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While Dr. Chimiak found this information
interesting, he couldn’t say there was a direct link,
but he told me that a statistical correlation exists
between people who have had ciguatera and/or carbon
monoxide poisoning and those people experiencing
severe optical migraines later in life. These migraines
can manifest in some very strange ways.
The DAN team referred me to the dive medicine
clinic at the University of California, San Diego, for a
follow-up exam. This clinic is staffed by doctors who are
board certified in undersea and hyperbaric medicine. At
the clinic I had a comprehensive interview that covered
my medical and diving history, and during this four-
hour evaluation I shared my experiences with ciguatera
and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Ian Grover, M.D., the attending physician, spoke
with Dr. Chimiak several times during my
appointment, and they concluded that I was very
likely experiencing some unusual — and unpleasant —
optical migraines. They agreed that I could dive as long
as I could manage these events. That meant I could
continue my career as an underwater photographer
and keep doing what I love in life.
The doctors I saw previously were on the verge of
telling me I should end my diving career. But the DAN
team listened to me, considered unusual possibilities,
discovered the root of my problem and referred me to
a physician trained in dive medicine, who evaluated me
and cleared me to dive.
In yet another follow-up call, Dr. Chimiak suggested
that I wear sunglasses in places with unusual or
unpleasant lighting, which can trigger the type of
migraines I experienced. On several occasions I have
felt a migraine event coming on, and in every instance
so far my symptoms
have subsided within
minutes after I put on
my sunglasses — and
I look cool.
I am truly grateful
that DAN was there
for me.
AD
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Has DAN been there for you?
Tell us about it at
ThereForMe@dan.org.
ALERTDIVER.COM|
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Clockwise from top
: Great white shark at Guadalupe Island,
Mexico; California sea lion in the Gulf of California; spinner
dolphin in Hawaii
Note from Snyderman: “These photos were taken after I was cleared to
return to diving. I would not have enjoyed any of these encounters or
captured these images without DAN’s help.”
Opposite:
Ian Grover, M.D., examines Snyderman at the
UCSD dive medicine clinic.
MARTY SNYDERMAN
MARTY SNYDERMAN
MARTY SNYDERMAN