Hi all, il try to elaborate on my situation as much as i can, please bare with me
im 34, since i started scuba diving which was 12 years ago i been having issues with eq my left ear, my right ear is a dream, so easily eq, i just move my jaw a bit and its done, my left ear though requires force and more time to slowly hear it doing its thing, it was happening during dives and during flights.
when i was scuba diving it was manageable since i could just slow down my decent, deal with it and continue, no rush.
i recently started to work on my free diving skills, with this sport it really became a nightmare
A. because im basically diving head down so its harder to eq in general this way which in my case means nearly impossible for my left ear to pop, my right one as usual working flawlessly, no matter the position im in.
B. since its time sensitive where u need to hold your breath, its a waste of time stopping and trying to eq slowly every meter or so.
this is the point where i decided enough is enough, i am determined on getting it fixed.
i went to see a ENT doctor where i live, im an expat living in PHUKET THAILAND btw, the doctor tried the flexi camera up my nose and said my left nostril has a septum deviation which makes it harder to get the camera inside there and then sent me to do an xray, he said thats probably the cause, i suggested the baloon dilation, he then said that in phuket no hospital can perform that operation and i should consult with his colleague in a hospital in bangkok.
today i went to that hospital in bangkok, did a few test which included , flexi camera, ear pressure and middle ear frequencies test and ct scan.
ct scan showed the deviation i have on my left ear, it also showed a cyst on my left bottom sinus which the doctor said is small and have no affect on my symptoms, rest of the sinuses are clear.
he also looked at my ear drums while i was equalizing and says it looks normal but of course i can feel how much force i need to use in order to pop that left ear , so he recommends as followed -
either baloon dilation or septoplasty surgery could improve the operation of the ET, he said its really up to me and he could do just one of them if i prefer.
baloon dilation - he says it is basically a very simple procedure that has a high success rate and most chances will improve the situation and have very little risk of worsening it, basically nothing to lose by doing it.
septoplastic surgery - he says it is not surely the cause for the ET issue but at the very least it will improve my situation in other ways - breathing issues of that nostril , easily getting clogged in many events(been this way always)
now honestly i am a little confused on what to do next, i talked to my diving instructor, even before i went he says that most doctors jump right away to the septoplastic solution and that its just a way from them to generate more money.
how could i know then ? if not any of those operations what else could be the fix?
any input will be greatly appreciated.
im 34, since i started scuba diving which was 12 years ago i been having issues with eq my left ear, my right ear is a dream, so easily eq, i just move my jaw a bit and its done, my left ear though requires force and more time to slowly hear it doing its thing, it was happening during dives and during flights.
when i was scuba diving it was manageable since i could just slow down my decent, deal with it and continue, no rush.
i recently started to work on my free diving skills, with this sport it really became a nightmare
A. because im basically diving head down so its harder to eq in general this way which in my case means nearly impossible for my left ear to pop, my right one as usual working flawlessly, no matter the position im in.
B. since its time sensitive where u need to hold your breath, its a waste of time stopping and trying to eq slowly every meter or so.
this is the point where i decided enough is enough, i am determined on getting it fixed.
i went to see a ENT doctor where i live, im an expat living in PHUKET THAILAND btw, the doctor tried the flexi camera up my nose and said my left nostril has a septum deviation which makes it harder to get the camera inside there and then sent me to do an xray, he said thats probably the cause, i suggested the baloon dilation, he then said that in phuket no hospital can perform that operation and i should consult with his colleague in a hospital in bangkok.
today i went to that hospital in bangkok, did a few test which included , flexi camera, ear pressure and middle ear frequencies test and ct scan.
ct scan showed the deviation i have on my left ear, it also showed a cyst on my left bottom sinus which the doctor said is small and have no affect on my symptoms, rest of the sinuses are clear.
he also looked at my ear drums while i was equalizing and says it looks normal but of course i can feel how much force i need to use in order to pop that left ear , so he recommends as followed -
either baloon dilation or septoplasty surgery could improve the operation of the ET, he said its really up to me and he could do just one of them if i prefer.
baloon dilation - he says it is basically a very simple procedure that has a high success rate and most chances will improve the situation and have very little risk of worsening it, basically nothing to lose by doing it.
septoplastic surgery - he says it is not surely the cause for the ET issue but at the very least it will improve my situation in other ways - breathing issues of that nostril , easily getting clogged in many events(been this way always)
now honestly i am a little confused on what to do next, i talked to my diving instructor, even before i went he says that most doctors jump right away to the septoplastic solution and that its just a way from them to generate more money.
how could i know then ? if not any of those operations what else could be the fix?
any input will be greatly appreciated.
