Dove with blocked ear...passed out 6 hrs later!?

[zimm]

I dove while still recovering from a cold. My right ear wouldn't clear so I stayed around 7ft which was the max pressure that was comfortable. I did squeeze it pretty hard on one excursion to 17ft, but came right back up. During the 40 minute dive, I repeatedly tried clearing my ears by holding my nose and blowing really hard. After the dive, floating on the surface, my ear finally cleared. I went down to 25 feet clearing the entire way to pick up a dropped snorkel for someone with no problems.

6 hours later at dinner my right ear felt like it had some pressure, so I pinched my nose and blew. The left ear "popped" like normal, then the right ear squeaked a little air, then I felt a steady slow stream of air along with a "whoooooosh". I thought air was steadily excaping my ear like I blew out my eardrum and then I got really dizzy. After 5 minutes of dizziness, I passed out for 10 seconds (according to friends) then came to. I went to the hospital to get it checked and they couldn't see any perferation to the ear drum, but it was full of fluid and blood. They gave me anti-biotics and sent me on my way.

What happened? How long should I wait to dive again? I thought I had perforated my ear, but maybe the air was going somewhere else. Is it normal to get dizzy and pass out like that?

 

[DivingGal]

Getting dizzy and passing out is not normal!

Get checked out by a Diving MD -- check with DAN ASAP please.

Personnally I would not have gone diving unless I could equalize in normal conditions. Limiting myself to 7ft is not normal, so I would not have gone diving.

 

[The Chairman]

The outer ear drum is not the only area that can rupture. The oval window on the cochlea is also subject to rupture especially on a long and hard valsalva manuever. You see, your blood pressure rises with depth... and your blood pressure also rises with the valsalva manuever. The two together can pop out that oval window with the resultant fluid in the ear.

When to dive? Can you ever dive again??? Not for me to answer... you need a specialist to examine you to answer those questions. Somehow, I am sure an ENT will be able to actually isolate what you injured and provide the proper Rx. Hey, I am not even a real doctor... I just make sick networks better.

 

[chepar]

Yikes! I would not do ANY diving until you get checked out by and ENT, as has been suggested.

I see you're in Kailua, and am guessing from your profile you're stationed at K-Bay - you should be able to get a good reference pretty easily. If not, call DAN. Hope it's nothing serious.

By the way, a belated welcome to the Board. It's good seeing another person from Hawaii here - we seem to be few and far between.

 

[jbd]

hit the nail on the head IMHO. You need to see an ENT for further evaluation. Good luck.