Virgin Cave, and a dive medicine question...

[Danseur]

So I have been agressively recruiting this private island resort to let me investigate the island for some potential caves. After 4 months, they agreee, and in fact fly me out at their expense. I get a chance to do some land based survey work, and lo-and-behold, just what I thought would be there. It looks PERFCT! A system, FULL tidal influences, close enough to the sea that a direct connection looks GREAT. I'm all set to go back the following day to do the actual diving survey, and I get bumped from the flight, but it's just the beginning. By lunch I've got a fever. By dinner I am delerious and starting to cough... Takes abous 2 days to begin to clear, and by day 4, not 100% so I go to the Doc (also a dive doc here, go figure! cool guy) and... viral bronchitis. Great.

The reason I post is that I was told although on the steroids my coughing should be done in about 2 days, I am not to dive for 10 DAYS! I was shocked! VIRGIN CAVE, RIGHT THERE!!!! But I was informed that it's the inflamation that will trap gas in my lungs, and that those type of coughs are FAR worse than a phlemy cough. Wow. I had never heard that...

Anyone have information on this type of stuff? Cough now under control, and I am leaving for the states on about the day the doc though I would be clear.


My kingdom for a horse.....

[Brian Kakuk]

The Dr. knows what he/she is talking about. Don't chance it. The cave has been there for thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of years. It will be there in 10 days waiting for you.

Hope you have an awsome time scooping new cave! Safe diving,

Brian

[CaveBuddy95]

Hi Danseur (??)
yes, viral bronchitis is pretty bad. But to find a virus i your lungs the doc had to do some test, did he??
Good luck with exploration, if you don't feel to well, tell me where it is and I go check it out for you!!

AS for Docs knowing what they do...hm...not so sure about that one, but if in your shoes, I get a second opinion back home!

Cheers

[Danseur]

Yeah, I had no idea this was such a big deal... No test other than a stethascope, but this guy is actually a really good Doc. I'd trust him before 95% of the Docs back home.

Looks like it'll wait till September..... Oh, and there will be room for buddies.

What are you gonna do...

[CaveBuddy95]

: : : :

[Randy Thornton]

So I have been agressively recruiting this private island resort to let me investigate the island for some potential caves. After 4 months, they agreee, and in fact fly me out at their expense. I get a chance to do some land based survey work, and lo-and-behold, just what I thought would be there. It looks PERFCT! A system, FULL tidal influences, close enough to the sea that a direct connection looks GREAT. I'm all set to go back the following day to do the actual diving survey, and I get bumped from the flight, but it's just the beginning. By lunch I've got a fever. By dinner I am delerious and starting to cough... Takes abous 2 days to begin to clear, and by day 4, not 100% so I go to the Doc (also a dive doc here, go figure! cool guy) and... viral bronchitis. Great.

The reason I post is that I was told although on the steroids my coughing should be done in about 2 days, I am not to dive for 10 DAYS! I was shocked! VIRGIN CAVE, RIGHT THERE!!!! But I was informed that it's the inflamation that will trap gas in my lungs, and that those type of coughs are FAR worse than a phlemy cough. Wow. I had never heard that...

Anyone have information on this type of stuff? Cough now under control, and I am leaving for the states on about the day the doc though I would be clear.


My kingdom for a horse.....

Sorry to hear about your illness. I would make sure that you follow the doctor's orders. I would suggest in the meantime that you send me the coordinates for the cave, and plane ticket and arrange for free gas fills, and I will take it upon myself to fly out and explore the cave for you and give you and your friends a full report so that they/you don't have to wait for further information about the cave!

[karst.window]

Follow the docs orders. "Airway reactivity" (bronchospasm and mucus plugging) is increased after an upper respiratory infection. This could lead to air trapping and result in a pneumothorax (collapsed lung) on ascent. Not worth it. Wait the 10 days. Bring risk back to acceptable levels.