FreakerSoup

Here's my sucky situation. Last spring, I completed the NAUI Diver course. Last November, I had a spontaneous lung collapse (pneumothorax). This spring, I registered to finish college with some biology courses over the summer involving scuba diving. Today, I heard that because of my lung collapse, I should not dive. Ever. I'm 22 years old, and I want a way to dive without the whole death thing.

What do you know about diving after a lung collapse?

MgicTwnger

I don't know a thing about it, but I know who does: DAN (Divers Alert Network). Call them and get the name of a doctor who knows diving medicine.

Get yourself checked out, and good luck. If you continue diving without an exam, it might really be "the whole death thing".

__________________
I am not the one who needs mental help. I just need to vent.

Resqdivemedic

One problem with a spontaneous pneumothorax is reoccurance. There is a 33% chance of it happeneing again within 3 years and 60% chance over longer periods. Some recommendations I found was a return to diving after 10 years without a spontaneous lung collapse, 5 years without collapse and negative CAT scan of the chest, and some say never return. If you do dive and a spontaneous pneumo occurs the air in the chest cavity will expand upon ascending. This air will continue to build without an avenue to escape. This will then develops into a tension pneumothorax, very bad. This causes compression of the heart and great vessels as well as the other lung to a point the heart is strangled and can no longer pump blood. This can lead to death within 20 minutes if not treated. As a paramedic we can insert a needle into the chest to relieve the pressure. I did it once on an awake person and my ears hurt from the screams, but it saved his life. As MgicTwnger stated check with DAN. Good luck and dive safe.