Hi. My husband has a lot of trouble with ear pain and equalizing while diving. He even got a couple of nosebleeds when we were diving in Hawaii a few years ago. He now refuses to go diving anymore (can't blame him) but I was hoping someone had any ideas as to what might be causing his problmes. He was not ascending or descending too quickly. He did everything by the book but was not able to go below about 20 feet. Any suggestions? Thanks
Ear pain and trouble equalizing
- Thread starter stefa
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I would say see a doc.
I agree. And it's best if you can find a doctor who is familiar with dive medicine.
DAN is a good information resource on the issue.
I also found this article on the web a while ago that I found helpful:
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~lpt/ears.htm
And here's another that I found useful at Rodale's:
http://www.scubadiving.com/article/0,7424,3-40-120-679,00.html
DAN is a good information resource on the issue.
I also found this article on the web a while ago that I found helpful:
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~lpt/ears.htm
And here's another that I found useful at Rodale's:
http://www.scubadiving.com/article/0,7424,3-40-120-679,00.html
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This has got to be the most popular subject on this fourm...
Why not try a SB Search. Click the [Search] button above on this page, then click Advanced, the run a Search for "ear." After you've read a few threads, maybe you can examine this better, and ask more specific questions...?
Why not try a SB Search. Click the [Search] button above on this page, then click Advanced, the run a Search for "ear." After you've read a few threads, maybe you can examine this better, and ask more specific questions...?
Don Burke
Contributor
If this was a first timer who was just dealing with discomfort, I would say to load up on vitamin C, get off caffeine about 24 hours before the dive, and make sure to super hydrate. Your husband is beyond that stage now.stefa:
Since he has already had nosebleeds, it is time to go to the doctor.
stefa:
I'm no doctor, and we are all different. But there was a time when I used to always end a dive with red-tainted muccous (sp) in my mask. And sometimes ear pain descending.
I worked it out (without going to a doctor) by changing a few things. First off I sart equalizing on the boat. Then often (10-15 ft) afterwards. Second, I try to keep my head above my shoulders while descending. I also think jogging has really helped my sinuses.
stefo2
Contributor
What I don't understand is, how come he obviously can equalise down to 20ft but not further down? If there was something medically wrong with his ears or sinuses, this doesn't seem to make sense. If he actually went down to 20 ft without being able to equalise properly, no wonder he was in pain and no wonder it didn't work the further he got down.
Groundhog246
Contributor
10-15 ft? I start at the surface and equalize almost every foot for ther first 10, then every couple of feet for the next 10 to 15. Start early and keep ahead of the pressure. If I went to 10 feet wothout equalizing, I'd never be able to then.lhpdiver:
To the original query. First he needs to see an ENT to rule out a blockage. My wife had some problems with swelling initially, that was quickly dealt with using a steroidal nose spray. She only needed it it for part of the first summer and now, a couple of years later has no problems equalizing at all. If the ENT clears him, then he needs to work carefully on technique. I'd suggest working on it in a pool or very shallow area. If he can master it in the 0 to 10 ft range, then he'll be good to go.
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stefo2:
It's how the problem often works for newbies. They are partially equalizing, if at all, and before they get to 20 feet, they can't stand going deeper, and they can't equalize with that much back pressure. Lots of newbies come back to the boat with red snot in their masks, but get better with time and practice. They don't get better without practice, though.
We had one newbie on the boat in Cozumel last January who came back with quite a red snot load, and when he pulled his mask off, he spread it across his forehead and bald top. The little newbie across the boat from him was a physician, but a radiologis - as she didn't like the sight of blood. Thought she was going to swoon on us. :lol:
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