Blocked ears - sudafed not helping

[Mel.B]

Hi all,

I've got a weekend diving trip this weekend that I REALLY want to go on. However my ears are blocked and nothing I am doing is helping them clear.

I last dived on the 10th August - shallow shore dive, no difficulties with my ears so I'm not concerned that it is a barotrauma. Woke up Sun 15th and my L ear was completely blocked. Nose and sinuses feel fine (except I am sneezing more). By Mon 16th by R ear was also blocked. I tried Sudafed and that had no effect. Saw the pharamist yesterday and he suggested an antihistamine as well. Both the sudafed and anithistamine combined have not helped.

Am I just going to have to wait this out or is there something that a doctor can prescribe/do that will have me in the water this weekend?

It's very frustrating!!

Thanks!
Mel

 

[SubMariner]

Hi all,

I've got a weekend diving trip this weekend that I REALLY want to go on. However my ears are blocked and nothing I am doing is helping them clear.

Go see a Doctor instead.

DSDO,

 

[Mel.B]

Go see a Doctor instead.

DSDO,

That's what I'm planning to do, but was hoping for any other suggestions, or even some advice as to whether the doc can actually help (or if I just have to wait it out) so I don't waste my time/money going to the doc if there's nothing he can do.

Mel

 

[Boogie711]

Call DAN and talk to them. They should also be able to give you the name of an ENT in your area who has experience in dive medicine.

 

[sharkdiver00]

enough time before your dive, DON'T DIVE. Your ears are A LOT more important than diving. You can always go next time. Maria

 

[Mel.B]

Ok, got an appt booked with the doc first thing tomorrow morning. Have spoken to the dive shop and told them that I might not be able to make it due to my ears and the pro-ear mask was suggested. I had a little look at this on the net, but my question is, if I can't equalize my ears AT ALL on the surface (which is the case at the moment), is the mask going to help?

Now I'm off to chase up some contact lenses as my mask has perscription lenses and if I use the pro-ear I won't be able to see! The things we do so we can go diving!

Mel

 

[SubMariner]

Ok, got an appt booked with the doc first thing tomorrow morning. Have spoken to the dive shop and told them that I might not be able to make it due to my ears and the pro-ear mask was suggested. I had a little look at this on the net, but my question is, if I can't equalize my ears AT ALL on the surface (which is the case at the moment), is the mask going to help?

No, it won't. Don't buy ANYTHING until after you've spoken with an ENT (preferabley one who specializes in Dive/Hyperbaric Medicine).

Now I'm off to chase up some contact lenses as my mask has perscription lenses and if I use the pro-ear I won't be able to see! The things we do so we can go diving!

Again, I'd wait on that to see what happens with the Dr.

Either way, I would plan on NOT being in the water this weekend.

Bonne chance,

 

[pipedope]

Do not buy anything until you see the Doc.

For now you can learn more about your ears and diving by watching the streaming video at;
http://faculty.washington.edu/ekay/index.html

 

[MyDiveLog]

When I had a similar problem there were two issues -- both of which would have made me cancel the dive you're thinking of doing, because they weren't resolved quickly. The first was that I had an inner ear infection -- on the inside of the eardrum -- that built up fluid and wouldn't allow the eustachian tubes to open when I tried to equalize. I also had a fungal infection, from too much time spent diving or working out in a pool (most days of the week) that had to be treated for a couple of weeks with a powder.

Your enthusiasm to dive is great, but you need to temper it with thought ... there will always be another dive trip.

 

[itziar]

I had an ear blockage about 1/2 yr ago, similar to what you describe: 1 week after my last dive my right ear got blocked. It was due to a fungal and viral infection caught during the previous dive, that made the ear canal swell to the point of blockage. I had no disconfort before the blockage. Only the ENT could diagnose it. Fortunately, that was my first step: go to the doctor, and the case was solved within 3 weeks. Home remedies can make the case even worse, so I would recommend that you get qualified help ASAP and do not apply anything to the ear before.

Good luck!