit), neither did my general demeanour. In fact, the chamber ride very nearly toxed me again and I needed anti-emetic injections to prevent me throwing-up.

The following morning I was interviewed by a visiting doctor from Italy who insisted that I was almost certainly bent due to the 'rapid ascent' he's seen on my bottom timer between 65m and 40m - it was almost exactly a consistent 9m/min. I was potted again despite me insisting that I was not bent.

People often carry-on with their lives despite suffering from conditions that might suggest they shouldn't. I'd almost certainly not dive if I naively came here asking for advice about the myriad things that I live with.

The general opinion here is that diving is 'special' and that any medical condition should be vetted by a hyperbaric specialist before engaging in it. This is not always the correct answer IMHO.

[K-Padge]

Well great for you!

The op came on here because she wanted the answer to be "ah no, you'll be fine, go ahead", when in reality, the fact that they had enough doubt over it to ask the question in the first place means they know the what they need to do (even if it's not what they want). What everyone is rightly saying is that nobody can make that call for you the doctors can't even make that call for you, they will just advise you what they think you should do.

So to the op - Get all the advice you need from here, LDC, wherever but in the end it's all about what you are comfortable with. If you're happy taking the risk anyway then crack on .

I know what I would do! The sea ain't going anywhere.

[David]

is it possible the Doc might say yes its fine go diving ?

[steelemonkey]

is it possible the Doc might say yes its fine go diving ?

I think a doctor would err on the side of caution.

[mandibee]

Hey all well thanks for all your replies I have sent my ultrasound report to London Dive Chamber and DDRC and await their response - didn't mean to stir up such a heated debate I am of course devastated at the prospect of not being able to go but I will take the medical advice and decide from there. For anyone who is medically qualified here is my ultrasound report for any comments.

CONCLUSION: A right reducible indirect inguinal hernia
TECHNICAL FINDINGS:
Right Groin
On Valsalva maneuver, a reducible inguinal hernia with imental fatty tissue is identified lateral to the inferior epigastric vessels. The hernia defect/neck measures 7mm sagital and 6mm transverse planes. The appearances correspond with an indirect inguinal hernia.

No femoral hernia visualised. No other cyst, mass or free flowing collection seen in the region of interest. No lymphadenopathy seen.

[nickb]

Good luck mandibee, I hope it works-out well for you.

Heated debates is what we do around here - too many tyre-kickers for a small forum

[Hickdive]

is it possible the Doc might say yes its fine go diving ?

This one might;



all the others are highly allergic to medical negligence claims.