Bad News
Hi again.
The observant among you may have noticed a little note in Jo's last post about me not diving and feeling a bit unwell. What a big softie; put off by a bit of a rain and a sniffle! Well, not quite, as you'll see.
I had been doing a *lot* of diving, as much as time and work allowed. All jolly good fun as I dived and watched my logbook fill up with the details of lots of underwater excitement.
Worryingly I developed a couple of migraines after some recent dives. The first was a trivial dive (not too deep or long) and I just put it down to the fact that I have from time to time had a migraine or too. No worries, mate.
My second headache was a different kettle of fish though. Really severe visual disturbances and a hammering pain in my head to follow. Very unpleasant. I hadn't really had anything so bad since my teens, when I had used to get headaches like this a fair bit.
Of course, being the good Diving Doctor that I am, I worried about some possibilities that are not immediately apparent to the non-diving medicine specialist.
So, off I went to the cardiologist, and I had a trans-thoracic bubble contrast echocardiogram. This is an ultra-sound scan of the heart; rather like those that pregnant women have, with the added element of having a solution containing small bubbles injected in to a vein at the same time.
And, well, wouldn't you know it? I have a Patent Foramen Ovale - a flap valve in the heart, which normally closes over after birth, has not done so in my case. This means I can get bubbles to cross into my arterial circulation and am therefore at risk of strokes and the bad sorts of decompression illness if I continue to dive.
Bugger.
So no more diving for me, at least until I get home and get it plugged up. I could do it here, but it would cost me $11,000. That's not the sort of small change falling out of my pockets.
So, I’m looking for new hobbies. So far, I have won the first poker tournament that I have ever entered (sadly not for cash prizes), and am looking at learning to sail once the weather clears up. Still a bit miffed, though.
Toodle-pip,
Seán
posted by Seán @ 5:32 pm
3 Comments:
Alright guys, lovely to hear from you again and sounds as if you were having such a lovely time until some bubble trouble - what a b*gger surely you can pull a few medical strings and get it sorted out over there??
All's well here, hot as hell and working far too much but much of a muchness.
Stay in touch and have fun.
Steve.
Cheers Steve,
No go with the medicoes here. They are not too interested in helping out - despite me working full-time in the health system.
Still, I came second in last night's poker tournament - so maybe I'll go down the casino and win the necessary!
S
Hi S&J,
Reading you loud and clear now two blogs in one week v impressive.
Sean - sorry to hear about diving but I sure it wont be long until you find other suitable persuits.
Jo - hows the job going?
Summer season is upon us and Mike and I are off round the festival circuit.
Highlight of June was Rachels Hen do in Norfolk (same weekend as englands exit from WC), Saturday saw as all dressed as pop divas/icons wich two Janis' a blonde, a kate bush and a v meorable tina turner we rocked Sedgeford. Also saw a barn owl swoop down and pick up a rat which squealed very loudly - awesome.
Now in out second week of 32C ++ temparatures and had very sweaty night out to the university dub had to buy Mike a towel, all of us are preying for rain to cool the city down (not to mention clean out the rather smelly drains!!)
Looking forward to next installment
Love bex xx
Post a Comment
<< Home