FPDocMatt
Contributor
On my most recent dive trip I had more difficulty equalizing than I'd had on the previous 2 (I've only gone on 3 dive trips so far). After my second trip I figured I was over this huge difficulty equalizing, but this time it was even worse.
It took me between 5 and 10 minutes to get down to 20 feet.
In fact, I don't think I was completely equalized even then, in my left ear.
Then I had decreased hearing in my left ear, so skipped my last day's diving.
On return home, I saw an ENT. My hearing in the left hear was slightly less than it had been. The question is, is it permanent or temporary? So we're going to retest my hearing in a few months to find out.
She found no problem in the ear on physical examination. She said that if I'd sustained inner ear trauma I'd have dizziness, but I never had any dizziness. But the exam ruled out middle and external ear problems.
However, I suspect inner ear damage is exactly what occurred.
Anyway, as a result, I've decided to descend even slower next time. The thing is, I felt rushed to descend, because my buddy or buddies were waiting for me at the bottom of the line.
The weird thing is I have no difficulty at all equalizing my ears on the surface.
So I'm thinking that my problem is not pre-equalizing as I'm descending. That is, I need to equalizing before the ears hurt. Once the outside pressure is greater than the inside pressure, equalizing becomes difficult or impossible.
And I need to dive with someone who doesn't care if I take all day descending. In other words, a paid dive buddy (DM). It'll make my dive trips more expensive, but I think it's necessary.
The thing is, I'm going on these dive trips solo, so I can't expect a pick-up buddy no matter how nice and friendly to wait 10 or 15 minutes for me to get to 20 feet. That's a bit much to expect from anybody but family.
Another thing is I'll probably enjoy shore diving better, since you get to see stuff right from the shallows. For example, at Sunset House there are plenty of fish right there near the shore, in 10 feet of water.
Recently a new ENT set up practice in my area. I told him that I'm a scuba diver with ear issues, and he said he used to be a dive doctor for the Navy. So I'm going to go see him, see if he has any insights.
The Sudafed suggestion is a good one for young people, but I don't think it's a good idea for people my age (59). I don't have high blood pressure, but I see lots of patients who are middle-aged whose blood pressure goes high every time they take decongestants. Anyway, it's probably okay, but I'd prefer to find a non-medicinal solution to my problem.
The Frenzel technique would probably work, if I could just figure out how to do it. I read all the explanations and instructions, but I just can't do it.
The combination of valsalva and swallowing works perfectly well for me every time--on the surface.
It took me between 5 and 10 minutes to get down to 20 feet.
In fact, I don't think I was completely equalized even then, in my left ear.
Then I had decreased hearing in my left ear, so skipped my last day's diving.
On return home, I saw an ENT. My hearing in the left hear was slightly less than it had been. The question is, is it permanent or temporary? So we're going to retest my hearing in a few months to find out.
She found no problem in the ear on physical examination. She said that if I'd sustained inner ear trauma I'd have dizziness, but I never had any dizziness. But the exam ruled out middle and external ear problems.
However, I suspect inner ear damage is exactly what occurred.
Anyway, as a result, I've decided to descend even slower next time. The thing is, I felt rushed to descend, because my buddy or buddies were waiting for me at the bottom of the line.
The weird thing is I have no difficulty at all equalizing my ears on the surface.
So I'm thinking that my problem is not pre-equalizing as I'm descending. That is, I need to equalizing before the ears hurt. Once the outside pressure is greater than the inside pressure, equalizing becomes difficult or impossible.
And I need to dive with someone who doesn't care if I take all day descending. In other words, a paid dive buddy (DM). It'll make my dive trips more expensive, but I think it's necessary.
The thing is, I'm going on these dive trips solo, so I can't expect a pick-up buddy no matter how nice and friendly to wait 10 or 15 minutes for me to get to 20 feet. That's a bit much to expect from anybody but family.
Another thing is I'll probably enjoy shore diving better, since you get to see stuff right from the shallows. For example, at Sunset House there are plenty of fish right there near the shore, in 10 feet of water.
Recently a new ENT set up practice in my area. I told him that I'm a scuba diver with ear issues, and he said he used to be a dive doctor for the Navy. So I'm going to go see him, see if he has any insights.
The Sudafed suggestion is a good one for young people, but I don't think it's a good idea for people my age (59). I don't have high blood pressure, but I see lots of patients who are middle-aged whose blood pressure goes high every time they take decongestants. Anyway, it's probably okay, but I'd prefer to find a non-medicinal solution to my problem.
The Frenzel technique would probably work, if I could just figure out how to do it. I read all the explanations and instructions, but I just can't do it.
The combination of valsalva and swallowing works perfectly well for me every time--on the surface.
