Constant Ear Equalizing Problems

[DandyDon]

Hi Dr Mike,
Where are you located ? I am looking for an ear (ENT) doctor in south Florida , I have seen 2 Drs already in the last 60 days, and not have any confident on them.
I have dove 4 times , no more than 55 feet deep , and every time is very hard to equalize , I can't equalize no even out side water, so what I do is when the pressures is to much I start swallowing so it gos away , but at that point pain is already bothering. All those 4 diving after I come to surface I had little blood in my mask, so I have not diving for 45 days , and don't know what to do .

I've never asked DAN for physician referrals but they might know which ENTs know divers problems better than others. Or ask on the Florida forum here on SB.

I have met physicians who had OW cards and a few dives who thought they knew diving.

My ears squeak when I equalize too. Though I've never found it to be an issue. I will say that I do have bad sinuses and find it helps if I take a decongestant (Sudafed) the night before a dive and half a dose about an hour or two prior to the dive - more if necessary. I've been diving this way for about a year and it works every time.

We've all heard the "don't dive on Sudafed/decongestants/etc" - but unfortunately, for some of us, it's just a fact of life. Congestion in the sinuses makes it a real b**ch to equalize. Hydration becomes an issue if you're taking Sudafed so make sure to drink lots of water.

You can hear anything, but you won't hear that from other divers often. Many cannot dive without Pseudoephedrine - not to be confused with OTC brand name Sudafed that no longer contains the original drug. Ask the pharmacists and show ID; it's behind the counter. Take enough that it does not wear off during the dive leaving you with a reverse squeeze.

I have had issues with equalizing. My left tube is smaller than the right one...I had a major squeeze happen to me a few years back...it was freaking painfull...the reverse squeeze was even worse..had to call the dive weekend off. After a week my head still felt congested, I still had fluids and it was getting painfull at times...after seeing the doc two weeks after this episode. She told me this:

- Take a decongestant to relieve the pain and congestion for two weeks. No diving for three. Then a minimum of an hour before you dive, take a decongestant ( Sudafed 12 hour). Chew a minty fresh gum or suck on a halls or some sort of decongestant candy...blow your nose prior to your dive.

I have not had any issues since. I take two decongestants depending on my dive day or weekend. I chew a minty gum or suck on a halls or some minty fesh candy to help open up the nasal passages. This works for me and many of my buddies.

To equalize, I start at the surface. I do not even pinch my nose any more, I swallow and rock my jaw back n forth all the way down.

Hehe, it is easy to forget something as simple as blowing your nose, but yeah - helps. Lean overboard, blow, let the fishes have it.

 

[Cruisin Home]

Those of you forced to take the antihistamine/decongestant/sinus meds etc. should really look into a professional examination of your sinuses including a CT examination. I too was a chronic sufferer and always had trouble equalizing. had sinus surgery (minimally invasive ballon sinusplasty) two years ago and voila.. I am a new person and diver.

As a neuroradiology expert I cant tell you how many scans I see where patients really have a mechanical problem. These medications after maybe only three days create whats called a "rebound" effect whereby your membranes swell back to even greater than before leaving you almost horribly addicted to the meds for relief.

Go see an ENT, preferablly someone on the cutting edge that also does this new technique.

excellent book for the laymen "Healing your sinuses" Dr. Ralph Metson Harvard/Mass Eye and Ear.

 

[ronanweb]

Hey Doctor Mike, I am very interested in a recommendation for a ENT specialist in my area. I have tremendous trouble equalizing despite all the techniques I have tried. I am at 60 dives and I have discomfort every time. So a specialist that might be able recommend or advise a technique or procedure that could help me would be very much appreciated. Diving changed my life, but I can't always enjoy it muchas it and I deserve.

Ronanweb
Debary, FLorida

 

[doctormike]

Hey Doctor Mike, I am very interested in a recommendation for a ENT specialist in my area. I have tremendous trouble equalizing despite all the techniques I have tried. I am at 60 dives and I have discomfort every time. So a specialist that might be able recommend or advise a technique or procedure that could help me would be very much appreciated. Diving changed my life, but I can't always enjoy it muchas it and I deserve.

Ronanweb
Debary, FLorida

Hi, Ronan...

I don't know many ENT doctors in your area, but I put your zip code and a 100 mile radius into the entnet.org search engine for otology (ear specialists) and this is what I got:


Patrick J. Antonelli, MD Gainesville, FL 32610-0264
Loren J. Bartels, MD Tampa, FL 33606-3589
K Paul Boyev, MD Tampa, FL 33612-4742
Jeffrey E Brink, MD Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250
Christopher J. Danner, MD Tampa, FL 33606
Jay B Farrior, MD Tampa, FL 33607
J Douglas Green, Jr, MD Jacksonville, FL 32256
Michele B. Hargreaves, MD MBA Gainesville, FL 32607
Glenn W Knox, MD,JD Jacksonville, FL 32223-8628
Larry B Lundy, MD Jacksonville, FL 32224-1865
David J. Malis, MD Melbourne, FL 32901
Aftab H Patni, MD Winter Park, FL 32792-3211
Randall A Riegler, MD Jacksonville, FL 32256-8236


I don't know any of them personally, but I have heard of Dr. Farrior, and he is well known in that field. Here is his Web site.

Good luck...!

Best,

Mike

 

[ronanweb]

Thank you for your help!