Scuba Diving

[Hops1865]

Diagnosed with PMR in December, Am currently on 12.5mg going down to 10mg next month. Would there be any issues with scuba diving, it is quite strenuous depending on the current. I’m advanced diver will be looking to dive in July & October. Any advice welcome.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

To be honest, don’t know -apart from the “strenuous” part you mention….it really depends on how you are at the time.But if you’re intending to book a diving holiday for a week or so, that might prove too much…especially if you intend to dive every day.

Do you have a local swimming pool you could have a practice in within the next couple of months just to make sure you’re okay.

We used to have a member who did diving, but he had a lot of other health issues and hasn’t been around for some time, so not sure his situation.

Think you probably need to run this past your doctor…

[piglette]

Have you been doing any strenuous exercise otherwise? It is usually a good idea to start slowly and build things up. Can you stop the scuba diving as soon as you feel even a little bit tired?

[SnazzyD]

As has been said, your recent physical ability is important. 10mg made me feel a lot better physically than I was. I’d check with your consultant too because without their blessing you may be on a sticky wicket if you need to claim on your insurance even if it seems unrelated.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I couldn't even do ordinary swimming, never mind scuba diving. One of the problems I found with swimming and skiing was that I could have been feeling fine and suddenly it was like hitting a brick wall of fatigue and I had to stop. It was bad enough 2/3 of the way down a ski piste where I could stop and sit down to recover - which could take half an hour. Not quite so easy or safe when scuba diving I would have thought.

One of the links here is about fatigue in autoimmune disorders:

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk......

There are a few people on the forum with PMR who were scuba divers - they may see your post.

[Highlandtiger]

I’m an experienced scuba diver. I was told by a specialist dive medic not to dive until I got below 7.5mg because of the risk of getting 'an infection like pneumonia'. Having been hospitalised in the Maldives with pneumonia on a dive trip before I had PMR or took steroids it’s not an experience I’d like to repeat. It was rather James Bondish as I was transferred to the hospital on the main island on a speedboat for 30 minutes while on oxygen and a drip after collapsing.

I had to cancel 3 dive trips I’d already booked. I have dived again, after I got below 7.5mg, but only easy diving in Europe then Covid appeared. I’m not convinced personally that I want to dive at present to be honest with the aerosol, snot and general 'gunk' that tends to fly about on dive boats.

On the physical side I know that I’d now not be able to dive in the extreme currents I was regularly diving in, in remote places, just before I got PMR but when I was at the levels you are at just now I'm sure I could have (physically). I thought it would be fine as felt ok at higher doses so was disappointed when the dive medic vetoed it on the likelihood of getting infections rather than physical ability but it made sense.

If I were you I’d see a proper dive medic. You’ll have to sign a waiver with the dive centre anyway I assume and a medical questionnaire unless you’re just doing it privately with friends and the questions about medication will provoke the answer that you will have to provide a medical certificate. Hope this helps even if it’s not the answer you were looking for. I miss diving terribly.

[Hidden in reply to Highlandtiger]

Sorry to read that you can’t dive now but at least you still have the vision of the beautiful hills.

[borednow in reply to Highlandtiger]

I'm going for a little lie down ......................... !!!

[Hops1865]

Many thanks all. Will see how things progress nearer the time & have a conversation with my GP. Great forum keep up the good work.