DIVE LOG AUSTRALASIA FEB 2025 ISSUE 410

My PFO Journey .. The Doc and I

by Cathie Cummins

How it all began. Looking back with the knowledge I now have, I would have done things differently. But that is the way things go! I want to share with you my story and maybe this might help you or someone you dive with. I had two nonconsecutive skin bend experiences. I did not realise I had skin bends. I know you are asking .. HOW did you not know! Well, I had never seen skin bends, I had seen photos of it – maybe from dry suit squeeze or similar, but no, I obviously had a rash, I didn’t think it was that bad… I was on holidays, in a tropical location, warm waters wearing a lycra suit … Thing was, I didn’t have any other symptoms of feeling unwell. I simply had a rash, I assumed it was a marine sting. I had no reason to assume I had a PFO. The first ‘rash’ occurred on a trip to Walindi PNG, a gorgeous dive resort that we visit regularly. We were there for a week, and as usual we were enjoying our three or four dives per day. Done that sort of diving for years. Not particularly deep, nothing outstanding or unusual about the dives, … except it seemed I had been stung! This “rash” didn’t appear day 1 but at day 5. I noticed this painful, irritating “rash” on my upper abdomen.… I immediately considered was this marine sting. I didn’t have any other symptoms. I thought the whole thing was rather annoying and irritating, I didn’t do much about it mostly because I didn’t feel unwell… I think if I had FURTHER complications then I would have taken the matter to ‘higher authority’. I did opt out of any further diving, as I had then developed significant swelling in my left breast and arm. The ‘rash’ and swelling were painful. Still, I took some antihistamines and Panadol thinking all the while it was a marine sting. This condition passed a couple of days later and I thought nothing more of it. I returned home. I dived as usual on the weekends and had 2 more trips away this time in cooler water wearing a wetsuit and did not get any sort of similar reaction, so I still convinced myself, ‘it must have been that marine sting’. However, about 8 months later, we travelled to Fiji,

again, warm water and wearing my full lycra suit, the same issue happened. Again at about day 4. Again, this same painful swelling. I didn’t dive the last 2 days of our trip as I was in a bit of pain, I felt it best to stay out of the water. Again, I didn’t have any other symptoms. Just the itchy, but painful rash and this left side upper swelling. Again, a couple of days later, this rash disappeared and everything settled down, as before, and although I made a note of it all, my dive medical was approaching and I thought I would discuss this with my GP and dive doctor. At my appointment with Dr Catherine Meehan, I discussed I had experienced two nonconsecutive ‘painful rashes’ but with plenty of pain free/rash free dives in between. Just thought I would mention it all …. I’m forever grateful to have Dr Meehan as my GP and diving doctor. She has extensive knowledge as a professional diving doctor. She advised me that she wanted me checked out for a PFO! My response was ‘No way!’ I was fit, I go to the gym regularly, swim regularly and dive most weekends, there was no way I thought I could have a PFO. .. that must happen to “other people”… However, I agreed to see a cardiologist. I had to wait a couple of months for an appointment. I did eventually go, but all the while still diving on weekends, KNOWING in my own mind, that the test would be clear! And I definitely had to manage marine stings better in tropical waters! It was truly what I believed! So the Cardiologist Dr Starmer at Cairns performed a “Bubble test” and confirmed the PFO. I was absolutely shocked. So of course, I went home and did the usual google search, the DAN search to educate myself all about PFOs. After seeing the Cardiologist in April, I opted for the day surgery to have the repair. DAY SURGERY! For a heart operation! I was confused, horrified that I indeed needed surgery. And completely surprised at the thought that surgery of the heart was day surgery! But then, relieved that the whole ordeal was not going to keep me in hospital for a spell. Of course, the return to diving was always in my mind. I was operated on in May. I remember entering the Theater room that afternoon, The heart

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DIVE LOG Australasia #410 - February‘25

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