Can't stand the pressure!!

[scubafire]

I went diving yesterday and for the first time ever, I had problems equalizing. Anyways, it hurt several times and I had to ascend and try again. I was wearing a hood for the first time too. (could that have caused it??) Anyways, today I feel a slight pressure in my ear. Not painful but it pops every now and again and just feels funny. Is there anything I can do about it? Thanks for the help!!

 

[jbd]

Most likely you didn't have good control of your descent rate and were therefore not able to equalize in a proper and timely mannner. Repeated improper attempts to equalize may have created some irritation/swelling of your Eustashion tube and/or left you with an overpressurized ear. Generally speaking this will resolve itself in a few days. If not you need to see a doctor. If any other symptoms develope--you need to see a doctor. In the meantime stay out of the water and allow the situation a chance to resolve itself. Before attempting to dive again get competent quality instruction in equalizing procedures and bouyancy control.

 

[PerroneFord]

The hood, can hold pressure against your ear and make it very difficult to equalise. I've seen people poke nail holes or cut slits into their hoods so that the thermal qualities aren't lost much, but overpressurization is less an issue.

 

[phoenix09]

The times I've made dives so far, I've always had to be really careful when I'm descending. I don't know what the problem is, but for whatever reason I have to equalize extremely frequently all the way down. What I've found works best is to use a combination of equalizing techniques - usually I'll do some Valsalva, but Toynbee (swallowing while pinching nose) works very well also. The best thing for me, though, is simply to swallow normally while I go down, but just do so more frequently. It's sometimes hard to do, what with the air being drier than usual, but it works the best.

Unless the hood was pretty tight, I don't think that would have caused a big difference...I usually dive with a hood, and it's never caused equalizing problems for me before. Your ears should go back to normal pretty soon after the dive, but I've had mine popping and such for a day or so afterward sometimes, and it hasn't caused any problems.

Granted, I'm still a pretty new diver, so this is all mostly based on various things I've read and personal experience.

 

[gcbryan]

The hood, can hold pressure against your ear and make it very difficult to equalise. I've seen people poke nail holes or cut slits into their hoods so that the thermal qualities aren't lost much, but overpressurization is less an issue.

This makes no sense to me. Can you explain how this could/would happen?

 

[SparticleBrane]

If you don't let in water, occasionally the hood makes a seal around your ears making it harder to equalize. When I'm diving with a hood I'll occasionally pull it back to let some water in to help.

 

[gcbryan]

If you don't let in water, occasionally the hood makes a seal around your ears making it harder to equalize. When I'm diving with a hood I'll occasionally pull it back to let some water in to help.

All my dives are with a hood and I've never had or heard of this problem so I was just curious. It must be more a problem with an ill fitting hood.

 

[Firefyter]

All my dives are with a hood and I've never had or heard of this problem so I was just curious. It must be more a problem with an ill fitting hood.

Not to be too much of a smart%^%$^, but if all your dives are with a hood, you just may not realize the difference. I've blown my left ear twice while diving, and both times with a hood. I rarely have problems without a hood. While I can't speak for everyone, for some people it makes a DEFINITE difference.

 

[PerroneFord]

All my dives are with a hood and I've never had or heard of this problem so I was just curious. It must be more a problem with an ill fitting hood.

Yes, that must be it.

However, I did have a NAUI instructor mention this to me last month as he showed me the slits he had cut in his hood and said it greatly relieved his clearing issues. Personally, I don't have any issues with my hood, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt since he has about 800 more dives than me.

 

[gcbryan]

Not to be too much of a smart%^%$^, but if all your dives are with a hood, you just may not realize the difference. I've blown my left ear twice while diving, and both times with a hood. I rarely have problems without a hood. While I can't speak for everyone, for some people it makes a DEFINITE difference.

I may not be a good example as I have never had any problem equalizing. I just swallow and that's it. I understand that many people aren't so lucky in that regard.