I have a perforated eardrum, can't go underwater at all. I Dive successfully with the IST ProEar mask.
I did that for a while, couple of years maybe. I wouldn't do it now, but each to their own. Have you ever got water in your middle ear?
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I have a perforated eardrum, can't go underwater at all. I Dive successfully with the IST ProEar mask.
Thinking back, I'm very conscious that the final pain I had in the ear (before it let air out/water in) was the back roll from the boat. I wonder if anyone else has damaged an eardrum doing this?
That is really interesting. I suspected it was a thing, but nothing came up on a Google search. The moment you hit the water, there's a lot going on, and it's a bit like cutting your finger - any injuries that happen right at that instant might not register. For me there was some pain noticeable at the time, but once I was upright at the surface and retrieving my camera, the pain went and I disregarded it. It was only 15 mins or so later down at 20m that unusual air/water displacement started happening across the TM. And between the two events, normal/uneventful equalisations.Yes, in Thailand in 2002, but I was too stupid (or in too much denial) to admit to myself what had happened! Very bad pain in my right ear after rolling in to the water followed by the usual symptoms of perforation. Luckily, no infection that time.
Yes, that's a good idea. I was thinking wearing a hood might help, but obviously not doing a back-roll in the first place would remove the risk.Just to put things in perspective, when I did see an ENT many years later, he said that my right ear drum was as thin as rice paper. Now I have a super human ear drum made of cartilage, I still don't do backward rolls or jump from a great height in to water (with or without dive gear).
I did that for a while, couple of years maybe. I wouldn't do it now, but each to their own. Have you ever got water in your middle ear?
I have a perforated eardrum, can't go underwater at all. I Dive successfully with the IST ProEar mask.
If you have Eustachian tube dysfunction like the OP does then an earplug would create an enclosed gas-filled space in the affected ear and subject it to barotrauma.I have the same problem, and a failed tympanoplasty with no desire to do that surgery again. I was wondering if the pro-ear (I have experience with pro-ear) combined with a custom ear plug would provide protection for my middle ear. Normally an ear plug would ensure immediate TM failure while diving but I have a hole in my TM that will never heal, so not a problem with TM pressure. I am an airline pilot so I am constantly reminded that I only have to equalize one ear.