Another ear question

[newtoscuba]

Hello! I am new to scuba diving and this board. I am currently working on my open water certification. I did my first 3 open water dives 1 month ago. I had a little bit of problem equalizing my ears but thought I managed well. After the dives I felt like I had a lot of water in my ears that I couldn't get rid of. After 4 or 5 days I started working on getting the wax out of them thinking that was the problem. Over the course of a couple weeks, my ears began to feel more normal. They were almost completely normal but then started to get the feeling of fullness and muffled hearing in my right ear again and slight achiness. I went to see my GP yesterday (who is not familiar with diving). He said my eardrum looked fine and thought I probably have eustachian tube dysfunction. He prescribed a nasal steroid. If it doesn't clear up within the next few weeks, he wrote a referral to an ENT. I was wondering if anyone has any experience like this where your ears improve and then take a turn for the worse? Also, does the treatment plan seem appropriate? Any advice? I am wondering if I'll ever get in my 4th dive... We have a trip planned to Hawaii in November and we were hoping to do a few dives!

Thank you so much for your help!
Lisa

 

[fairybasslet]

Since I started using Doc's Pro-plugs, I have little problem with water in my ears. And even though I still have some problems equalizing, they have helped me tremendously. In fact, on my last trip to Bonaire, I did not have one dive where equalizing was a problme. I was almost like a persone with normal Eustachian tubes. BTW, I also take Sudafed before diving, on the recommendation of my DAN ENT.

 

[mamashark]

Someone posted a great video of a doc speaking on equalizing. It was 55 minutes but the best information that I have yet to find on ear problems. Since I have been using his method to equalize, I have had NO problems. And I have a very LONG history of ear problems. I will try to find it and post it for you. It is worth a try. It is also something that was not focused on in the OW class.

 

[mamashark]

Here it is! Please watch this!

http://www.uwtv.org/programs/displayevent.asp?rid=789

Also, someone on here said that for every time they inhale, they also equalize. That has also worked for me. No such thing as equalizing too much.

Hope this helps!

allie