Scuba/Snorkle

[anarad]

Hi,
I'm wondering if anyone with HCM has ever had any problems while scuba diving or even snorkling. Way back before I'd ever heard of murmurs, IHSS, HCM, etc I used to do a bit of scuba diving and snorkling. Then I was diagnosed as obstructive and had a myectomy in '96 and a ICD put in shortly after. My family and I were planning a vacation to Roatan, Honduras in Feb 2002. We decided we'd do some snorkling with the kids. As a prep, we went to a local school's pool to show them how to do it. As I was floating on the water with just the mask and snorkle on, I got shocked. After having it checked out, the Drs basically said not to worry, it was an "inappropriate" firing. Well, once we got to Roatan, we were going out to snorkle and me being somewhat short of breath, I stopped in a shallow area to rest. Soon after stopping, I got shocked. Ten seconds after that I got shocked again. Well, I made it back to shore and that ended my snorkling. Once back to the states, I got checked out again and the again was told it was inappropriate shocks. They felt that the device was picking up something odd and shortly after that I had a new device put in.

Good news is, I haven't been zapped since. But then, I haven't snorkled either....I'm now going on a cruise and am hesitant to even try snorkling even tho' I feel great. I'm just wondering if the two could be connected. Perhaps some anxiety? Perhaps the O2 sat's lower some and might cause an arrythmia? I know of a couple EP docs who don't think they're connected and one who thinks there might be something to it. Just wondering if anyone else has been in this boat(or out of the boat, if snorkling!!!).....Feel free to either post here or PM me. Happy New Year......Kent

[Midge Rollins]

Kent, I am curious on how cold the water was. I think the cold water can shock our bodies thus sending HCM hearts into a arrythmia. I am not sure we will ever find Dr.'s who agree with this. 18mos. ago I went into rejection and heart failure while swimming in the transplant games, I have never been in such cold water. My transplant docs say it had nothing to do with my rejection, I am not sure I agree, I know it has freaked me out to swim much anymore. Keep us posted on what you decide to do.

[halversa]

Before my husbands diagnosis, we were snorkling in Mexico. He had a terrible time. He was short of breath, blue lips, chest pain, etc. We got him out of the water and he was better without the mask and snorkle. Neither of us had ever snorkled before, and he will never do it again. Now we are sure it is his heart that caused this. He was also a fireman and experienced similiar problems when wearing an air pack in a fire. Maybe something about restricing air flow and increasing the working demand on the heart?? We have not asked the Dr. about it, but he was told he cannot be a fireman or wear an air pack. Seems like a person has to alter lifestyle and activites with HCM, everyone is different.
Amy

[Sarah]

My ex-husband used to scuba a lot and he told me that there was no way I could get cleared to scuba dive with my condition. While snorkeling is less intense, I can understand how hard it would be. I've never tried it mostly b/c I feel like I can't breath even when I'm just swimming.

I think the extra exertion needed to get your air through the tube is enough to cause problems--just like a heavy meal can be hard.

S

[Cynaburst]

While I am not one to scuba, and haven't tried to snorkel for many years, I will tell you something weird that has happened to me in the last few years when my oxygen was depleted.

Several times I have noticed that when I was around dry ice which gives off carbon dioxide, that I was feeling like I was going to faint. I was at a kids birthday party where they were doing science experiments, and started feeling faint from just the smallest bit of gas. So, from now on, I head to the hills when I see it coming. I also think that being in a place where my oxygen is limited in any way is bad.

[Pam Alexson]

I agree and the unknown damage from any oxygen deprivation to the cardiac muscle of each individual could be severe and impact each HCM heart differently. I think it is wise to adhere to the recommendations of each HCM specialist. That said, if symptoms develop from any sanctioned activity then the "it's OK for you and your HCM heart," needs to be re-evaluated.

Pam

[ItzKat]

The very first question I asked after the doctor told me I have HCM was "can I still scuba?" I love the water and really enjoyed scuba diving. At the time I was diagnosed, we were in the final planning stages for a dream trip to Austalia. We had to cancelled those plans.

Due to several factors, I was being urged to get an ICD. My doctor told me that once implanted I can not go deeper than 45 feet. Most of our dives had been between 60 and 90 feet.

I haven't scuba'ed since, but we did spend a week snorkling in Hawaii (followed by a week of ocean kayak fishing in Mexico). And it was all shock free.

If you can exercise, and your doctor says ok, try it out again. But take it very easy. Floating on the surface with your mask on can get you some great views too without all the up and down diving.

[imagemover]

Although I love scuba diving, since becoming symptomatic I have chosen not to scuba based on a concern for others. If you're 30, 40 or 50 or more feet under water and there is an issue with HCM, you not only endanger yourself but also your buddy who now has the responsibility of getting you up safely. Not very fair on the buddy.

Snorkeling I have done, and continue to do whenever I get a chance since I have not had any problems. Swimming along the surface taking in the sights in fairly shallow water with multiple friends is a lot easier to manage should any issues arise. Deeper water and making short dives down from the surface may provoke more symptoms, but I'm not that interested in testing that theory.

[EmilysMom]

We used to dive a lot. I can imagine if you were an avid diver, it must be hard to give it up.

Snorkeling seems like the way to go. I can't imagine why the ICD would fire while you were snorkeling, unless as someone else said, it was that your heart rate went up due to cold or from exertion. Since you are breathing regular air, there should be no more danger from snorkeling than from regular swimming. If you are comfortable in the water, I don't see why snorkeling should bother you. One suggestion, is that no matter how warm the water is, people often like having on part of a wetsuit, like a shorty or just a jacket. We have take people who are weaker swimmers snorkeling, and with a wetsuit jacket on they float comfortably on the surface and really enjoy the experience that much more.

[anarad]

Thanks for the info. The time when I got shocked was in pretty warm water, so cold didn't do it. As far as a "reduced" oxygen flow due to the tube, I doubt that because I could stand on dry land with the tube in my mouth, do some light exercising and have no symptoms. Makes me think it's all in me head!!!! I know of someone who'd like to figure a way to monitor what goes on when snorkling, but the only way we figure it could be done would be to put the patches on, then wrap yourself in something like saran-wrap to water-proof the contacts. No thanks..lol