PFO Closed and now got the "All Clear"

Fort Collins Bob · 6th May 2007, 17:14

Quote: (Originally Posted by debersole)

One small word of caution. As a cardiologist who closes PFOs for a living (actually to pay for my CCR diving habit), the devices can take about 3 months to completely "endothelialize" (close over with native tissue) so the usual recommendation is not to dive for 3 months after having your PFO closed. Just my 2 cents.

Regardless, glad to hear everything went well and you are going to be getting back into the water!

Doug

Thanks for the information, always important.

As a Cardiologist, what is your opinion on the 'more energy' thing?

Thanks

debersole · 7th May 2007, 02:46

Honestly -- placebo effect. But if you feel better and have more energy that's great.

Fort Collins Bob · 7th May 2007, 13:58

Quote: (Originally Posted by debersole)

Honestly -- placebo effect. But if you feel better and have more energy that's great.

yep.. thats what I have also been to from my doctor :-)

thanks for the answer.

***ScubaDadMiami*** · 7th May 2007, 21:04

Well wishes to you on returning to diving. That's great news.

Please tell us about what the recovery period has been like. Levels of pain? Restrictions of lifestyle initially? Overall feeling of health, and how long it took to return (if you felt at all down post surgery)? Etc.

Thanks.

dave burke · 8th May 2007, 01:52

hi Phil
good to here that all went well and that you will be back diving Rebreather again
safe diving
dave

tibby · 24th May 2007, 16:51

Quote: (Originally Posted by Fort Collins Bob)

Thanks for the information Bedo' , I just was wondering if this was all in the head or not.
Interested in getting more opinions from people who have had the procedure completed
on them.

B

Hi,
I have had mine (PFO + ASD) fixed at the end of March (right after I got bent on Tx 18/25) and have not been in the water yet (except for the pool

). It's been a hard recovery for me as I've been getting heart reactions from the inflamation as it heals. Doctor told me they are vagal responses beyond my control to this inflamation and boy it sucks! As far as feeling different I can tell you that I used to have a rest heart rate of ~75bmp before the procedure and after it it went down to about 58bpm. It's been slowly climbing back up (now it's ~65bpm) but I think this may have something to do with the heart being ~20% less efficient before and now it's regained that efficiency

. There's one other thing that's been keeping me out of the water. The doctor put me on Plavix for 3 months. Plavix is an anticoagulant and it could turn a minor barotrauma, say a nose bleed while ascending, into a very long nose bleed.
If anyone is interested I can send you the whole story with more details.
Now I can't wait to be cleared to dive again (I'll find out @ 3 months which is end of June) so I can order that Meg.
Cheers,
Tibby

tibby · 24th May 2007, 16:58

Quote: (Originally Posted by ScubaDadMiami)

Well wishes to you on returning to diving. That's great news.

Please tell us about what the recovery period has been like. Levels of pain? Restrictions of lifestyle initially? Overall feeling of health, and how long it took to return (if you felt at all down post surgery)? Etc.

Thanks.

The first week I was restricted to lift anything over 20lbs. The next 3 weeks I was restricted to 50lbs. After that the doctor said I have no restrictions so I started mountain biking again but then the heart started to hurt so I stopped. While I still think getting the PFO fixed was one of the better decisions I've ever made, the recovery has not been an easy road. I'm still fighting it but it's getting better by the day. WILL be diving soon!
Tibby

Mixaddict · 25th May 2007, 04:56

Quote: (Originally Posted by tibby)

Now I can't wait to be cleared to dive again (I'll find out @ 3 months which is end of June) so I can order that Meg.
Cheers,
Tibby

Tibby, today was my first dive since my accident. (just a couple of 20 min. dives at the Crater). It was nice to get back in the water! Looking forward to diving with you again this summer. Hope you continue to progress well.

Regards,
Randy

tibby · 25th May 2007, 18:29

Quote: (Originally Posted by Mixaddict)

Tibby, today was my first dive since my accident. (just a couple of 20 min. dives at the Crater). It was nice to get back in the water! Looking forward to diving with you again this summer. Hope you continue to progress well.

Regards,
Randy

Randy, that is just awesome! Great to hear you're feeling better. Yes, we'll have to go dive soon.
Tibby

Hellvet · 24th June 2007, 17:04

Its great to hear you're all doing well.
I had a fix done may 2005 and have had some problems with energy since - but i have LESS energy - the docs are trying to work on it...

6th May 2007, 17:14	#21 (permalink)
Fort Collins Bob Always Learning. Current Rebreather/s: Ouroboros Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Fort Collins Colorado Posts: 112	Re: PFO Closed and now got the "All Clear" Quote: (Originally Posted by debersole) One small word of caution. As a cardiologist who closes PFOs for a living (actually to pay for my CCR diving habit), the devices can take about 3 months to completely "endothelialize" (close over with native tissue) so the usual recommendation is not to dive for 3 months after having your PFO closed. Just my 2 cents. Regardless, glad to hear everything went well and you are going to be getting back into the water! Doug Thanks for the information, always important. As a Cardiologist, what is your opinion on the 'more energy' thing? Thanks __________________ Best Regards all ------------------------------------------- Bob Fridell Ouroboros #46 Fort Collins, Colorado
(Offline)

7th May 2007, 02:46	#22 (permalink)
debersole Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Dolphin Azimuth Other Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Classic Kiss Dolphin Azimuth Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Lakeland, Florida Posts: 227	Re: PFO Closed and now got the "All Clear" Honestly -- placebo effect. But if you feel better and have more energy that's great. __________________ www.debersole.com
(Online)

7th May 2007, 13:58	#23 (permalink)
Fort Collins Bob Always Learning. Current Rebreather/s: Ouroboros Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Fort Collins Colorado Posts: 112	Re: PFO Closed and now got the "All Clear" Quote: (Originally Posted by debersole) Honestly -- placebo effect. But if you feel better and have more energy that's great. yep.. thats what I have also been to from my doctor :-) thanks for the answer. __________________ Best Regards all ------------------------------------------- Bob Fridell Ouroboros #46 Fort Collins, Colorado
(Offline)

7th May 2007, 21:04	#24 (permalink)
*ScubaDadMiami* Moderator Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Florida, USA Posts: 2,138	Re: PFO Closed and now got the "All Clear" Well wishes to you on returning to diving. That's great news. Please tell us about what the recovery period has been like. Levels of pain? Restrictions of lifestyle initially? Overall feeling of health, and how long it took to return (if you felt at all down post surgery)? Etc. Thanks. __________________ Howard Packer IANTD CCR Instructor Miami Beach, Florida CCRDiveTraining.com
(Offline)

8th May 2007, 01:52	#25 (permalink)
dave burke Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: kent Posts: 132	Re: PFO Closed and now got the "All Clear" hi Phil good to here that all went well and that you will be back diving Rebreather again safe diving dave
(Offline)

24th May 2007, 16:51	#26 (permalink)
tibby untitled Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: May 2007 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 342	Re: PFO Closed and now got the "All Clear" Quote: (Originally Posted by Fort Collins Bob) Thanks for the information Bedo' , I just was wondering if this was all in the head or not. Interested in getting more opinions from people who have had the procedure completed on them. B Hi, I have had mine (PFO + ASD) fixed at the end of March (right after I got bent on Tx 18/25) and have not been in the water yet (except for the pool ). It's been a hard recovery for me as I've been getting heart reactions from the inflamation as it heals. Doctor told me they are vagal responses beyond my control to this inflamation and boy it sucks! As far as feeling different I can tell you that I used to have a rest heart rate of ~75bmp before the procedure and after it it went down to about 58bpm. It's been slowly climbing back up (now it's ~65bpm) but I think this may have something to do with the heart being ~20% less efficient before and now it's regained that efficiency . There's one other thing that's been keeping me out of the water. The doctor put me on Plavix for 3 months. Plavix is an anticoagulant and it could turn a minor barotrauma, say a nose bleed while ascending, into a very long nose bleed. If anyone is interested I can send you the whole story with more details. Now I can't wait to be cleared to dive again (I'll find out @ 3 months which is end of June) so I can order that Meg. Cheers, Tibby
(Offline)

24th May 2007, 16:58	#27 (permalink)
tibby untitled Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: May 2007 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 342	Re: PFO Closed and now got the "All Clear" Quote: (Originally Posted by ScubaDadMiami) Well wishes to you on returning to diving. That's great news. Please tell us about what the recovery period has been like. Levels of pain? Restrictions of lifestyle initially? Overall feeling of health, and how long it took to return (if you felt at all down post surgery)? Etc. Thanks. The first week I was restricted to lift anything over 20lbs. The next 3 weeks I was restricted to 50lbs. After that the doctor said I have no restrictions so I started mountain biking again but then the heart started to hurt so I stopped. While I still think getting the PFO fixed was one of the better decisions I've ever made, the recovery has not been an easy road. I'm still fighting it but it's getting better by the day. WILL be diving soon! Tibby
(Offline)

25th May 2007, 04:56	#28 (permalink)
Mixaddict Always Learning! Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Evolution Other CCR Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Dolphin Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Draper, Utah USA Posts: 474	Re: PFO Closed and now got the "All Clear" Quote: (Originally Posted by tibby) Now I can't wait to be cleared to dive again (I'll find out @ 3 months which is end of June) so I can order that Meg. Cheers, Tibby Tibby, today was my first dive since my accident. (just a couple of 20 min. dives at the Crater). It was nice to get back in the water! Looking forward to diving with you again this summer. Hope you continue to progress well. Regards, Randy __________________ Randy Thornton (MixAddict) Inspiration, Evolution,Hammerhead & Sentinel CCR Instructor
(Offline)

25th May 2007, 18:29	#29 (permalink)
tibby untitled Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: May 2007 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 342	Re: PFO Closed and now got the "All Clear" Quote: (Originally Posted by Mixaddict) Tibby, today was my first dive since my accident. (just a couple of 20 min. dives at the Crater). It was nice to get back in the water! Looking forward to diving with you again this summer. Hope you continue to progress well. Regards, Randy Randy, that is just awesome! Great to hear you're feeling better. Yes, we'll have to go dive soon. Tibby
(Offline)

24th June 2007, 17:04	#30 (permalink)
Hellvet New Member Current Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London, Cornwall when i can! Posts: 4	Re: PFO Closed and now got the "All Clear" Its great to hear you're all doing well. I had a fix done may 2005 and have had some problems with energy since - but i have LESS energy - the docs are trying to work on it...
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