Reverse Fear

[skip]

This may properly belong in the forum on nondiving related, but here it is.

We often fear dying while cave diving and everyone's had the heebee jeebees during a cave dive. But for me the greatest fear of my life was last night. We'd been cave diving all day and I was exhausted and went to bed early. I woke up a bit after 1:00am and looked around and listened. The dogs were not moving, and Kimpi, my wife was not in bed. No big deal, she often stays up late. But something was not right. I got up to look around, walked around the house a bit, the dogs followed along. Kimpi was not in her computer room so I checked the bathroom. The light was off, so she was not there either, but I turned it on and the light illuminated the bedroom too - there she was lying on the floor on her back!

I thought she was dead. she was pale and I couldn't tell if she was breathing or not. A wave of fear I had never experienced almost choked me. I grabbed her shoulders and shook her and yelled "Kimpi!" On the third or fourth yell, I saw her eyelids flutter and she slowly opened her eyes. She mumbled something. She was alive.

The fear and the relief was a like an emotional double punch. I put her in bed, she came around and we talked. Naturally I wanted to call the ambulance, but she refused. She was "just dizzy and passed out." She's fine now. I sat up the rest of the night watching her breathe.

The plan was to go cave diving again today, but I couldn't leave her alone at home, so cancelled the cave dive. You know we often think of the possibility of dying in a cave and our training and experience are designed specifically towards preventing it. But to have a loved one die at home while we are cave diving. That's the reverse fear that is even worse!

-skip

[Randy Thornton]

Wow Skip! Scary stuff! She should go get checked out. People don't just get dizzy and pass out for no reason. Glad she's alright. I'm sure that gave you a real scare!

Regards,
Randy

[MichaelAngelo]

Skip
A doctors visit is in order. Thank God she's ok. I can't imagine how scary that must of been.

[Arnold Mesiser]

Thankfully you sensed something was up-I hope you find out what is going on soon..that must have been hard to experience from all perspectives


good luck

[tomhauburn]

Slip get her to a doctor...that is true fear.

[skip]

She's been to the doctor now. They are doing tests. She is fine today so maybe it was just a dizzy spell.... She had an minor infarction a few months back (while at work) and even then the doctors didn't believe it (40yr old female). But she smokes, has family history, high cholesterol, etc. and is in denial, so sees no reason to change her behavior! just a matter of time, but I do hope I'm not in a cave somewhere when it happens, and that she's somewhere (like work) where people can react quickly (and not home alone).

just wanted to update you.

-skip

[FW]

She's been to the doctor now. They are doing tests. She is fine today so maybe it was just a dizzy spell.... She had an minor infarction a few months back (while at work) and even then the doctors didn't believe it (40yr old female). But she smokes, has family history, high cholesterol, etc. and is in denial, so sees no reason to change her behavior! just a matter of time, but I do hope I'm not in a cave somewhere when it happens, and that she's somewhere (like work) where people can react quickly (and not home alone).

just wanted to update you.

-skip

Glad to hear it, too bad about the denial part, though.

[sskasser]

As a fellow 40 yr old female, I can certainly understand her denial. I hope you and/or her doctor are able to convince her to "fix" things before it's too late. Sending y'all both my best.

[Arnold Mesiser]

Check out e-cigarettes=they might be helpful if they even get her off the toxins in smoke as nicotine itself is not nearly as harmful(much lesser of 2 evils)