barotrauma (inner ear issue)

[redwingsfan]

I am a new diver and I'm totally in love with the sport. But, I am worried. I was certified in 39 degree water barely a month ago. It took me (and the 4 students I was diving with) about 8 minutes to decend on a line to 28 feet! Viz was only 8 feet and we all had issues equalizing. I blew against my nose almost constantly and had to come up a foot almost every two feet. My ears were plugged/blocked for two days after (although annoying it wasn't painful).
Last week my wife and I went on a cruise and dove in St. Thomas. I was blown away. Water temp was 82 degrees. Vis was 130 feet - even saw a reef shark!
Here's the thing. Although it only took me around 3-5 minutes to descend (to 60 feet) and I had no pain, my ears were plugged (especially the left one) for days after. I had blown against my nose frequently the first 15 feet then hardly at all after that. I didn't think I did it particularly hard but my ears only squeaked clear after a few blows each time. On the third day I saw the ship's doctor and he told me I had barotrauma - fluid or mucous in my inner ear which was stretching my timpanic (sp) membrane and threatening to burst my ear drum. Although he assured me I would be fine to dive again later, I have the following questions:
1. Do you get "better" at equalizing or toughened up over time?
2. Are certain people more susceptible to barotrauma?If so, is there anything they can do to "toughen up"?
3. Should I worry about this occurring again?
4. How best do I avoid having this occur?
5. Am I "damaged" or more susceptible to this occuring again?
Thanks for any answers

 

[ElectricZombie]

1. I think so although I have no scientific evidence of this. People do say that it's easier to clear their ears after they have been diving for a while. Seems that way to me.

2. People with allergies or constant colds. There is really nothing that will "toughen up" your ears. It's not like you can go to the gym and work out your ears. A lot of people I know with clearing problems take sudafed regularly. They say it helps.

3. It's always a posibility if you don't clear early and often or dive congested.

4. Clear early and often...every 6-12 inches. Take your time. Take drugs if necessary although some have side effects.

5. I don't think so although repeated injury can cause hearing loss I beleive. I had a barotrauma also, and made a complete recovery. (Happend when I got sick camping overnight at the quarry and tried to dive the next day.)

 

[Groundhog246]

These are my opinions and experiences, not medical advice.

I find I have to start almost before my head goes under. It's a LOT easier if you stay ahead of it. If you're already feeling pressure, you're behind the curve and the pressure on your eustachion tubes will hold them closed. I find the first 10 to 15 feet critical, after that it gets much easier. A feet down, head up position is much easier than body horizontal. I also find tipping my head from side to side will help. If it's just one side, try tipping your head away from the side giving trouble. I did find it get easier with practice, not sure there's any physical change.

I've also had the "stuffy' feeling afterwards for a day or 2. I find lots of water helps. I've also read that caffeine, milk products and some other foods will increase mucus production and make equalizing more challenging.

You may want to consider seeing an Ears, Nose & Throat specialist. My wife had to see one, before she was able to do her course. Turned out she had some minor inflamation, probably a result of a long past cold. The inflamation caused some swelling, which caused some inflamation, which caused some swelling, which..... You get the picture. Did about a month on a steroidal nasal spray and it cleared right up, was able to start her course about 2 weeks into the spray. She also has to be careful/slow the first few feet, so we make a good buddy pair.

Good luck.
Kent

 

[rmediver2002]

The fullness you are feeling if the fluid retained in the middle ear, if you are not able to relate the difficulty clearing to congestion you should have a ear / nose specialist do an evaluation.

Often divers with slight physiological differences such a small eustation tubes or some type of polyp or even a small skin flap causing a blockage have difficulty clearing.

More often than not this is a simple removal of tissue that is done on an out patient basis and the problem is solved.


Jeff Lane

 

[ScubaJorgen]

:ears:

In my case clearing ears becomes easier when you dive on a regular basis.

Though I've made some 250 dives and having no trouble at all with clearing, I found my ears feeling stuffed after a few days of intensive diving.

The ease of clearing ears varies on an individual basis: my wife is hardly able to clear ears. (She has got her open water though, but not more than 7 dives due to it)

 

[Wintermute]

I'm also a new diver, fresh out of my OW class where I had increasing equalization issues. The 4th and 5th descent on the last day were especially bad, and I may have pushed it in my desire to get certified combined with my interpreting my pain as 'some discomfort' as opposed to excruciating pain which on hindsight it was obviously the latter.
I went to see a Ear Throat and Nose specialist who also happened to be an experienced diver of 20 years. He said my ears were "a bloody mess" but that it was not inner ear barotrauma, though he did say that there was fluid built up behind my ear. He prescibed some Ear drops to help my ears, and some decongestants to take 12 hrs before and then another right before diving. He also suggested drinking more water and said that the most likely issue was my smoking because it can inflame those areas and make equalizing harder.
Admittedly I have yet to quit smoking, but I had already started being motivated toward that because of diving, and especially if it is what caused that pain.
I am optimistic about overcoming this, but I have been worried that if doing all the above doesn't work then this could prevent me from diving... which would be INCREDIBLY disappointing to me because despite only diving 5 times in poor vis and a lot of surge in cold water I am completely head over heals in love with this sport.

 

[ScubaJorgen]

Ha, Wintermute, it's never bad to quit smoking, whether it helps diving better or not....

Did your ETNer tell you why it is better to drink much? When diving it is always good to drink, especially when it is warm.... Just for preventing bends. Though it may have you make the decision to quit your dive or to wet your wetsuit a bit more... :errrr:

Be cautious with decongestants before the dive. It might open your ears at the start of you dive. When it wears out under water you might get problems during ascending. Reverse block. So they say... :teach:

 

[wazza]

I read once in a medical magazine that equalizing your ears once or twice per day even if u r not diving is better for them and when u will dive again u wont have an equalizing problem, it's actually like taking your ears to the GYM ahahaha just a joke

 

[wazza]

ScubaJorgen once bubbled...
Ha, Wintermute, it's never bad to quit smoking, whether it helps diving better or not....

Did your ETNer tell you why it is better to drink much? When diving it is always good to drink, especially when it is warm.... Just for preventing bends. Though it may have you make the decision to quit your dive or to wet your wetsuit a bit more... :errrr:

Be cautious with decongestants before the dive. It might open your ears at the start of you dive. When it wears out under water you might get problems during ascending. Reverse block. So they say... :teach:

U know what u have to do at this point , take of your mask sniff some salt water ( but try not to kill your self ) and then every thing will be clean again and u can even clear your nose, a lot of time I use to have a flu but still I had to dive and u use to use the untidecongestant ( I am not sure if this is the right word )so it will open everything, this is wrong I know but this is our work and u have to do this some time,,,,,,,,,,,anyway

 

[ScubaJorgen]

Hey Wazza

Never thought of sniffing salt water to decongest your nose.... I am a (mainly) fresh water diver though I sometimes use salt water as decongestant. U know, put some kitchen salt and water in a sprayer. It should be more nose friendly: it does not damage the mucus producing things (here my knowledge of english language is not sufficient, i think they may be called glands ) when used for prolonged periods.

I would not use 'antidecongestant' as u write. I think 'congestant' blocks your nose. Decongestant should remove this block. Antidecongestant would be stuff that reduces the working of congestant remover. Just trying to be a pain in the ass....

So you're a professional diver? Tell a bit more on that....