Scuba Diving And Swimming After Surgery

[diverdiva 2]

Hi Guys

Are there any fellow divers out there? I'm told it's safe to dive after surgery but I wanted to know how long it will be before I'll be allowed back in the Water.

Also for regular swimming - how long was it before any of you went back to the pool?

Thanks

Lisa

[Wheetsin 714]

My surgeon recommends 6 - 8 weeks before swimming in a pool, assuming all incisions are completely healed, and 10 - 12 weeks before swimming in open Water.

I asked him about diving (this was a few months ago) and he gave me a timeline of 8 - 10 weeks for shallow diving (< 60 ft), which is the time to heal, plus a little buffer just to make sure there wouldn't be any unforseen issues with blood sugar imbalances. He suggested waiting 12 months to do deep diving/decompression dives.

My family Dr is also a diver and she was asking me what he had said. She agreed and said those timelines made sense in terms of recovery. We were speculating about the role of the atmospheric changes, both with my band and the sleeve.

[Foxbins 625]

My surgeon said six weeks for swimming. Diving I didn't even ask about, but I went 10 months post-op and had no problems at all--it was easier than usual because I had more stamina and used less air, stayed down even longer because I've always been good on air.

[Swimmer 199]

I was released to swim at two weeks, but it seems a bit early. I have been swimming almost daily for 60/70 min per day since. I'm five weeks out.