6 replies to this topic

[damselfish]

Hello everyone from beautiful San Carlos Mexico! If you never hear from me again this is where I'll be! lol.
Anyway, QUESTION OF THE DAY.... Help me out medical people, Dan, what have you heard...

My brother in law, a diver, 55 years old, former smoker, had a mild heart attack a month ago and had 4 stints put in his right coronary artery. He is doing fine now but the doctor told him he probably shouldn't dive anymore. Of course he's upset. So he's down here with me now and wants to go diving with me tomorrow. He asked me why he shouldn't. Well, I've always been a mother-baby nurse so I really don't know.

Can the stints become dislodged under pressure? Can the arteriogram and stint placement leave arteries weak and more prone to aneurysm? Is he more prone to air or clot embolism? Or does the doctor just think that if he sees a shark he will have a massive heart attack??? lol.

Anyway, I don't know how deep it is at San Pedro Island where we are going but there are lots of sea lions that will be around the island in shallow water. Why can't he do a shallow dive?

I'd appreciate some quick responses and thoughts of anyone who know's anything or knows someone that's had this and still dives or can not and why.

HASTA LA VISTA BABY! ~ B

[damselfish]

I found the answer myself after googling for awhile! But I'd still love to hear any good news from divers.
I guess I'm destined to be THE LONE DIVER again! Well, there's always the DM! Thanks you DM's for always being my buddy!
Anyway, it says he has to get an excercise routine going and get checked for a stres test 6 months after the stents and check for adequate blood flow ect ect.

www.skin-diver.com/departments/scubamed/aug00_med.asp?theID=1294

OK. I'm off to ride ATV's and SNORKLE in a cove, with everyone here , and I'll go to San Pedro manyana as an UNO diver! ~ D

[damselfish]

Well THAT didn't work out too good. What happened to that hyperlink? OK so I'm not good at computers. (I think I've been a single diver too long, now I'm talking to myself!! lol)
~ Adios, mother, mother ocean is calling! ~ D

[shadragon]

While I can appreciate his desire to go diving, I would have him talk to a dive doc before considering it. I am sure DAN has a reference list.

I cannot offer specific advice as I am unsure what his condition is, don't know his medical history and even if I did I am certainly not a medical doctor.

Cannot go wrong by talking to these folks for anything dive / medical related:

http://www.diversalertnetwork.com/

[secretsea18]

After heart attacks there are people who are allowed by their cardiologists to resume diving. I am surprised that he was released from CARDIAC REHAB program so soon after placement of his "STENTS" to go on vacation. Most people do a rehabilitation program to progressively increase there endurance and cardiac performance. This usually lasts for at least 2-3 months. Of course, each person is different.

A good friend and avid diver (also unfortunately now for him retired senior airline pilot) had a heart attack about 4-5 years ago. He got stents placed too, and was lucky to not need an emergency coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). He was beached for about 4-6 months and not allowed to dive during that time. He also ended up needing an automatic implanted defibrillator (which is what made him grounded with the airline, he was medically cleared and passed his flying medical after the heart attack) due to a bad arrhythmia. He got cleared by his cardiologist to dive, and he even checked with the AID company about depth limits. He kind of takes it easy, (and I say kind of, cause we are used to going up to the limits) and may skip a dive (not so much though).

He would probably need to heal, which takes time, and then have certain tests to check his heart muscle for ischemic damage to determine his cardiac risk with diving...

Bottom line.... he needs to contact DAN and get a cardiologist who is knowledgeable about diving and it's risks.

your 2 psi

Robin

[DiverBabs]

I found the answer myself after googling for awhile! But I'd still love to hear any good news from divers.
I guess I'm destined to be THE LONE DIVER again! Well, there's always the DM! Thanks you DM's for always being my buddy!
Anyway, it says he has to get an excercise routine going and get checked for a stres test 6 months after the stents and check for adequate blood flow ect ect.

www.skin-diver.com/departments/scubamed/aug00_med.asp?theID=1294

OK. I'm off to ride ATV's and SNORKLE in a cove, with everyone here , and I'll go to San Pedro manyana as an UNO diver! ~ D

Have a great time Belinda!!! Wish he could join you, but better safe than sorry as they say....

[Scubatooth]

Damselfish

in short thats not a NO, but a heck NO on the diving for a while. A month is a short time after placement to even start doing anything that will put major stress on the heart. 6-12 months is going to be a min, but thats for him and his doctor to decide. If his cardiologist isnt familiar with diving physics and physiology have him contact DAN for guidance.

Another one is if he is in florida have him contact Doug Ebersole ( i think thats his name - he frequents SB and several other major dive boards) but he is a interventional cardiologist so he would be a good reference or one to visit if he is local to florida.

Tooth