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MEDICAL FAQs |
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Dive Medical questions & answers for common scuba diving conditions and illness provided in conjunction with the doctors at the London Diving Chamber and Midlands Diving Chamber. | |
All Categories » Gastrointestinal Problems » Hernia
QUESTION I have a hernia and I want to know am I fit to dive or do you not recommend it. It is a congenital inguinal hernia on the left side.There's no real problem with diving and this sort of hernia, but the only issue is does it stop you from lifting heavy objects. ANSWER There's no real problem with diving and this sort of hernia, but the only issue is does it stop you from lifting heavy objects. QUESTION I have been diving for 8 years and have trained through PADI up to advanced plus and also a Advanced Nitrox Diver with IANTD, I am 56 yrs old quite fit and do plenty of exercise.I have had a Hiatus hernia for some years and recently went through my private medical insurance to see how it was getting on, as I was having a problem sometimes swallowing and was getting frequent attacks of acid reflux, mainly at night. The specialist told me after having a camera down my throat that the hernia was quite large, he also said I had ulcers of the stomach and put me on a double dose of anti-biotics ( Heliclear ) for one week. I have completed that treatment. I am now on tablets to ease the acid reflux and help with my digestion. They are one 40mg tablet of omeprazole per day and two 10mg tablets of metoclopramide per day. I am fairly fit for my age and have dived Scapa flow several times and this year dove in the Shetland Isles. I frequently dive around the coast of North Wales and Anglesey. My question is am I safe to dive on this medication and if yes are there any restrictions? ANSWER The problems with a hiatus hernia and gastric acid reflux are well known in diving. Picture the scene. You are finning along with your weight belt pulled tight across your tummy. You dip down to look at the reef, and the acid ascends up your oesophagus into the back of your mouth. A cough, an inhalation, and lo, the acid now descends into your trachea. Your bronchi then go into spasm and you can't breath. Not a welcome result at 30metres. QUESTION I have just been diagnosed by my doctor here in Japan as having a "minor inguinal hernia on the right". He said that I don't require surgery as the lump is very small and causes no pain or discomfort. Can you tell me whether I am able to dive with this condition? Or should I ignore this doctor and find someone else who will perform the surgery before I am able to dive again?ANSWER OK, the first of two questions about hernias, which, like most things in life, are not black and white but come in varying shades. A hernia occurs when an internal organ bulges through a weak area of muscle. Inguinal hernias are found in the groin and are the most frequent, often due to over-exertion and straining (anything from hauling dive tanks around all day to chronic constipation or even prolonged laughing can produce the tell-tale groin lump). QUESTION I have had a recent endoscopy to investigate stomach troubles and have been diagnosed with a 4cm hiatus hernia. My GP states that laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery will rectify the problem. I would like to know if post surgery I will be able to continue diving. I have researched this matter in depth and there seems to be conflicting opinion. I approached my local diving medical referee, and he was of the opinion I could dive whilst controlling the hernia with PPI's (acid suppressants) BUT stated I would NOT be passed fit to dive post repair. The reason given was that post surgery there was an elevated risk of gastric rupture and due to this my local referee will not pass me fit to dive if I undergo surgery. Could I pick your brains on this one and have your thoughts on the matter. Diving is my primary leisure activity and I should hate to forego it, but equally I do not want to elevate the risks if I have the surgery. I know of several divers who are diving post surgery for the same complaint. I also know of divers diving with the condition controlling it with PPI's. If I do have the repair would you be able to sign me fit to dive provided the surgery was successful and there were no post op complications? Is it safe to dive post op regarding the gastric rupture risk?ANSWER Rather than being an obvious groin bulge, a hiatus hernia is a bulge of the upper part of the stomach through the diaphragm, into the chest cavity. The confusion (and thus controversy) arises from the different types of hiatus hernia, and the unpredictability of complications following the surgery. |