Diving this weekend

[jchaplain]

I found that as a new diver my ears were always feeling blocked for up to a couple of days after diving. After diving off and on for about a year now that feeling has pretty much gone away. Taking some Sudafed before diving also helped.
John C.

My ears were fine underwater... equalized and everything... but once I was out one is still plugged. Is this normal? It doesn't hurt... it just feels like there is water in it but it won't come out.

Chrissie

 

[Diver_Gurl82]

I also did my PADI OW dives this past weekend at Nubble Light.....the water was 47 degrees...I was so cold that my toes were numb. I saw (and played with) a lobster and carbs...there was also seals near the lighthouse, but we were underwater and did not see them.

 

[Green_Manelishi]

I found that as a new diver my ears were always feeling blocked for up to a couple of days after diving. After diving off and on for about a year now that feeling has pretty much gone away. Taking some Sudafed before diving also helped.
John C.

I would NOT take any decongestant drug before a dive. If your ears are blocked/stuffed you should not be diving. Period.

 

[decapoddiver]

I would NOT take any decongestant drug before a dive. If your ears are blocked/stuffed you should not be diving. Period.

Here's the scenario : You take the drug, your ears are clear, you submerge and during the dive it wears off. Your ability to equalize is now gone and as you ascend, the increased pressure can't go anywhere (pain, damage). Very good chance of losing a whole dive season just to do one dive.

 

[jchaplain]

Here's the scenario : You take the drug, your ears are clear, you submerge and during the dive it wears off. Your ability to equalize is now gone and as you ascend, the increased pressure can't go anywhere (pain, damage). Very good chance of losing a whole dive season just to do one dive.

I don't buy that scenario at all. A decongestant isn't going to "wear off and then you'll be in trouble" over the period of a dive.

It can just help to keep the sinuses clear which is much safer overall than having trouble equalizing. And it's not like taking a major drug before diving.

Note- The topic was feeling like having water in the ears AFTER diving. I never said to dive with blocked ears....jeesh...

I also often take an aspirin or 2 before diving or doing any strenuous activity. This is better for blood flow and is shown to prevent heart attacks and strokes. A bit of preventative medicine is a good thing in my opinion.

Even DAN says using decongestants and other allergy medicines can be a good thing....

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/faq/faq.asp?faqid=113


John C.

 

[ScubaNorth]

I don't buy that scenario at all. A decongestant isn't going to "wear off and then you'll be in trouble" over the period of a dive.

It can just help to keep the sinuses clear which is much safer overall than having trouble equalizing. And it's not like taking a major drug before diving.

Note- The topic was feeling like having water in the ears AFTER diving. I never said to dive with blocked ears....jeesh...

I also often take an aspirin or 2 before diving or doing any strenuous activity. This is better for blood flow and is shown to prevent heart attacks and strokes. A bit of preventative medicine is a good thing in my opinion.

John C.

Sorry I normally don't like extremes of opinion and i Am guilty of using decongestants before diving, BUT in this case I go along with the it's a bad idea stream of thought. Rather than tell you you are wrong may I suggest consulting an MD who is familiar with dive medicine. Asprin and diving hmmmm I wouldn't but I try to stay clear of most chemicals while diving. The dive tables and rules change when the chemistry changes.


P.S. Sweet Boat.

 

[adshepard]

I don't buy that scenario at all. A decongestant isn't going to "wear off and then you'll be in trouble" over the period of a dive.

It can just help to keep the sinuses clear which is much safer overall than having trouble equalizing. And it's not like taking a major drug before diving.

Note- The topic was feeling like having water in the ears AFTER diving. I never said to dive with blocked ears....jeesh...

I also often take an aspirin or 2 before diving or doing any strenuous activity. This is better for blood flow and is shown to prevent heart attacks and strokes. A bit of preventative medicine is a good thing in my opinion.

Even DAN says using decongestants and other allergy medicines can be a good thing....

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/faq/faq.asp?faqid=113


John C.

Exactly. Decongestants don't suddenly wear off. This is an "old wive's (diver's) tale".

DSDO

Alan

 

[dnight]

Sudafed is your friend. Take it post-dive though, don't dive after taking it. I buy it at costco in the 3x96 tablet packages.

My first drive to 100' I had fluid retained in my right ear and was semi-deaf for a week unless I turned my headed sideways like a puzzled dog. I could hear and feel it, it was annoying as h*ll. The doc put an otoscope in and said "you've got fluid in there". My options were tubes in the eardrum or wait. I chose wait.

It took a about week to reabsorb the fluid, and I took a dose of sudafed each night to help drain it. I gave it a couple more weeks before I dove again, and have not had that problem since. It's actually been easier for me to to equalize after that incident.

 

[cast]

Have you guys ever try pouring a bit isopropyl alcohol in the ears(don't drink it ) before and after the dive? Just put it in and drain it by turn over your head. It is very easy.

The alcohol can help you clean and dry the ear. I never had any ear problem since I have been diving.

Don't take any pill unless you have to.

Sudafed is your friend. Take it post-dive though, don't dive after taking it. I buy it at costco in the 3x96 tablet packages.

My first drive to 100' I had fluid retained in my right ear and was semi-deaf for a week unless I turned my headed sideways like a puzzled dog. I could hear and feel it, it was annoying as h*ll. The doc put an otoscope in and said "you've got fluid in there". My options were tubes in the eardrum or wait. I chose wait.

It took a about week to reabsorb the fluid, and I took a dose of sudafed each night to help drain it. I gave it a couple more weeks before I dove again, and have not had that problem since. It's actually been easier for me to to equalize after that incident.

 

[Chebby]

just a warning, always eat before taking these drugs:

Aspirin + no food = gives me stomach pain

Sudafed + no food = sometimes makes me dizzy

Alcohol you cannot drink = brings tears to my eyes

speaking from experience