My Experience with DCS

[Ray Boutilier]

We have some control over dehydration, so stay hydrated
See you in the Silt-Ray

[loquat149]

Im not beating a dead horse but having to do CDL physicals every three years is a minimum requirement.
Possibly as divers over 40 we should get yearly checkup and preventative maintenance.
JCG

I have to pass an occupational physical exam specific for diving every three years to maintain my status as an active AAUS diver at work. This is for dives that are MUCH less arduous than a typical jaunt into, say, Ginnie Springs. Probably not a bad idea for tech divers that only dive "recreationally", too. That, and maintaining some form of regular rigorous physical exercise regime before a person clears "themselves" for tech dives.

Dave

[Nitrogenius]

I so far had not heard/read anything about dehydration being lesser of a factor to DCS, however though I read an article where there was a severe DCS actually being caused by extensive hyperhydration.
That article was in Wetnotes a German advanced divers magazine, where a hyperbaric doctor and researcher from Austria has a column about analyzing DCS hits from his practice in the hyperbaric institute of the University of Vienna (I think, maybe one of the other major Austrian cities)..
So as so often in life an extreme is not very helpful as well.
I think it is still useful to hydrate well (especially in hot climates) but take care not to overdo it..
If I remember well the root cause of the DCS was by an extreme low level of electrolytes, which was caused by extreme hyperhydration.. Essentially the Dude had flushed out most of the salts in body fluids..

[FW]

...I think it is still useful to hydrate well (especially in hot climates) but take care not to overdo it..
If I remember well the root cause of the DCS was by an extreme low level of electrolytes, which was caused by extreme hyperhydration.. Essentially the Dude had flushed out most of the salts in body fluids..

There was a case where a US army soldier over hydrated, and died from low electrolytes.

[Sh0use]

There was was also a competition called "hold your pee for a Wii" the Wii being the new Nitendo game console. The competition had participants drunk as much water as possible and not pee. Whoever held their badder the longest won. The winner, consumed such a significant amount of water that she died died from "water intoxication" (thought to be due to dilution of her electrolytes).

I would really like to see a risk factor DCS speaker at a workshop in the near future. I'm sure there has been one before but I would love to attend the lecture.

[JohnAd]

http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercis...r-intoxication

[midway]

My hope was that they would chime in after seeing my post.

It's probably best to shoot Neal Pollock a message and ask about specific references. The impression I got during his presentation is similar to what Kelly Jessop described in his phone conversation with DAN folks (if I'm not mistaken Pollock is a research scientist associated with DAN). Obviously, for any physical activity, being adequately hydrated is important. So I don't think the issue whether dehydration can be a contributing factor of DCS. However, folks like Pollock have looked at empirical data over the years, and I think what they are pointing out is that dehydration may have been one of the factors but not a major factor in most of the incidences they have analyzed. Dive profiles, thermal stress, strenuous exercise/activity prior to a dive, etc., they seem to emphasize more as primary factors to be concerned about. In the links below, you will see this view partly reflected:

https://www3.epa.gov/region10/pdf/di...iving_2012.pdf (see page 2)
https://www.diversalertnetwork.org/f...shpFinal05.pdf (page 157)
http://www.alertdiver.com/Exercise_and_Diving

Lastly, in no way is the comment on dehydration/DCS directed at tstormdiver. I am very glad that she received proper care (and thanks for sharing). Given that the attending physician concluded that dehydration stemming from undiagnosed diabetes was the likely cause, that would be what I would go by as the most authoritative diagnosis in this instance.

[apitkin]

I would really like to see a risk factor DCS speaker at a workshop in the near future. I'm sure there has been one before but I would love to attend the lecture.

Go listen to Simon Mitchell talking at TekDiveUSA this weekend.

[Sh0use]

Go listen to Simon Mitchell talking at TekDiveUSA this weekend.

I'm unable to attend as I have prior arrangements. However if someone could record the presentation I would really love to hear it. And would compensate you for your efforts with dinner or gas fills, or something.

[Nitrogenius]

Simon is a great speaker.. I always enjoy his presentations