My diving life is shut down.......: :

Well If you havent noticed or heard I had a heart fart week ago today..not too severe but neverthess less had one..Scarey to say the least. My cardiologist when asked "when can I dive again?" told me "6-8 weeks":smthumbup:. Needless to say I was elated because I'm dyin to get in the water.

Well...I just got of the phone w/ DAN and the Director of Emergency Services a Mr. Dan Nord to find out what their thoughts were...WHAT A SHOCKER!
1/3 of the calls the get are from cardiologists that need advice!

First..6 mos. off from diving minimum when a cardiac event has occured
There are 2 different protocols which are followed to determine "heart fitness" and whether your fit enough to dive.
Both are measurements used in conjunction with a Stress EKG
1. The METS protocol..Minimum of 13 mets before your able to dive
2. Bruce protocol ..able to complete Stage 4

Still dont know what each means but I'm sure I'll find out

PLUS all the meds are being taken @ theraputic levels at the time of the tests.
I personally was blown away when DAN told me 4+- months more than my own cadiologist!!
They told me 25-35% of all diving related deaths occur from cardiac events...whew!
If any of you have a cardiologist and want them to consult with the man that wrote the book on Dive/heart issues he is located in Philadelphia and is the Professor of Cardiology @ Temple University
Dr. Alfred Bove 215-707-3343
I was told he will gladly ONLY consult w/ a Dr. and wont talk with you or I.
HIGHLY RECCOMENDED BY D.A.N

So if ya havent noticed I've bored to tears and watching the paint peel the rest of this week..Monday back to work and fewer posts:awink:

In a few weeks I guess I'm gonna be the boat bitch insted of Gamble...

There are plenty of shallow spots that you can freedive to around where you live. would that be a problem?

It's the exercise not the depth according to DAN..your Heart MUST be fit enough..Even scalloping is out............

This is valuable food for thought. If you take a look at your average diver you don't see a lot of health nuts, myself included. After hardly exercising for a year I've been putting my running shoes back on and cutting back on crappy food and <gasp> beer. Given the stress of deep diving in heavy currents fighting fish and fending off sharks, I worry way more about infarcting than an out of air situation or equipment failure.

It's the exercise not the depth according to DAN..your Heart MUST be fit enough..Even scalloping is out............



Ed Shomer...the Big Bend Anchor Beotch, Hook Baiter and Offical Tour Guide!

I

Guys I thought I would let everyone know that Ed may have had another attack yesterday evening. He was taken the the emerganncy room and will be undergoing tests this morning.

I am not much of a church person but lets get some prayers for the big guy!:biggrinangelA::biggrinangelA:

Good luck Ed.

You'll be back in the water, and probably be in better shape than the last time you dived. Listen to the experts. Good luck!

Thanks to all for the thoughts and prayers. Back home and eye's are wide open..Scarey stuff.

Guess you should make an attempt to get in shape so that we can have you on the board and not worry about these life threatening expeirences. :toast:

heck yeah scary stuff. Sorry to hear that you are grounded for awhile, but better to be topside of the soil than 6 ft down.

My diving life is shut down.......: :

Well If you havent noticed or heard I had a heart fart week ago today..not too severe but neverthess less had one..Scarey to say the least. My cardiologist when asked "when can I dive again?" told me "6-8 weeks":smthumbup:. Needless to say I was elated because I'm dyin to get in the water.

Well...I just got of the phone w/ DAN and the Director of Emergency Services a Mr. Dan Nord to find out what their thoughts were...WHAT A SHOCKER!
1/3 of the calls the get are from cardiologists that need advice!

First..6 mos. off from diving minimum when a cardiac event has occured
There are 2 different protocols which are followed to determine "heart fitness" and whether your fit enough to dive.
Both are measurements used in conjunction with a Stress EKG
1. The METS protocol..Minimum of 13 mets before your able to dive
2. Bruce protocol ..able to complete Stage 4

Still dont know what each means but I'm sure I'll find out

PLUS all the meds are being taken @ theraputic levels at the time of the tests.
I personally was blown away when DAN told me 4+- months more than my own cadiologist!!
They told me 25-35% of all diving related deaths occur from cardiac events...whew!
If any of you have a cardiologist and want them to consult with the man that wrote the book on Dive/heart issues he is located in Philadelphia and is the Professor of Cardiology @ Temple University
Dr. Alfred Bove 215-707-3343
I was told he will gladly ONLY consult w/ a Dr. and wont talk with you or I.
HIGHLY RECCOMENDED BY D.A.N

So if ya havent noticed I've bored to tears and watching the paint peel the rest of this week..Monday back to work and fewer posts:awink:

In a few weeks I guess I'm gonna be the boat bitch insted of Gamble...


UPDATE!!!
The protocols are effectively..12 continuous minutes of exercise w/o labored breathing...Geez

Ed, i hope you're doing well.

Bruce protocol:
http://www.topendsports.com/testing/tests/bruce.htm
determines your heart's "red-line" and checks if your heart gets enough blood and oxygen when working hard.

You start slow walking up a hill (1.7 mph, 10 degree slope) for 3 minutes.
This is 4.8 METS. (1 METS would be sleeping)
Every three minutes they increase the speed and hill.
10 METS is average fitness.
13 METS is excellent fitness, 4.2 mph (fast-walk) up 16 degree hill OR running at about 7.5 mph on the flat. Bruce Protocol Stage 4 = 13 METS
18 METS is an elite athlete.
23 METS = Lance Armstrong

You run on the treadmill, hooked up to an EKG, until you say "no mas".
The cardiologist looks at the EKG "PQRST", resting, exercise, after exercise and sends you a bill. You hope your ST segment looks normal.

Thought this thread was long gone..
Thanks for the breakout never knew exactly what 13 mets was

As for getting there PRIOR to diving..My doc released me 2 weeks ago..said if I listened to DAN I'd never dive as to get to the levels they state is unrealistic..He's a diver and has NUMEROUS diving patients. He said take it easy..rest when needed. dont go over 40' for 6 mos or so...He's my favorite doctor:biggrinangelA:

Riplipper, what happened exactly??