Barotrauma?

[Flutterkick]

Hi there everyone.

I had my first pool dive in the open water course on last Thursday. I had a little bit of trouble equalizing, but I thought I had it under control. We were only going down like 10 ft, so it was no big deal. I swim a lot, and can dive down 30-40ft no problem, but for some reason this was giving me trouble. I was just sitting around on the bottom of the pool when my right ear popped. A sharp pang, but then it went away shortly after. About an hour after the class, my right ear started having trouble clearing. It felt like there was pressure in my ear. I kept trying to hold my nose and push and all that, and it still wouldn't clear. Later that night it started to hurt, and I felt like throwing up a little bit. That may have been from gorging myself with a lot of food. I was hungry for some reason. Well the class ended around 10:30 pm, and I was finally able to go to bed around 3 in the morning. The next morning I woke up, didn't have the pain, but still was stuffed in my right ear. I called DAN and they said to take some nasal decongestants. That it was probably Barotrauma. I said okay, I took some, but it is now Saturday and I still have my right ear slightly stopped up. Its not a major thing now, just a slight annoyance. I have my next pool class on next Thursday. Any suggestions on what to do? Or if this is normal, how long it usually lasts?

Thank you,

Kevin

 

[Divin'Papaw]

Flutterkick ... it took my ears about a week, maybe a week and a half, to return to normal after my first pool dives.

 

[AV8R]

If the decongestants don't do it - go see your ENT and he/she will probably give you some steroids to help 'open you up.' Then, it should clear up pretty quickly. He/she may recommend you not to dive until you've completed the steroid course.

I've had it twice - once from diving and once, actually, from flying with a head cold.

 

[spectrum]

How long it lasts has a lot to do with what it really is. I have had what could be considered a brief sharp pang post dive for no apparent reason with no follow-up effects so that may or may not be an issue.

The nausea that late coming and going may have been your late night food fest. Your inner ear may have also been irritated by the barotrauma. Diving will bring out the best (or worst) in your appetite. Between the diving and the thermal lass you can become energy depleted, even in a pool.

Pain starting latter may have been from some swelling from the barotrauma.

What you are experiencing is not uncommon with new divers so don't feel too bad about it. Take your ear clearing seriously, clear before you even feel the need and clear often. If they will not clear come back up a few feet to ease the pressure and facillitate clearing.

When you swallow do you happen to hear what you might call a Krakling sound?

Are you good to got for Thursday, only you doctor can tell with any certainty.

Pete

 

[wetsuit]

I have a different question re ear barotrauma. I experienced it while ascending after a manta ray feeding frenzy. I was (trying to be) stationary at 40 feet, craning my neck upwards. There was also a mild surge. I've had about a hundred dives, and never had any ear problems except for these two manta dives (about 7 months apart).

Has anyone else had an experience like this? I don't know whether I should a) not remain in the same place for 20 minutes and/or b) not look upwards so much.

Thanks a lot!

 

[rawls]

This may have something to do with some congestion or obstruction such as ear wax combined with forceful equalization. If you have some ear wax built up then you may be having to forcefully equalize which, as Spectrum stated, might cause some inflamation in the middle ear. If your ears are still feeling full when you have your next dive class then you could possibly make matters worse

I have a different question re ear barotrauma. I experienced it while ascending after a manta ray feeding frenzy. I was (trying to be) stationary at 40 feet, craning my neck upwards. There was also a mild surge. I've had about a hundred dives, and never had any ear problems except for these two manta dives (about 7 months apart).

Has anyone else had an experience like this? I don't know whether I should a) not remain in the same place for 20 minutes and/or b) not look upwards so much.

With a manta ray "feeding frenzy" you may have become a bit anxious or really excited about seeing the rays feeding like this. This could cause some tensing of muscles and muscles are inside the ear. This excitement and tensing of musculature can make it more difficult to clear in these cases...This would be a situational occurence.