Damn my ears, damn them both to hell!

[grouchyturtle]

My ears stink. I almost always have trouble equalizing, and I'm always the last one down, because all my buddies don't have as much trouble as me.

Is it normal to always be the same ear that gives you trouble?

I'm getting better at equalizing, but my left ear is always harder to clear, although my right ear gave me problems once, last week when trying to decend while already at about 30'. Also I did have 2 reverse blocks recently both times in my right ear?

Also allthough I'm getting better at equalizing the old squeeze the nose and blow move is the only one that works for me. I don't have to blow as hard as I used to, though.

Will the other clearing techniques start work for me over time, will I be able to decend faster over time? Or do some people even very experienced divers, just naturally have more trouble clearing than others?

 

[ScoobieDooo]

Welcome to the club! I've been playing ear and sinus games for months. Plugged ears and barotrauma's. Real fun stuff.

 

[ZenSquirrel]

I have trouble getting my left ear to clear with all of the standard techniques. My instructor even had me remove my regular and shake my head around once. The trick I found that finally worked was to "pre-equalize". Before my head even breaks the surface I use the old nose+blow so my ears are "pre-loaded". Then I equalize more or less continuously for the first 10m (33ft). After that I'm ok.

 

[divemed06]

I believe yoy can buy a mask with ear covers that alleviates the need for you to equalize your ears. Chek with you LDS for further details..Best of luck

 

[Burner]

About the anti equalizaiton mask. If someone could give me an indepth explanation of how this works, I would be interested to hear it. Somehow I don't think that one exists. And if one does, I would guess you would lose you ear drums if your mask came off.

 

[scotter]

Burner,

I think the mask (or at least one of them) is called Pro Ear 2000... here's a recent discussion about it. May help you out finding for info about it.

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=32074&highlight=pro+ear

another one...

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=22044&highlight=pro+ear

If you search for "pro ear" you might find more... hope this helps.

 

[grouchyturtle]

I also do the pre-equalize thing and it's made a huge difference. Also equalizing almost constantly for the first 20 - 30ish'.

I still have a harder time than everyone I dive with, though, all with about as much experience as me. I'm also the only one in my group who can't get any technique to work other than the old squeeze your nose and blow.

Plugged ears and barotrauma's. Real fun stuff.

I used to come up with some blood in my mask after just about everydive.

I am getting better though, that doesn't happen anymore. Just wondering if there's any hope for me or if some of us just have naturally pain in the ass ears and even after tons of dives they still stink, and we'll always be the last one to decend?

 

[pasley]

I highly recommend you see a ENT doctor before you rupture somthing with a reverse block.

Do you also get sinus infections often? Seriously, see an ENT.

 

[Burner]

ok thanks, I see how it works, I initially thought it was supposed to keep your ears at a constant pressure but that isn't the case.

 

[Arnaud]

pasley once bubbled...
I highly recommend you see a ENT doctor before you rupture somthing with a reverse block.

Do you also get sinus infections often? Seriously, see an ENT.

Like Pasley said.

The same question comes up every single day on the board. Do you ever read other threads?

If you can afford to dive, you can afford to see a doc. What are you waiting for? ;-0

Now, if an ENT who's knowledgeable about diving clears you, you could try these: http://www.proplugs.com/