Scuba Diving

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anonymous

New member
Hi all,

This is my first post. Just have a question to anyone who might have an answer <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

I am a CF patient, I am 21 years old and relatively healthy (no transplants, no cleanouts to date, live a basically normal life).

I recently switched doctors and asked my current one if I can scuba dive as i am going on vacation in a few days. He said I should have no problems doing so. However, I still keep in touch with my old doctor and I asked him the same question. His response was that under no circumstances should I scuba dive...

So I am quite unsure about what to do. Any help woudl be appreciated.

Thank You!
 
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anonymous

New member
FVC=90%
FEV1= 79%

Those were my scores beginning of november... I believe they are slightly (but not much) higher now.... The highest my FEV1 has recently been (in the last year 1/2) was 87. I do have an occasional cough and produce mucous.

I am somewhat asthmatic... I notice the humidity and seasons effect my breathing.
 
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anonymous

New member
Hi,

maybe you should talk to a doctor, who has experiences with diving. Normally you need a doctors certificate to go scubadiving, don´t you?
I do only snorkeling and I think it depends on your personal condition, but only a specialist can tell you, if your lung function is still ok for scuba diving.
When you go down the pressure could be a problem. I can´t even snorkel, when my condition is not ok. My experience last year(feeling not well) was, that I can´t breathe enough, when laying down in the water.
The other thing is the coughing: its okay through the snorkel, but further down? I think it could be a risk.

Uli,43,Germany
 
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anonymous

New member
My advice is take your own equiptment if possible. That way you are risking anyone elses bacteria.
Where are you goin gon vacation?
 
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anonymous

New member
My worries are not the breathing or coughing, breathing through a regulator is actually easier than through a snorkel (you dont have to force air out a long tube) and coughing doesn't effect the airflow at all (I actually know somoene who has puked into his regulator and was still able to breathe, i know it sounds gross but it's just a testiment to how robust the scuba regulators actually are).

The issue is the pressure change when going back up into the water... If one of my airways(bronchi) gets blocked during the dive, the air inside the bronchi will start to expand as the pressure decreases but will have nowhere to go....painful and dangerous.

During the decent into the water if the pressure is too much, i will feel it and not dive any deeper (From what I have asked other divers...this happens to them occasionally so it is not a CF related thing).
 
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anonymous

New member
Ask DAN (Divers Alert Network) in Durham NC.

CF's should not dive for many reasons. Infection is a high risk, ear and sinus squeeze can be an issue. Plus all the other reasons with pressure and the potential for a mucus plug and damage to the lung (blow out a portion). I use to dive prior to my TX and have been down over 100 feet. Not a bright idea yet enjoyable. If you dive get an easy breathing regulator, clean it all the time, do not use rental equipment, and good luck!

Talk to a navy dive doc or DAN (I have talked to both numerous times and understand dive and altitude physiology). Post TX is more issues and perhaps some day.

Mask, fins and snorkle has more color to the coral (less depth). Deeper, less color.

CF 55 TX cepacia.
 
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Liza

New member
Hi, I read somewhere that you can not get certified to scuba dive even if you have asthma if you have had to use an inhaler in either the last six months or year (can't recall which). I just did a general search about two years ago to see what it took to be able to go scuba diving and that is what I found. I quit looking after I read that in a couple of different sites.

Liza
(mom of 2teen girls w/CF)
 
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JazzysMom

New member
Something sticks in my head about that also, but I am no sure why. It makes sense tho & I would assu,e heart problems would also be addressed.
 
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anonymous

New member
Hi,

If you do a search on scuba diving on this site you will find more information cos I've seen it discussed before. I've been scuba diving and have a much lower fev1 than you. I loved it and didn't give too much thought to my CF at the time, it just didn't dawn on me that maybe I shouldn't dive. I have done nineteen dives with an fev1 around the 40 to 50 % mark and had no problems. Then I found this site and I think I asked a question about diving and got a reply that outlined the possibilities of picking up new bugs from the equipment if they have not been cleaned properly. I read so much about it that I'm now afraid to ever do it again, my ignorance was bliss at the time but probably risky! You do run the risk of an air trap injury like you mentioned and I don't think a dive centre would let you dive if you disclosed your CF status ( I didn't mention it ). Hope this helps and have a great holiday.

Roo 28 cf.
 
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anonymous

New member
Hey sweetie, 23, female with CF,
Actually, in ST. Barth's last year, my husband really wanted to do scuba. (He doesn't have CF) But we didn't want to part for the whole day. It was an all day trip. So we arranged for both of us to go. We prearranged for an instructor to hold my hand under the water, and to support my tank for me, so I could basically float. Again, this was a very experienced instructor, who also was a pulmonologist. It did take me a while to get used to the sensation, and I felt panicky, like I was choking. He calmed me down and taught me breathing exercises. We only went to a depth of 8-10 feet or so. This was still awesome, b/c the reef was a vertical wall, so I really got to see stuff. If you can't get to a place that has vertical walls, I would just reccomend snorkeling. My guide explained to me that I should NEVER dive lower than 8-10 feet. He showed me how the chemicals in my lungs would change with the depth, and it would just be too dangerous.
I'm glad I got to experience diving just once. I wouldn't do it again b/c it's too costly to just go for 8 ft. when you can snorkel and see just as much.
Also, snorkeling is SO good for your lungs. It teaches you to breath slowly and controlled.
Christian
 
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anonymous

New member
Melissa,
It was an awesome experience. To be down there is the closest we can get to being on another planet. To see this amazing creation is beautiful. It was one of the best experiences of my life. And also to me, a great accomplishment. I was under the water for 45 mins.
If you ever can, DO IT! But do it safely!
Christian
 
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JazzysMom

New member
Actually it is on my to do list. I was never interested in scuba diving for some reason. I think its the fear of an anxiety attack while being under. Last year I tried water skiing for the first time. Although it took quite few tries & a few days of effort I managed to get up if only for a few seconds & I felt so accomplished. I also think it would be great to do it with my daughter!
 
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anonymous

New member
Wow, water skiing that's awesome! I don't know if I'd be brave enough to try that!
Yeah, scuba is a great thing for a parent/child to experience together. It brings you close together in appreciating creation and the awesome power of our earth.

Christian
 
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Faust

New member
I would bet that if you are a pretty healthy CF, with real good lung function/capacity, and no current infections/hemoptysis incidents, i'd bet scuba would be ok. I remember I went snorkeling a long time ago, went down about 20 feet or so, and I remember my ears absolutely in pain, not like they were gonna pop like in an airplane, but like they were seriously imploding. Due to my ear pain I didnt want to go down any further. But I would scuba in a heart beat regardless of depth, as long as that ear pain wasn't as bad.
 
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JazzysMom

New member
Water skiing I had no fear of except not to have the strength to do it. Downhill, snow skiing on the other hand I have a great fear of. I tried my daughters new snowboard in our back yard yesteray (tiny little hill if you can even call it a hill) & I freaked out. I can sleigh ride ok (I guess cause I am sitting down) & waterskiing I am not hitting the hard surface. Even if I fall & "smack" the water it will only sting for awhile more likely then break something LOL!


Not to mention with the water skiing this year I only put on 8 lbs of the 20 I lost & was still using O2 at nite so to me it was even more of an accomplishment given my poor health at the time. Determination can do wonders!
 
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anonymous

New member
According to Webb, A.K., Dodd, M.E. (1999) "Exercise and sport in cystic fibrosis:benefits and risks"

"Scuba diving is contraindicated for patients with lung disease if there is any evidence of air trapping. On ascent, the air expands, with the real risk of developing a pneumothorax. The presence of sinus disease in almost all patients with CF is a contraindication to diving at depth".

For added interest:
"The sports that carry a medical risk for patients with CF include bungee and parachute jumping, skiing, and scuba diving. Patients with CF who have portal hypertension with significant enlargement of spleen and liver should probably be advised against contact sports such as rugby, parachute and bungee jumping. Skiing for patients who are already hypoxic is ill advised, and episodes of acute right heart failure are brought on by a combination of altitude and unaccustomed fierce anaerobic and aerobic exercise is well documented".

Hope this is of some help. Bear in mind, the info is slightly outdated.
 
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anonymous

New member
I use to dive a lot, when I was a little younger. I'm 30 now and can't risk it. The one thing I do know, is that you should not dive over 33'. Something about hydrostatic pressure and lungs being squeezed. Vessels could pop, airways restrict, etc... Basically, unless you think you are REALLY on top of your game and you have the FEV1 to back it up, don't risk it. However, if you do, don't go over 33'.
I free dive now and even with an FEV1 of 35%, I can get down 28' and catch a lobster.

I'm a germ freak and I don't think rental equipment should be a factor in your decision to dive. Regulators are generally very well taken care of and as long as they are cleaned, rinsed and hung to dry, I don't see it as a problem.

Give your lungs a workout, FREEDIVE (snorkle)!!!

Good luck!
 
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