Ear Pain 40ft

[kwolfe105]

I had my first open water dive last weekend. On descent the pain in my left ear was terrible and I had to stop my descent and wait for 3 minutes for it to equalize. Then I was able to continue with the class. Is there anything I can do for an ear that is slow to equalize. Seems if I have sinus trouble it is always on my left side and affects that ear. I went to the hospital and they found an infection in my ear and a little blood behind the ear drum but did not see any perferation. What should be my next step because it was a blast diving except for that one problem.

 

[sharkattack]

I had my first open water dive last weekend. On descent the pain in my left ear was terrible and I had to stop my descent and wait for 3 minutes for it to equalize. Then I was able to continue with the class. Is there anything I can do for an ear that is slow to equalize. Seems if I have sinus trouble it is always on my left side and affects that ear. I went to the hospital and they found an infection in my ear and a little blood behind the ear drum but did not see any perferation. What should be my next step because it was a blast diving except for that one problem.

Get over the infection first. Try again. Descend slowly, do not cause discomfort. Equalize at your own pace. Try wiggling your lower jaw side to side while pinching and blowing. Just take it easy and don't force it. Oh, and don't dive with a sinus infection. If you absolutly have to dive with a sinus infection..... Try some distilled water, sea salt, and baking soda. Put that in one of those baby nose turkey baster things (used to suck out snot) Fill that bad boy up and shoot that stuff up into your nose while snorting it. Both nostrials. Let it drain out. It will clear out those sinuses real good. This was recommended to my wife by a Dr. Works good but it doesn't feel to good when doing it.

 

[fishoutawater]

Maybe take some Allegra D or something before the dive. Equalize early and often. That means equalizing several times before you even get on the boat. Again, while your suiting up, again in the water just before you descend, and several more times on the way down. Often, as in do it right now as you read this. Make your eustation tubes get used to the idea.

 

[Scuba St3ve]

You could always try a decongestant. I know your not soposto but iv never had any problems. Use a 12 hour so Its not ganna were out on you. Im not a doc so try it at your own risk.

 

[Scuba St3ve]

Equalize before you fell the pain in your ears.

 

[builder2000]

I had similar problems when I first dove and one of my buddy's still has the problem. the trick is to equalize before you feel any discomfort. You will feel the most pressure on your sinuses in the first 20-25 ft. Try to go down 3 ft then equalize. go another 2-3 ft and do it again. follow this and take your time. It is better to do it and waste some time but still enjoy diving than to have to abort the dive. Do not get discouraged by the experience most of us have that problem in the beginning.

 

[ScubaTony]

Make sure you never descend if it hurts and don't equalize forcefully. It often helps to move up and down 3-5 feet if you are having trouble and keep blowing gently the whole time. Of course the jaw wiggle and neck stretch are also a big help. If you force it you can do damage and once the damage is done it takes a few weeks to heel up properly. If it hurts, stop, ascend and try again. If it really hurts bad, get out of the water, becuase you can do a lot of damage if you can't get equalized properly. The fact that you made it down to 40 ft means you were equalizing some but it should not hurt.

 

[Ber Rabbit]

Tips:
Give your ear time to heal before you dive again.
After the ear infection is gone practice clearing your ears on land regularly. Do this in the car, at work, at home. Like fishoutawater said, your ears will benefit from the practice.
Clear your ears "early and often" like the others said. This means when you get out of bed on dive day, on the way to the dive site, at the dive site, after you suit up, right before you get in the water, right before you descend, immediately after your head goes under the water and, until you ears get used to the idea clear them every 2-4 feet during your descent. Again your ears will benefit from the practice.
A common problem I see with my students who have problems clearing is they are continuing to sink while they try to clear. Until you get your buoyancy control down it will help if you descend holding onto a line so you can stop your descent to clear your ears. If you continue sinking you increase the pressure and it will be impossible to get your ears to clear.
You should not wait until you feel pain before trying to equalize, it's too late then. Equalize when you feel the first bit of pressure and make sure you don't continue your descent until your ears clear. If they won't clear after the first attempt move up the line a foot or so and try again, continue this cycle (attempt to clear, move up a foot) until your ears do clear then descend again, slowly.
Ears that are slow to clear are not unusual. I have found that stretching the offending ear toward the sky while I attempt to clear often helps--looks ridiculous but it helps
Do not force your ears to clear.
Let your buddy's know you have difficulty clearing.

This isn't an unusual problem. It may take a lot of time, clearing practice and DIVING (yeah!) to get your ears acclimated to your new sport. I used to have to clear 3 times in a 14-foot deep swimming pool, now I only need to clear once
Good luck!
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[Andrew Richardson]

Absolutely don't dive until the ears are sorted out and don't take drugs!!!!!!. Find a Doctor who knows about diving. Don't go to your run of the mill GP - in my experience they don't know anything about ears and diving.

I did my OW in Feb '06. A week after the pool session, I went swimming with the kids. Free dove to the bottom (12') had a painful squeeze & blew out under pressure. I actually did this several times. I now know that I was wrong.

Symptoms of middle ear barotrauma (MEBT) can be really horrible and if you damage the inner ear life altering. Take no chances.

I took me a long while to find a doctor (DAN referral in the end). He referred me to an ENT who said there was no long term damage and it would heal. I did not go back to the first doctor until Jul because it was getting better slowly.

Hey - here's the point - he recognized I have allergies and put me on nasal sprays. I saw him again last week & I am healed & cleared to dive.

New divers should not, IMHO, ever take any over the counter drugs. The way we react to underwater & the dangers are just too unknown. If you have ear problems, see the doctor. If he tells you you are wasting his time - c'est la vie.

If you want more details - check other posts I have made or contact me.

 

[reefugee]

Kwolfe -

A lot of great advice has already been given. Just want to give you a word of encouragement. Equalizing does get easier with experience. On my first OW dive, I had difficulty equalizing - partially because because I had problem stay neutrally bouyant, and was sinking while trying to equalize. But by my third OW dive, equalizing came quite easy for me.

Minh