Taking a short break from diving.

Buoyant Babe · July 3rd, 2008, 06:17 PM

I have already posted this on YD, so apologies for boring those of you who frequent there too. However, if anyone else can learn from my experience I thought I'd post it here too.

In the middle of last week I developed a hurty leg. It felt like I’d strained a muscle in my calf. It was several days after I had been diving, and I just thought I’d pulled a muscle poncing around in my high heels at work. I’ve done that before. It’ll go away, thinks I. Just get on with it and don’t be a wimp.

By Saturday and Sunday it was considerably worse. I couldn’t stand on my leg when I got up in the morning and it was ‘throbbing’ and felt very tender.

Monday morning I got up and the pain was so bad I wanted to cry

. I’ve only twice before had pain that made me want to weep (I’m quite good with pain) but I bit my lip really hard like a good little soldier and fought back the tears

.

I got to work and phoned the Doctor’s surgery immediately they opened. Please note, if I had thought for one moment I was bent, I would have phoned the pot long before then. I’ve made the call before for reassurance and I don’t do denial.

Anyhoo, I got a doctors appointment for Monday evening. The Doc takes a look at my leg, measures both calves and says that although my left leg isn’t swollen, he wants me to go straight to the hospital to get a test for a DVT (deep vein thrombosis) as a precaution. He’ll ring me that night when he gets the results.

Just over an hour later I am sat at home (on YD, surprisingly) when I get the call. My ‘levels’ are raised. This may mean several things, but it could mean I have a clot. He’ll ring the Doc at the Hospital to see what they want me to do – go tonight or wait til the morning.

Sooo, 6.30 I arrive at South Shields General having been told to get my ass up there that night. They are expecting me, and a bed has been booked for me in Admissions – scary

! I see the nurse in A&E after an hour wait. She rings the Doc on the Admissions ward who my GP spoke to. He’s a locum who doesn’t normally work there. She tells him normal procedure is not to be admitted, but for him to prescribe an injection of enoxaparin (anti-coagulant) and to pack me off home with an appointment for a scan the next day. Hurrah! I’ll be outta here soon. He wants more blood tests before he gives me the injection. Why? I’ve just had a blood test! That’s why I’m here. The nurse tells me the bloods will take about an hour, then the Doc will come down to prescribe the jab. This is 7.45pm.

9.30pm I ask the nurses what’s happening. Oh, they know you’re here. You’ll just have to wait. 10pm, they close the day A&E down. Everyone on this list please come to the night A&E next door. My name’s not on the list. I just sit here? Good, can’t be long now then. 10.45pm I find a nurse. What’s happening? Eventually they track down the Doc in Admissions who tells them just to give me the needle down there and send me home. FFS! Couldn’t he have done that two hours ago? 11.15 I leave the hospital utterly miserable and just a tad annoyed :angry: .

Next day I get a call at work. I’m to go to the Admissions ward at 3.15pm for an ultrasound scan.

I get the scan, the Doc says I may have a small clot. An hour later the nice young lady Doc in Admissisons say the scan is inconclusive. They would rather treat a not-clot than not treat a clot, so I get another jab and after three hours in the hospital I’m on my way home. I have to come back the next day after she has conferred with the Ultrasound man. Diving is off this weekend then…:frown:

So, yesterday I go back for another jab and a chat with another nice lady Doctor. I do have a DVT. A very small clot in my calf where it has been hurting. I need a week of daily enoxaparin, after which they will scan me again. If it’s gone, the treatment ends. I have opted to self administer the jabs at home rather than traipse to the hospital every day.

If the clot is still there after the scan, I had two options. Six weeks of warfarin (don’t they give that to pensioners?) or four weeks of self administering the enoxaparin. I opted for the latter. It will mean I never have to declare I’ve taken warfarin on a medical questionnaire, which makes me feel a bit better.

After next weeks scan, I can ring a dive doc to see if I can dive whilst I am on the enoxaparin for four weeks, if it turns out it is necessary. The good news is that in any event I can dive again no problem once the treatment is over

So, lesson learnt: Don’t dismiss what you think is a strained muscle in your leg if it gets worse. Go see the Doc.

I didn’t realise just how much diving is now not just what I do, but who I am. Sat in A&E for five hours it occurred to me that someone might tell me I can’t dive again. Ever. Until you are actually faced with the possibility I don’t think you realise (well for me anyways) just what a massive thing that would be. I’m a diver. My friends are divers. My spare time is diving, talking about diving, fettling kit. I wouldn't be so shallow as to say 'life' would be over if I couldn't dive, but life as I currently know and enjoy it would. Thankfully, it hasn’t come to that.

Safe diving everyone.

Helen xxx

Oh, and Moz quickly offered to take my place on the Glanmire on Saturday. What a star...

**keri.lewis** · July 3rd, 2008, 06:42 PM

Sorry to hear about the DVT - hope it gets better fast!

Quote: (Originally Posted by Buoyant Babe)

I didn’t realise just how much diving is now not just what I do, but who I am. Sat in A&E for five hours it occurred to me that someone might tell me I can’t dive again. Ever. Until you are actually faced with the possibility I don’t think you realise (well for me anyways) just what a massive thing that would be. I’m a diver. My friends are divers. My spare time is diving, talking about diving, fettling kit. I wouldn't be so shallow as to say 'life' would be over if I couldn't dive, but life as I currently know and enjoy it would. Thankfully, it hasn’t come to that.

I know exactly what you mean - I was a little bent recently - detailled on other posts - and went through the same gloomy thought process..

I hope it works out for you.

**Frankie Price** · July 3rd, 2008, 07:27 PM

Glad everything is under control now and hope it all gets back to normal as soon as pos.
It's good to read your experience and handy to know 'just in case'.
Interesting though reading your account of the responses from the A&E departments and their lack of 'bedside manners'.
Suppose it's a sign of the times and their production line cost cutting patient care.
Main thing is that we won't be calling you Long John Silver yet.

Buoyant Babe · July 3rd, 2008, 08:19 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Frankie Price)

Glad everything is under control now and hope it all gets back to normal as soon as pos.
It's good to read your experience and handy to know 'just in case'.
Interesting though reading your account of the responses from the A&E departments and their lack of 'bedside manners'.
Suppose it's a sign of the times and their production line cost cutting patient care.
Main thing is that we won't be calling you Long John Silver yet.

Ha ha, I don;t think you could call me 'long' in any event!

MY only gripe was with the locum Admissions doc. It was he who kept me waiting at least a couple of hours after my second blood tests came back. The nurses at A&E were waiting for him to prescribe my injection - which is what I was told to present myself at the hospital for in the first place! All the other nurses and doctors were very good.

Ali Fikree · July 5th, 2008, 06:45 AM

Get well soon

. I have taken a few months of deep diving now due to numerous injuries.

A

Devon Rob · July 5th, 2008, 10:25 PM

The last time I wore high heels, I ended up in Hospital as well...! Is this just a coincidence?

Hope you`re on the mend soon
Rob

cmalinowski · July 6th, 2008, 04:56 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Devon Rob)

The last time I wore high heels, I ended up in Hospital as well...

Jail for me

July 3rd, 2008, 06:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
Buoyant Babe(Offline) New Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: South Shields Posts: 10	Taking a short break from diving. I have already posted this on YD, so apologies for boring those of you who frequent there too. However, if anyone else can learn from my experience I thought I'd post it here too. In the middle of last week I developed a hurty leg. It felt like I’d strained a muscle in my calf. It was several days after I had been diving, and I just thought I’d pulled a muscle poncing around in my high heels at work. I’ve done that before. It’ll go away, thinks I. Just get on with it and don’t be a wimp. By Saturday and Sunday it was considerably worse. I couldn’t stand on my leg when I got up in the morning and it was ‘throbbing’ and felt very tender. Monday morning I got up and the pain was so bad I wanted to cry . I’ve only twice before had pain that made me want to weep (I’m quite good with pain) but I bit my lip really hard like a good little soldier and fought back the tears . I got to work and phoned the Doctor’s surgery immediately they opened. Please note, if I had thought for one moment I was bent, I would have phoned the pot long before then. I’ve made the call before for reassurance and I don’t do denial. Anyhoo, I got a doctors appointment for Monday evening. The Doc takes a look at my leg, measures both calves and says that although my left leg isn’t swollen, he wants me to go straight to the hospital to get a test for a DVT (deep vein thrombosis) as a precaution. He’ll ring me that night when he gets the results. Just over an hour later I am sat at home (on YD, surprisingly) when I get the call. My ‘levels’ are raised. This may mean several things, but it could mean I have a clot. He’ll ring the Doc at the Hospital to see what they want me to do – go tonight or wait til the morning. Sooo, 6.30 I arrive at South Shields General having been told to get my ass up there that night. They are expecting me, and a bed has been booked for me in Admissions – scary ! I see the nurse in A&E after an hour wait. She rings the Doc on the Admissions ward who my GP spoke to. He’s a locum who doesn’t normally work there. She tells him normal procedure is not to be admitted, but for him to prescribe an injection of enoxaparin (anti-coagulant) and to pack me off home with an appointment for a scan the next day. Hurrah! I’ll be outta here soon. He wants more blood tests before he gives me the injection. Why? I’ve just had a blood test! That’s why I’m here. The nurse tells me the bloods will take about an hour, then the Doc will come down to prescribe the jab. This is 7.45pm. 9.30pm I ask the nurses what’s happening. Oh, they know you’re here. You’ll just have to wait. 10pm, they close the day A&E down. Everyone on this list please come to the night A&E next door. My name’s not on the list. I just sit here? Good, can’t be long now then. 10.45pm I find a nurse. What’s happening? Eventually they track down the Doc in Admissions who tells them just to give me the needle down there and send me home. FFS! Couldn’t he have done that two hours ago? 11.15 I leave the hospital utterly miserable and just a tad annoyed :angry: . Next day I get a call at work. I’m to go to the Admissions ward at 3.15pm for an ultrasound scan. I get the scan, the Doc says I may have a small clot. An hour later the nice young lady Doc in Admissisons say the scan is inconclusive. They would rather treat a not-clot than not treat a clot, so I get another jab and after three hours in the hospital I’m on my way home. I have to come back the next day after she has conferred with the Ultrasound man. Diving is off this weekend then…:frown: So, yesterday I go back for another jab and a chat with another nice lady Doctor. I do have a DVT. A very small clot in my calf where it has been hurting. I need a week of daily enoxaparin, after which they will scan me again. If it’s gone, the treatment ends. I have opted to self administer the jabs at home rather than traipse to the hospital every day. If the clot is still there after the scan, I had two options. Six weeks of warfarin (don’t they give that to pensioners?) or four weeks of self administering the enoxaparin. I opted for the latter. It will mean I never have to declare I’ve taken warfarin on a medical questionnaire, which makes me feel a bit better. After next weeks scan, I can ring a dive doc to see if I can dive whilst I am on the enoxaparin for four weeks, if it turns out it is necessary. The good news is that in any event I can dive again no problem once the treatment is over So, lesson learnt: Don’t dismiss what you think is a strained muscle in your leg if it gets worse. Go see the Doc. I didn’t realise just how much diving is now not just what I do, but who I am. Sat in A&E for five hours it occurred to me that someone might tell me I can’t dive again. Ever. Until you are actually faced with the possibility I don’t think you realise (well for me anyways) just what a massive thing that would be. I’m a diver. My friends are divers. My spare time is diving, talking about diving, fettling kit. I wouldn't be so shallow as to say 'life' would be over if I couldn't dive, but life as I currently know and enjoy it would. Thankfully, it hasn’t come to that. Safe diving everyone. Helen xxx Oh, and Moz quickly offered to take my place on the Glanmire on Saturday. What a star... __________________ 2006: "I love my neoprene suit. I will never go back to membrane" 2008: "Do you like my new suit?" It's a membrane,,, Last edited by Buoyant Babe; July 3rd, 2008 at 06:25 PM.

July 3rd, 2008, 06:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
keri.lewis(Offline) Back in the water.. Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Hampshire Posts: 386	Sorry to hear about the DVT - hope it gets better fast! Quote: (Originally Posted by Buoyant Babe) I didn’t realise just how much diving is now not just what I do, but who I am. Sat in A&E for five hours it occurred to me that someone might tell me I can’t dive again. Ever. Until you are actually faced with the possibility I don’t think you realise (well for me anyways) just what a massive thing that would be. I’m a diver. My friends are divers. My spare time is diving, talking about diving, fettling kit. I wouldn't be so shallow as to say 'life' would be over if I couldn't dive, but life as I currently know and enjoy it would. Thankfully, it hasn’t come to that. I know exactly what you mean - I was a little bent recently - detailled on other posts - and went through the same gloomy thought process.. I hope it works out for you. __________________ Even a "bad" day diving beats a day in the office... Keri The more I learn.. the more ignorant I realise I am..

July 3rd, 2008, 07:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
Frankie Price(Offline) DIRX Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: UK Posts: 54	Glad everything is under control now and hope it all gets back to normal as soon as pos. It's good to read your experience and handy to know 'just in case'. Interesting though reading your account of the responses from the A&E departments and their lack of 'bedside manners'. Suppose it's a sign of the times and their production line cost cutting patient care. Main thing is that we won't be calling you Long John Silver yet. __________________ Back into what a water-world Of waving weed and waiting claws? Of writhing tentacles uncurled To drag me to what dreadful jaws?

July 3rd, 2008, 08:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
Buoyant Babe(Offline) New Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: South Shields Posts: 10	Quote: (Originally Posted by Frankie Price) Glad everything is under control now and hope it all gets back to normal as soon as pos. It's good to read your experience and handy to know 'just in case'. Interesting though reading your account of the responses from the A&E departments and their lack of 'bedside manners'. Suppose it's a sign of the times and their production line cost cutting patient care. Main thing is that we won't be calling you Long John Silver yet. Ha ha, I don;t think you could call me 'long' in any event! MY only gripe was with the locum Admissions doc. It was he who kept me waiting at least a couple of hours after my second blood tests came back. The nurses at A&E were waiting for him to prescribe my injection - which is what I was told to present myself at the hospital for in the first place! All the other nurses and doctors were very good. __________________ 2006: "I love my neoprene suit. I will never go back to membrane" 2008: "Do you like my new suit?" It's a membrane,,,

July 5th, 2008, 06:45 AM	#5 (permalink)
Ali Fikree(Offline) New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Dubai Posts: 462	Get well soon . I have taken a few months of deep diving now due to numerous injuries. A __________________ Four wheels move the body, two wheels move the soul

July 5th, 2008, 10:25 PM	#6 (permalink)
Devon Rob(Offline) Can´t remember-member Breakout Champion! Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lyme Bay.Devon.UK formerly Hamburg, Ger. Posts: 316	The last time I wore high heels, I ended up in Hospital as well...! Is this just a coincidence? Hope you`re on the mend soon Rob __________________ this mail was checked for viruses,worms & bad breath

July 6th, 2008, 04:56 PM	#7 (permalink)
cmalinowski(Offline) New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Columbia, MD--USA Posts: 175	Quote: (Originally Posted by Devon Rob) The last time I wore high heels, I ended up in Hospital as well... Jail for me