Decompression chamber / Hyperbaric chamber for divers with the bends / decompression illness

decompression sickness / DCS / decompression illness / DCI / diving and the bends

Diving Medicine, FAQs, Common Diving Problems

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Hyperbaric Chamber in Midlands for Scuba Divers with decompression sickness/decompression illness/the bends - why come to Midlands Diving Chamber

A history of hyperbaric chambers and dive medicine

Dive tables and decompression theory in hyperbaric medicine

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) Treatment

Midlands Diving Chamber contact page - To make contact with the hyperbaric chamber at Rugby, Warwickshire, UK

Midlands Diving Chamber location page - Find the hyperbaric chamber at Rugby, Warwickshire, UK

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Antibiotics

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I was given your telephone number by BSAC for advice on diving medical issues. I am after some advice on whether it is safe to dive on the following medication. Metronidazole 400mg Tablets BP? I am currently taking 3 a day. But wish to dive over the weekend as I am booked on a course. Should it not be safe to dive while taking this medication how long after completing the course could I recommence my diving.

Answer Heading

Metronidazole is fine to dive with. It's an antibiotic used for treating infections known as anaerobic. This is where the bugs can breed without oxygen. The kind of stuff that causes gangrene. I doubt you have that, so I assume it's for diarrohea caused by amoeba. If this is the case then you can dive, but make sure you are not suffering dehydration at the time or a bend will ensue. Interestingly it's one of the few meds you really cannot drink alcohol with. It blocks the enzyme in the alcohol breakdown process making you feel off your head on a little tipple.

I know, one day I shall tell you about my story of being on metronidazole, drinking a pint of cider and meeting Lionel Blair in Weymouth. Let's say I was lucky to get off with a caution!

Question Heading

I have obtained your name and email address from the BSAC website as I intend to join but am currently taking prescription minocycline for acne. I have been taking this for about a year now and have had two blood tests to check for liver problems due to this. Both have been fine. On my UK Sport Diver medical form, it says that if I am taking prescription medication I must contact a medical referee, hence this email. I am hoping that I can send this form to you without having an examination, as I am a poor student but if you could let me know what to do, that'd be great.

Answer Heading

You should be fine to dive if you are on this medication. It's very good stuff for acne and will not cause you any side effects underwater. The only thing it may effect that could be construed as diving related is that it can make the skin become hypersensitive to sunlight. As most diving is done in sunny climates then I assume you may well be going to get some exposure to higher levels of UV than we get here in the UK. So make sure you wear plenty of sun block or even a light stinger suit to cover you above water.

Finally, if the minocycline is not controlling the spots and they are causing you scarring to your face and back then get your doctor to refer you to a dermatologist. They will sort you out with the mother of all spot treatments. Roaccutane. Potent stuff but it works.

Question Heading

We are booked to travel on a live aboard to the red sea tomorrow, and my wife has today been prescribed "Trimethoprim" 200mg for an infection. Can she dive whilst taking this medication, and if not how long should we leave it after she stops taking them??

Answer Heading

It depends what infection she is being given this for. Trimethoprim is used most commonly for cystitis, so if this is the case she will be fine. The only thing she should watch out for here is that is can really make you pee a lot, a bladder infection that is. So to avoid diving dehydrated she should drink plenty of fluids as there is an increased risk of a bend if she is dehydrated.

Trimethoprim is also used rarely in treating chest infections. Now if this is the case then the advice is different. I would not dive with a partially treated chest infection and probably for a good week or two after the antibiotic course has finished. The infection itself or the vast amounts of mucous that always seems to occur with a bronchitis can cause lung problems in a diver. What happens is that the green gunk could theoretically block off a small airway, so the air trying to get out on exhalation can't. Every dive has to finish with an ascent and the trapped air will expand. Doctors call it pulmonary barotraumas, but you may know it as lung rupture. Its not a lot of fun so make sure you are well clear of the rattly cough phase before you dive after any chest infection.