Ear Issues

[spage]

I am trying to get my open water certification, but am having a few problems with equalizing.
I did my first two open water dives back in early september. My ears were slow to equalize from the get-go but I was taking my time and it didn't seem like a big deal. The first dive went fine, on the second I came up a bit too fast and suffered a reverse block. I didn't come up any faster than the other divers, just too fast for my ears I guess. I went to the doctor and he told me to wait at least 10 days before I dove again (there was some bleeding in my ear) and gave my some nasal spray.
I went out with my DM earlier tonight to do my last two open water dives. It took me 10 minutes to equalize my ears to get to 15 feet, we came up again and it took me 15 minutes going up. I was probably being overly cautious because of last time, but I still had problems. I am perfectly healthy, no cold, no congestion.
As it stands now I would burst my ear drums if I had to do an emergency assent... even from 15 feet. DM thinks that I just have very tiny eustachian tubes and that I should just sit tight and hope that I'm not done growing (I'm 18) and they widen in time.
I plan on seeing a doctor about this, but I am wondering if it is something that is common, if anyone else knows what might be going on or how it fix it?
I really don't want my diving career to be over before it even started.

 

[doctormike]

I am trying to get my open water certification, but am having a few problems with equalizing.
I did my first two open water dives back in early september. My ears were slow to equalize from the get-go but I was taking my time and it didn't seem like a big deal. The first dive went fine, on the second I came up a bit too fast and suffered a reverse block. I didn't come up any faster than the other divers, just too fast for my ears I guess. I went to the doctor and he told me to wait at least 10 days before I dove again (there was some bleeding in my ear) and gave my some nasal spray.
I went out with my DM earlier tonight to do my last two open water dives. It took me 10 minutes to equalize my ears to get to 15 feet, we came up again and it took me 15 minutes going up. I was probably being overly cautious because of last time, but I still had problems. I am perfectly healthy, no cold, no congestion.
As it stands now I would burst my ear drums if I had to do an emergency assent... even from 15 feet. DM thinks that I just have very tiny eustachian tubes and that I should just sit tight and hope that I'm not done growing (I'm 18) and they widen in time.
I plan on seeing a doctor about this, but I am wondering if it is something that is common, if anyone else knows what might be going on or how it fix it?
I really don't want my diving career to be over before it even started.

Hey, Spage... thanks for writing and welcome to diving!

If you are 18, your Eustachian tubes are not going to grow any more. While it is true that some people have such difficulties with ear ventilation that they just can't dive, that is actually pretty rare. More commonly, they just haven't gotten the hang of equalization yet. I have known some excellent divers with poor ET function, and they manage by frequent, early equalization, slow descents and medical optimization.

Watch this video, go slow, practice in a pool, and see an ENT doctor before writing off a diving career...

Best,

Mike

 

[cooldives]

Besides the good advice from Dr. Mike, something I learned that helped me was to scoop a handful of water and 'breathe in' or inhale a little of the water you were about to dive in, about 5 minutes before you dive. Even though you aren't congested, give it a shot - maybe it will help?

If that doesn't work and nothing else is successful, PM me and I'll tell you about a health supplement I use that may help?

Good luck.