Buggered ear in middle of AOW emergency advice

[supergaijin]

One thing I would say is 'don't play with it'. It sounds like a mild baurotrama (crackling and whistling sound). Now your ear may feel 'full' or blocked. Don't try to equalise or it'll be putting pressure on the injured parts of your ear. The normal valsalva (pinching nostrils) can exasperate the injury.

Chewing gum is a non-invasive way of 'exercising' the middle ear. As will a large steak. Eventually it'll get back to normal- sometimes in a couple of days.

Decongestants will not help in any way to make this better- it may mask your body's signals that your ear is hurt.

 

[DevonDiver]

The question would probably be better answered in the Diving Medicine forum...

I'm not a physician, but my partner is an ENT surgeon. General recommendations from her have been (I've hurt ears before too):

1) Don't blow your nose. If congested, 'snort and spit'. Blowing can add pressure to complicate existing injury and/or push further mucus etc into the ear canal.

2) Don't try to 'equalize'. (see above)

3) Rinse your sinus / clear your nose with a saline spray. Do this religiously when diving. In combination with a decongestant, if necessary.

4) Spray steroids are available - these can help, so can anti-inflammatory meds.

 

[Peter_C]

Sounds like you have similar ear problems like me. I can drop to the bottom very quickly without ear problems. When it comes to heading to the surface my ascents have to be very sloooow, or I risk injuring my ear. This is good though as there is rarely ever a need to head to the surface quickly. I do deep stops and time myself to the surface. Learn to control your ascents and make them as slow as possible, especially the last 10 feet. The squeaking noise in your ear meant slow down! Even stop and let them equalize on the way up.

If no one has taught you deep stops yet, they are not hard to do, and will actually help you control your buoyancy. Even if you just stop at half depth for 30 seconds, then continue up another ten feet taking 30 seconds to get there. So say you go to 100 feet, stop at 50 ft for 30 seconds, then take 30 seconds to 40 ft. Spend 30 seconds at 40 ft and take another 30 seconds to get to 30 ft. So on and so forth until you are at safety stop depth. Hang somewhere around 10 ft for the needed time or longer. Then take a good long time getting to the surface. I usually stop around 2 ft and stay there for at least 20 seconds to let my ears equalize fully, before breaking the surface.

 

[freewillie]

Well agreed. We are gonna give it a day. I got the wife and kid with me so finding a babe is out of the question. Was hoping I could clear it in the next five days and not blow the course. It has cleared a bit but doesn't feel right.

Well, maybe finding single babe out of question.

Politically correct answer is you married a babe.

You may have perforated your ear drum. Best case scenario you give it few weeks to months to heal then back in the water no further problems.

Worst case, you push your luck, dive again before heals and risk permanent ear damage.

Have fun rest of vacation with wife and family.

 

[DevonDiver]

You may have perforated your ear drum

Unlikely, given the stated symptoms. Perhaps best to leave the diagnosis to those medically qualified... hopefully there'll be one along soon (or maybe a Mod can move this thread to where they'll see it).

 

[freewillie]

Unlikely, given the stated symptoms. Perhaps best to leave the diagnosis to those medically qualified... hopefully there'll be one along soon (or maybe a Mod can move this thread to where they'll see it).

Actually, it did come from a qualified MD.

 

[Ste Wart]

Hey folks,

im 3 dives into my AOW in malta. I screwed my ear on the last dive. Done deep in the morning to 31.3m. Done second dive (wreck) to around 15m and during the dive realised I was having trouble with my right ear. Thumbed it. Heard all sorts of gurgling on the way up in my right ear. 10 hours later I'm hearing a crackling noise when I blow nose. Felt like water was in it earlier. I have 5 days left here and two dives to complete AOW. Spoke to instructor who was more than helpful. Nav and peak Performance. They don't need to be deep but I can't clear my ear so far. Advice very much appreciated.

thanks Paul.

Maximum depth for PADI AOW deep dive is 30m. Might want to have another chat with your instructor about sticking to standards.

As for the ear, don't risk. Go and tour Malta's Neolithic Temples.

 

[MrChen]

I have to use swimmers ear drops after every dive to keep them from being a bother. If I don't, my ears will be sore or crackling for a few days. The drops can be found at any drug store and are over the counter. In no way do I know anything about ears, but I experience similar issues if I don't do the drops.

 

[DevonDiver]

Actually, it did come from a qualified MD.

As did mine... a qualified ENT surgeon.

 

[DandyDon]

I have to use swimmers ear drops after every dive to keep them from being a bother. If I don't, my ears will be sore or crackling for a few days. The drops can be found at any drug store and are over the counter. In no way do I know anything about ears, but I experience similar issues if I don't do the drops.

Very good idea. Before I became diligent about that, I had a few swimmer's ear infections, that seemed to get worse each time. The last one was so bad that I was in bed for a day or two and would not go to the bathroom without my Cortizone ear drops in case the pain hit again suddenly, Save the bottle and make your own mix for pennies. Equal parts alcohol & white vinegar work best. The vinegar starts breaking down after a month so I discard and make a new mix, but it's almost free.

Darkprince's problem might be an ear infection, or ear wax, or injury - perhaps a bad one. None of us can peer inside for a look, so we just have to wait and see what the local doc thinks. Even then, with possible swelling - they don't always get the cause right. The cure is usually the same: wait for it to heal, or else.