IPE - Immersion Pulmonary Edema
There are times you wonder if you would do the right thing if it happened to you. We divers know the risks and precautions that are an inherent part of diving. For the most part, divers are a conscientious group of people who don't push the limits because of their training at least that's what we like to believe. But occasionally, if you dive enough something happens. Maybe it's a slight pain in your shoulder or wrist or a bloody nose or a headache and you wonder, am I in trouble? It's a concern and you're likely to start replaying your last dive or what you had for breakfast, if you had enough sleep or are you dehydrated. Sometimes, you haven't done anything wrong and when that happens, it just stays a mystery.
Which leads us to our story where lately, we've been hearing more about IPE, Immersion Pulmonary Edema. We had chartered half the Peace dive boat in October on a 2 Day Lobster trip where one of the divers experienced an episode and was airlifted off. He's fine now and it's a mystery about what causes it. The symptoms that he experienced were shortness of breath.
His words are below:
Carter,
I made it back home on Tuesday night after being released from the Torrance Medical Center.
I was met there and we went to the airport with Bug Tails in the
cooler. We have somebody to thank for some of them.
I was originally flown to Catalina and then to Torrance. Two helicopter rides in one day!
I was diagnosed with Immersion Pulmonary Edema DAN Divers Alert Network : Immersion Pulmonary Edema
They checked out my heart and lungs at Torrance and didn't find
anything obvious. I am seeing my doctors here to check it out
further. DAN has been very helpful.
What I
want to say is that up until "the incident" I had a ball. I thought I
was with a great group of people and appreciated everyone. I had great
experiences diving and am eager to start diving again. I will have to
be cleared first so I am taking that one step at a time.
As you said to me, "shxt happens". The Peace Dive
Boat people kept it from becoming "shxt gone bad". They are cool
people. Kevin and Eric did the right things immediately and that is why
I am here today.
If you can put the word out if anyone has any
pictures, I would love to have them, especially my takeoff. I did take
a few of the cast and crew and can send them on if I have an address.
I hope to be back to dive again.
Regards and Thanks,
Name withheld
Recovering Diver
And more....
Hi-
Glad to hear that you are taking things "one step at a time". Nitrox
certification (especially for guys our age) is a great idea.
thanks
Carter
And back...
Carter,
Thanks for your email back. ... I am working on resolving the medical issues (mostly
that is going to several doctors and getting cleared to dive again.) I
don't have any health problems so I hope that I can go thru the hoops
to be cleared. Nobody seems to know the cause of the IPE. Just hope
it doesn't happen again. My brother who was a Dive Master up in
Monterey for USSC said some boats probably won't let me dive with them
because I have had an incident. I am planning to get nitrox
certification. This seems to be a good idea for divers my age who dive
in cold water.
Anyway, one step at a time.
Thanks,
Name withheld
Recovering Diver
Per PADI's website
The factors that cause IPE aren't well understood, with the
condition itself recognized only about 30 years ago. Dr. Richard Moon
at Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina, USA is studying
what factors may make a diver more likely to develop IPE. Recent
research suggests a genetic cause for IPE. In fact, many divers never
develop IPE, but divers who have experienced IPE once are at risk of
developing IPE again in the future. Dr. Moon is studying divers who
have experienced IPE so he can better understand why their lungs and
blood vessels act in a way that makes IPE more likely to occur. Dr.
Moon is also studying medication that can prevent its recurrence. He
hopes a better understanding of what causes IPE will help uncover ways
to prevent it in the future.
If you think you have experienced Immersion Pulmonary
Edema (IPE) and would consider participating in a research study, you
are encouraged to contact Dr. Richard Moon at IPEdivestudy@notes.duke.edu.
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