Desperate to dive again...

[ToothDiver]

Hello,
Im new to posting here on scuba board, so bare with me. I got my open water certification in may 2007 and have not been diving since. I had major problems with my ears. In my pool sessions, the pain was so severe in my left ear, as I was never able to equalize it, but I was determined to complete the course.I tried medical strength decongestion medication, flonase, the Sanipot, everything i could. I consulted a doctor before my checkout dives, and had my ears flushed. I was sure this would cure the problem. On my first dive, I heard a loud pop, and then a constant flow in the left ear. I finished the dive with virtually no pain. Later on that day, my boyfriend pointed out that my ear was bleeding. Like I said, I was determined to achieve my goal of certification and proceeded to do 2 more dives the next day, in 60 feet of water. It was like a constant equalization. I got my cert. but then a few days later, developed an ear infection. I went to an ENT and had ruptured a hole in my ear drum, and now had an inner ear infection. He insisted that I have tubes put in, so I did. They were in for about 6 months, but now they are out. He says that the drum has healed well but has scar tissue all over it from past ear trauma. He also said that I should probably not dive again. However, I live in Venice, FL and have planned a trip to the Keys. We jut bought a boat, and my boyfriend dives every chance he can, so I have trouble accepting the fact that I can never dive again. Today, I got in our pool with his dive gear on, and went to the bottom very slowly. I had no trouble with my right ear, but still cannot get my left ear to equalize. I am looking for any suggestions on if there is anything I can do to improve my chances of being able to dive again.
Thanks to all...

 

[InTheDrink]

Can you equalise on the surface? i.e. when you hold your nose and blow, can you feel both ears pop?

 

[ronbeau]

Hello,
I'm new to posting here on scuba board, so bare with me. I got my open water certification in may 2007 and have not been diving since. I had major problems with my ears. In my pool sessions, the pain was so severe in my left ear, as I was never able to equalize it, but I was determined to complete the course.I tried medical strength decongestant medication, flonase, the Sanipot, everything i could. I consulted a doctor before my checkout dives, and had my ears flushed. I was sure this would cure the problem. On my first dive, I heard a loud pop, and then a constant flow in the left ear. I finished the dive with virtually no pain. Later on that day, my boyfriend pointed out that my ear was bleeding. Like I said, I was determined to achieve my goal of certification and proceeded to do 2 more dives the next day, in 60 feet of water. It was like a constant equalization. I got my cert. but then a few days later, developed an ear infection. I went to an ENT and had ruptured a hole in my ear drum, and now had an inner ear infection. He insisted that I have tubes put in, so I did. They were in for about 6 months, but now they are out. He says that the drum has healed well but has scar tissue all over it from past ear trauma. He also said that I should probably not dive again. However, I live in Venice, FL and have planned a trip to the Keys. We jut bought a boat, and my boyfriend dives every chance he can, so I have trouble accepting the fact that I can never dive again. Today, I got in our pool with his dive gear on, and went to the bottom very slowly. I had no trouble with my right ear, but still cannot get my left ear to equalize. I am looking for any suggestions on if there is anything I can do to improve my chances of being able to dive again.
Thanks to all...

Call DAN (Divers Alert Network). They are the leading research agency in the world for recreational dive related medicine. They can refer you to an EMT doctor who is familiar with diving. They will help you even if you are not a member.

Non-Emergency Medical Questions
1-800-446-2671 or 1-919-684-2948, Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm (ET)

DAN Divers Alert Network : Contact DAN

Please do yourself a favor and check with the ENT doctor that DAN refers you to BEFORE doing any diving whatsoever. You don't want to damaging your hearing.

You might also find the video link of interest in addition to seeing an ENT doctor familiar with diving.

Doc's Diving Medicine Home Page

 

[ToothDiver]

thanks for the replies.
JClynes, No, I cant pop my left ear on the surface either. I can the right. My ENT is a friend of the family, and he is an avid diver, but I will definatly take the time to call the DAN line and check into it.
Thanks again

 

[InTheDrink]

If you can't pop your left ear on the surface then I can imagine your going to have severe problems/pain in the water. Best of luck, hope it improves and you get to dive again.

 

[DandyDon]

Good luck. Also try the video linked in my Sig below...

 

[don Francisco]

First of all, have an ENT confirm that your ear drum is suffieciently healed to take reasonable stresses of pressure differentials While you're there he can also verify whether air passes through your eustachian tubes by watching your eardrum for movement while you try create positive or negative pressure changes in your airway.

Assuming you clear both these hurdles, and are clear to dive, it's a matter of perfecting your clearing techniques, and accepting that if you can't clear faster you need to descend slower.

There's lots of advice about clearing from Net Doc, myself and others all over the main forum. Read it, and also watch the video, and practice in a pool until you can manage it consistantly.

After that it's more a matter of willpower, and refusal to descend faster than you clear. Remind yourself of the consequences during each descent.

Good luck

 

[ToothDiver]

Thanks for the reply. I have made an appointment with my ENT for tomorrow at 3:30pm. I attempted to try and pop my ears again, and nothing in my left ear. It actually pushes air through my left eye (im sure not a good sign).
I am willing to try anything that is financially possible. I'm hoping he doesn't tell me what he told me last time i wanted to talk about diving "Find another sport".
Wish me luck... I will be posting the outcome after my appointment.
Thanks again

 

[ToothDiver]

well, I saw an ENT yesterday. He tried everything he possibly could to get my left ear to pop,with no luck. My right ear pops right away, but theres just no response from my left year. He is assuming that with all my ear problems, there is a significant ammount of scar tissue is my eustachean tube on that side. However, after pursuading him that this cannot be the end, that I refuse to accept the answer that if I "cannot valsalva on the surface, I can't do it at depth, therefore I cannot dive", he decided to try one more thing. He gave me a script for prednisone, hoping that is will reduce any swelling in that eustachean tube, and allow me to dive. He did tell me though, that this is not an every weekend thing, rather for "Special occasions" like diving the keys.
Well, wish me luck, I will be starting the pills next wednesday in hopes for a dive on saturday!

 

[Ber Rabbit]

Please be careful. You are at a point where you must ask yourself a question: What dive is special enough that I would be willing to permanently lose hearing in one ear to make it?

Responsible diving involves weighing the risks and rewards of each dive and deciding whether the reward outweighs the risk. There is a chance diving can have a permanent impact on the rest of your life because of the eustacian tube scar tissue, please consider that carefully as you make your diving decisions.

Here are some links for you to check out:
American Hearing Research Foundation
DAN Article, Common Ear Injuries While Diving
Prevention of Middle Ear Barotrauma (Awesome article! I believe it goes along with the video others mentioned)
Ber :lilbunny: