Hi y'all! I am hoping I can get some advice on what all I can do to lessen my ear issues while diving.
A little history: I've never generally had a problem equalizing on my descents but I do tend to get reverse blocks easily. For that reason I try to make both my descents and ascents slow and I equalize every few breaths. I have managed to perforate my eardrum on three of my four dive trips (when I got certified in 2011, in February 2013, and again on February 23rd of this year). I used to take Sudafed, but I think that was part of the problem so I no longer use any kind of decongestants while diving (I did not take anything other than nausea meds while on the latest trip).
On the latest trip, on my first dive Sunday morning I noticed my ears getting mildly difficult to equalize towards the end of the dive. There was a mild current and we were moving up and down in the water, so I called the dive and got back on the boat. I switched over my gear to my second tank while we moved locations on the reef. When I jumped in for the second dive, my guess is that I didn't have enough air in my bcd so I sank several feet rapidly before coming back up to the surface. Upon return to the surface I knew immediately I had put a hole in my eardrum. My ear was very painful and the world was spinning. I got back on the boat and didn't dive the rest of my trip.
My questions are these:
1. I plan on going on the Invasion at the end of April. The ENT today said I should be able to go, but he has no dive medicine experience. Is it a realistic goal to be able to go on the trip?
2. What might I be able to do to lessen my risk of having equalization issues? I have been told about Doc's Proplugs... has anyone used them? Should I give them a try?
3. I was supposed to complete my AOW on this past trip, but due to several issues, my ear being only one of those, I was unable to do so. I am hoping to finish my AOW in Roatan. Are deep dives reasonable/possible given my history?
I doubt I provided all the needed info, if you need clarification please let me know and I will be more than happy to answer any questions! Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide!
A little history: I've never generally had a problem equalizing on my descents but I do tend to get reverse blocks easily. For that reason I try to make both my descents and ascents slow and I equalize every few breaths. I have managed to perforate my eardrum on three of my four dive trips (when I got certified in 2011, in February 2013, and again on February 23rd of this year). I used to take Sudafed, but I think that was part of the problem so I no longer use any kind of decongestants while diving (I did not take anything other than nausea meds while on the latest trip).
On the latest trip, on my first dive Sunday morning I noticed my ears getting mildly difficult to equalize towards the end of the dive. There was a mild current and we were moving up and down in the water, so I called the dive and got back on the boat. I switched over my gear to my second tank while we moved locations on the reef. When I jumped in for the second dive, my guess is that I didn't have enough air in my bcd so I sank several feet rapidly before coming back up to the surface. Upon return to the surface I knew immediately I had put a hole in my eardrum. My ear was very painful and the world was spinning. I got back on the boat and didn't dive the rest of my trip.
My questions are these:
1. I plan on going on the Invasion at the end of April. The ENT today said I should be able to go, but he has no dive medicine experience. Is it a realistic goal to be able to go on the trip?
2. What might I be able to do to lessen my risk of having equalization issues? I have been told about Doc's Proplugs... has anyone used them? Should I give them a try?
3. I was supposed to complete my AOW on this past trip, but due to several issues, my ear being only one of those, I was unable to do so. I am hoping to finish my AOW in Roatan. Are deep dives reasonable/possible given my history?
I doubt I provided all the needed info, if you need clarification please let me know and I will be more than happy to answer any questions! Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide!
