I did a fairly routine and easy shore dive yesterday. Upon descent to a sandy bottom at 15 fsw, however, I couldnt clear my left ear (first time ever that I couldnt clear). There was a mild ache, but nothing sharp or unbearable. Rather, I would describe it as a discomfort. After holding my nose and blowing rather hard several times, I still couldnt clear. I finally gave the thumbs up signal, and my buddies and I all went up.
It was an easy clear at the surface. We regrouped and redescended. This time I tried clearing right away and often and was able to clear all the way to the bottom.
We proceeded with the dive, and the rest of the dive was normal and uneventful. On the return trip, we stayed underwater and performed a routine, slow ascent from 12 fsw sandy bottom. Once at the surface, as a routine, I cleared my throat and split out some phlegm. But I immediately noticed that it was pinkish, indicative of phlegm mixed with some blood. I did it the second time to confirm, and again, there was a bit of blood. However, I felt fine, and so did my left ear (it also felt normal throughout the dive). I checked my left ear for blood; there was none. No feeling of vertigo, no loss or reduced hearing, nothing out of the ordinary.
After exit, I cleared my throat again and looked for blood. There was none. Whatever it was, it was gone. I felt fine despite the bloody phlegm, and I feel fine today. No residual ache, hearing from left ear (and right ear) is normal. Everything seems normal.
Questions:
1) Does anyone know if the blood in phlegm is related/caused by my inability and attempts to clear my left ear?
2) Any guesses on the cause of the blood in phlegm, whether or not its related to the ear clearing issue?
It was an easy clear at the surface. We regrouped and redescended. This time I tried clearing right away and often and was able to clear all the way to the bottom.
We proceeded with the dive, and the rest of the dive was normal and uneventful. On the return trip, we stayed underwater and performed a routine, slow ascent from 12 fsw sandy bottom. Once at the surface, as a routine, I cleared my throat and split out some phlegm. But I immediately noticed that it was pinkish, indicative of phlegm mixed with some blood. I did it the second time to confirm, and again, there was a bit of blood. However, I felt fine, and so did my left ear (it also felt normal throughout the dive). I checked my left ear for blood; there was none. No feeling of vertigo, no loss or reduced hearing, nothing out of the ordinary.
After exit, I cleared my throat again and looked for blood. There was none. Whatever it was, it was gone. I felt fine despite the bloody phlegm, and I feel fine today. No residual ache, hearing from left ear (and right ear) is normal. Everything seems normal.
Questions:
1) Does anyone know if the blood in phlegm is related/caused by my inability and attempts to clear my left ear?
2) Any guesses on the cause of the blood in phlegm, whether or not its related to the ear clearing issue?
