Ear problems while diving?

[Kitten]

I recently started diving, and my right ear wouldn't equalize. I kept trying until it did, and continued with my descent. At a little past 3 meters i tried to equalize again, with no luck ... I never continued with my descent, but I suddenly had a rush of pain in my ear .... When I had gotten back to the surface, my head was pounding, I couldn't hear out of the right ear, and it was very painful.

Went to the doctor, got a bunch of pills etc to take, and apparently its (excuse the spelling) Acute Barometric Titus Media, and an inflamed ear drum which is not helping matters. Do you, or anyone you know of, dive with ear problems? or is this the end?

 

[Waaib]

I used to do a lot of diving. I logged over 300 before I stopped. All recreational 90% in and around Cape Town. I stopped primarily because my left ear hurt a lot on decent. Once at the bottom and ascending it was fine but I was worried I'd break something if I continued. The pain was excruciating but didn't continue the way you describe yours.

Some people just can't equalize, very few though. Their body simply won't do it. Something to do with angle or shape of the eustation tube. In Cape Town (and I assume most coastal areas) there are a few doctors who are used to seeing lots of divers and they can take a look at advise. Dive shops and charters will know them.

If it was me I'd be very worried until I had it checked. It could easily be just an infection that will go away but it might be something that could cause deafness if it pops.

 

[Thugscub]

What you have done is popped your ear drum, no problem wait 3 weeks before diving. Before going into the water again take a decongestant make sure it is approved for diving. try sniffing a bit of seawater up your nose to clear the sinuses it hurts but it sometimes works. also look up and swivel your head around while equalising on your way down. Try a mixture of 33% water,33% tea no milk and 33% spirit alcohol and pour into your E.tubes.Wait for your ear to heal first or it will burn. Good Luck Equalise early and often.

 

[Pitbull]

What works for me is I close my mouth and hold my nose closed then Push air to my ears to have them lock up. Works for me

 

[Hoof-Hearted]

. Before going into the water again take a decongestant make sure it is approved for diving.
.

This is very bad advice. One should never take decongestant medication to clear up an ear problem before diving. What could happen is that the medication wears off while you're at depth causing what is known as a reverse block. Consider the pain you have when descending and you can't equalise at 3m. Now consider the amount of pressure you will have equalised to at a depth of say 15m not being able to escape again. At least when you're descending you can abort... bit of a problem when you're at the bottom with 50 bar in your cylinder.
My advice - go see a decent ENT who has some experience with dive related conditions before you dive again. There could be a multitude of reasons for your inability to equalise, most of them treatable.

.
Equalise early and often.

This is excellent advice

 

[Hoof-Hearted]

@ Kitten - not sure which area you're in, but pm me if you need a referal to ENT. If you're not in jo'burg, I can get info from com dive centres in Durbs and CT

 

[eek]

Hehehe....I'm starting my open water training next week, I'm keeping you all on 'speedclick'!

 

[Hoof-Hearted]

enjoy... yer going to love it

 

[eek]

thanx! I'm really looking forward to it!

 

[Hoof-Hearted]

just as a matter of interest where in CT you doing your OW?

 

[eek]

At Duck 'n Dive in Milnerton

 

[Hoof-Hearted]

Great. I've done a couple of dives with them and they're a really friendly, professional bunch of people. (and of course they're a NAUI shop )

 

[eek]

Thanks Hoof! They were recommended by some friends and are way better priced than many other diving courses I've looked into.

Hehehe...I still have a lot to learn when it comes to differences between NAUI and PADI....

 

[Waaib]

NAUI is just better. It's like comparing single ply with two ply. Same job. Different feel to it.

 

[Waaib]

Seriously though. In my experience PADI is more prominent at resorts and dive charters outside the US. I'm NAUI certified and never had any issues though. Even if you do OW1 with NAUI you can do OWII/Advanced with PADI.

 

[eek]

NAUI is just better. It's like comparing single ply with two ply. Same job. Different feel to it.

Hahaha! Great comparison! Then I'm glad I'm following a NAUI route rather than a PADI route....not that it should matter all that much, it's about the diving for me. Enough politics on tv as it is!