Ear injury?

[jonesbf]

I'm new to diving and new to this board. I've read a few posts, but my main reason for visiting is an issue I'm having with my ears.

I just got my open water cert last weekend. We had two days of diving (6 dives total) maxing out at 46'. I noticed a persistent fullness feeling and muffled hearing in my right ear after the first dive. This continued to the second day of diving and went on to include my left ear. I had some trouble equalizing my ears at about 20' and then again at 40'. Each time I felt pain, I rose slightly and tried equalizing again. Eventually they would equalize and I continued the dive. Now I read all sorts of things about how the equalization could actually have been the tearing of membranes in my ears. I used both passive (swallowing) and active (blowing against my pinched nostrils) as equalization techniques. It has been 3 days since my last dive and my ears really don't feel any better. My hearning is still muffled. When I swallow, I can hear popping similar to when you have a head cold. I don't hear any movement like water when I tilt my head from side to side or front to back. Is it time to go to the doc? Should I try to wait it out a while longer? Will waiting only make things worse?

Thanks

 

[jdcpa]

Time to go see the Doc. Don't take these things too lightly.

 

[TSandM]

Quite likely you have some barotrauma to the middle ear. The difficulty in equalization has at least resulted in a collection of fluid behind the eardrum. It would not be unreasonable to have somebody take a look and see what is going on. If you develop pain in the ear, infection is likely to have supervened, and evaluation becomes more urgent.

 

[Lightning Fish]

Check out this video: http://faculty.washington.edu/ekay/index.html, "The Diver's Ear - Under Pressure"

It is an hour long, but well worth watching. One of the questions that is often asked on this board is answered towards the end of the video.

Bill.

 

[trigfunctions]

Go to an ENT that knows about diving injuries ASAP. You may need medicine to heal the injury.

 

[jonesbf]

I have an appointment with the ENT tomorrow morning. Praying for good news.

 

[jonesbf]

Just saw the ENT. He said I had some blood behind my eardrums, but nothing serious. My hearing tests came back fine. He said the fullness feeling should resolve on its own and that I was good to dive again after that. He suggested better and more frequent equalizing on the way down. I'll be taking notes on the "The Diver's Ear - Under Pressure" video.

 

[trigfunctions]

Good news!

 

[Ed Jackson1]

It sounds like you had blood/fluid collection due to the vacum created by insufficient equalization and not by rupture. Is that correct? Just curious if the ENT commented on that.

 

[myrddin]

This is the same problem I have every time I dive, So it would seem that:
1 I am not equalizing right or frequent enough.
or
2 For some odd reason I am not able to equalize....

I also went to See an ENT who gave me just about the same info, he did ask me if I had sinus trouble or allergy's.. I was unsure at the time so he said he would start me on some allergy medicine (nose spray) and told me to try afrin before I dive. Well after I thought about it, I'm sure I have never had allergy's but I do have frequent sinus trouble... so I should have said something.

I have a huge investment into scuba and I love it 100% However I do not want to ruin my hearing because of something I'm not doing right or the fact that I am unable to clear because of sinus troubles. Can any of you medical people tell me what i can take that will help so I do not end up like this or can someone give me some help on what I can do to perfect the equalization methods?? I don't see how I could do it any different and I try as I enter the water and about every 3-5 feet, I think its more that its harder for me to equalize that most....

Another thing, sometimes I have to pinch the nose and blow real hard to get them to pop or clear... it almost sounds as if air comes out my ears... does that sound right?

And last of all the worst part is when I do more than one dive (going up and down) I guess because of the change in depth.

Any help or thoughts?
Mike