Patent Foramen Ovale

vlada · 29th August 2007, 13:21

Nikoletta,

My case was very similar to yours. Lots of skin bends episodes, had PFO closed and confirmed closed (no bubbles passing 6 months after), still getting skin bends on occasion.

If i were you, i'd repeat the test to make sure that it did close and after that, just do what i do - add a lot of conservatism to my deco.

PM me of you want to chat about this more.

Good luck,

Quote: (Originally Posted by ms.navigante)

I would like to address my case hoping that someone can give me any suggestion and quoting what Andy said that I perfectly agree.
After several cutaneous DCS that were getting worse and worse also with NDL dives and after a really bad one, I decided to check my heart and they found a 3rd grade PFO of a 15mm diameter. During the first check with the transcranical color doppler echography, more than 75 bubbles passed (the TEE of course confirmed this).
I had it closed at the end of February with a 25-mm Amplatzer device.
After three months I had my check with another transcranical color doppler echography and still about 30 bubbles passed but my surgeon said I could have began diving again, slowly, if I wanted.
And so I did. I dived NDL dives within 30 meters until last week. Now that I am almost over with my 6-month period, I tried a decompression dive in open circuit. 46 meters in air with a 35 minutes deco time, totale dive time 67 minutes.
And guess so: I started feeling bad after an hour I surfaced, not as bad as I was used to be before but still with a terrible cutaneous DCS (not to go to the hospital but not nice at all).
Yesterday I called my surgeon to tell him so asking to do my 6-month check (that I did not do) but he calmly said that he is sure my PFO is ok and my problem is another (??).
Now, what else to do? please, don't tell me: "forget about technical diving!"

Ciao.

Nicoletta

ms.navigante · 12th March 2008, 22:22

Dear all,
just to follow my question posted some months ago.

I have been under medical exams since last September. I have been seen by 2 famous Italian hyperbaric doctors, 3 heart surgeons, I underwent 4 TOEs - always well "awake" and a series of TEEs.
The result of the last TEE I made was that I had a shunt with still 28 bubble passing but, the last TOE I made (by the surgeon who closed my PFO), showed only 4 bubbles passing, therefore for him it was negative.

Doctors were saying: dive. Other doctors were saying: absolutely do not dive, it is a much higher risk.

Since diving is my job, I did dive (and a lot too).

So, after a serie of heavy diving weeks in cold weather and in the lake where I live (from September until Christmas time), I had a severe brain DCS for which I thank God I am here.

At the end: it seems that originally I had two PFO's: a hole that the surgeons closed with the Amplatzer device I have on on February of last year and a "channel" which starts under the device, in which bubbles are still passing through.

On April 9 I will undergo to another surgery to see what they can do. I will let you know.

The second option they told me: not to dive anymore or to take some risks.

Ciao.

Nicoletta __________________
NAUI CD 41377
PSAI INSTRUCTOR 120

29th August 2007, 13:21	#51 (permalink)
vlada Diver with a camera Current Rebreather/s: Ouroboros Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 56	Re: Patent Foramen Ovale Nikoletta, My case was very similar to yours. Lots of skin bends episodes, had PFO closed and confirmed closed (no bubbles passing 6 months after), still getting skin bends on occasion. If i were you, i'd repeat the test to make sure that it did close and after that, just do what i do - add a lot of conservatism to my deco. PM me of you want to chat about this more. Good luck, Quote: (Originally Posted by ms.navigante) I would like to address my case hoping that someone can give me any suggestion and quoting what Andy said that I perfectly agree. After several cutaneous DCS that were getting worse and worse also with NDL dives and after a really bad one, I decided to check my heart and they found a 3rd grade PFO of a 15mm diameter. During the first check with the transcranical color doppler echography, more than 75 bubbles passed (the TEE of course confirmed this). I had it closed at the end of February with a 25-mm Amplatzer device. After three months I had my check with another transcranical color doppler echography and still about 30 bubbles passed but my surgeon said I could have began diving again, slowly, if I wanted. And so I did. I dived NDL dives within 30 meters until last week. Now that I am almost over with my 6-month period, I tried a decompression dive in open circuit. 46 meters in air with a 35 minutes deco time, totale dive time 67 minutes. And guess so: I started feeling bad after an hour I surfaced, not as bad as I was used to be before but still with a terrible cutaneous DCS (not to go to the hospital but not nice at all). Yesterday I called my surgeon to tell him so asking to do my 6-month check (that I did not do) but he calmly said that he is sure my PFO is ok and my problem is another (??). Now, what else to do? please, don't tell me: "forget about technical diving!" Ciao. Nicoletta __________________ Vlada www.wrecksandreefs.com
(Offline)

12th March 2008, 22:22	#52 (permalink)
ms.navigante New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Join Date: May 2007 Location: Italy Posts: 16	Re: Patent Foramen Ovale Dear all, just to follow my question posted some months ago. I have been under medical exams since last September. I have been seen by 2 famous Italian hyperbaric doctors, 3 heart surgeons, I underwent 4 TOEs - always well "awake" and a series of TEEs. The result of the last TEE I made was that I had a shunt with still 28 bubble passing but, the last TOE I made (by the surgeon who closed my PFO), showed only 4 bubbles passing, therefore for him it was negative. Doctors were saying: dive. Other doctors were saying: absolutely do not dive, it is a much higher risk. Since diving is my job, I did dive (and a lot too). So, after a serie of heavy diving weeks in cold weather and in the lake where I live (from September until Christmas time), I had a severe brain DCS for which I thank God I am here. At the end: it seems that originally I had two PFO's: a hole that the surgeons closed with the Amplatzer device I have on on February of last year and a "channel" which starts under the device, in which bubbles are still passing through. On April 9 I will undergo to another surgery to see what they can do. I will let you know. The second option they told me: not to dive anymore or to take some risks. Ciao. Nicoletta __________________ NAUI CD 41377 PSAI INSTRUCTOR 120
(Offline)

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