Ear pain...Should I take the plunge?

[reefugee]

Something that the OP wrote really bugged me. He said that if he "dive to the bottom of my pool or drive up/down the mountains I am almost brought to tears." It's normal for people to get ear pain when diving down to the bottom of the pool. However, it bothers me the driving up/down a mountain is painful for him. I have known people with ear problem - but no one have ever told me that driving up and down a mountain is painful. It seems to indicate to me that the OP is much more sensitive to pressure change than most people. I would strongly recommend that the OP goes see a ENT specialist before diving.

Minh

 

[plot]

Something that the OP wrote really bugged me. He said that if he "dive to the bottom of my pool or drive up/down the mountains I am almost brought to tears." It's normal for people to get ear pain when diving down to the bottom of the pool. However, it bothers me the driving up/down a mountain is painful for him. I have known people with ear problem - but no one have ever told me that driving up and down a mountain is painful. It seems to indicate to me that the OP is much more sensitive to pressure change than most people. I would strongly recommend that the OP goes see a ENT specialist before diving.

Minh

When I went to the top of the Sears tower to the observation deck on the 100th floor or whatever it was, a few people had ear pains from the elevator right and were told to pop their ears or stretch there jaws or chew gum to get through it. It's not all that uncommon for people to have ear problems on airplanes too... they simply don't know how to eqaulize or arn't doing it right. So I can see it happening on a mountain if the elevation changes happen quick and are drastic.

 

[reefugee]

Plot -

You could be correct. But very few mountains ascend or descend as fast as an elevator or an airplane. I still strongly recommend that the OP goes see an ENT before diving if he is that sensitive to altitude changes when going up and down a mountain. Better safe than sorry.

Minh

 

[Tigerman]

Plot -

You could be correct. But very few mountains ascend or descend as fast as an elevator or an airplane. I still strongly recommend that the OP goes see an ENT before diving if he is that sensitive to altitude changes when going up and down a mountain. Better safe than sorry.

Minh

Actually, near my home town there is this little mountain that I need to ascend or descend rather frequently. Its 450 meters (~1475 feet) hight difference from top to bottomn and Id say driving up or down take 5 minutes tops. Theres time when I feel that pretty well in my ears if I dont clear and it can be both going up and down.. Weird maybe, but living in the middle of the mountains, I wasnt old when I got used to clearing on ascents and descents..

 

[reefugee]

I guess I am lucky that I haven't driven any mountain like that. That's just an insane.

Minh

 

[sonnyt]

i have had the same problem with my left ear

my best bet was to see an e n t and i did .my problem was my tube it gets a bit swollen now and then and doesnt drain properly

so he gave me some medicine for it .
now when i go to equalize i take my time .
and i usually take sudafed a half an hour before i dive . works for me
so just get the ear checked and go from there .the last thing you want to do is burst
an ear drum

hope this helps
sonnyt

 

[cummings66]

First I'll make the distinction of saying I don't get "pain" but I will feel the start of it by diving to the bottom of a 8 foot pool if I don't equalize. I also feel the same feeling by driving down a 100 foot hill, I equalize often and have done so since way before I was a diver.

I have allergies to boot so I'm well aware of what happens during season, that said I'm a diver.

There are many ways for a person with minor issues to dive, the doctor's will generally work with you to get you where you need to be and training will finish that off. I don't think anybody would be totally ruled out due to the issue you have. However, you may have limitations. For me the second dive must have a slower descent until I get to about 25 feet, then I'm good to go. My first dive is normal compared to everybody else.

My reaction to the OP is to visit an ENT for a checkup and if cleared go for lessons, if not see what the ENT suggests he do in order to dive. It's not always a black or white issue with ears, there can be medical problems that need fixing.

 

[mbitton]

Thank you all for the replies...you have an amazing community here.

The mountain I was refering to is the city of Jerusalem which is 2,500 feet above sea level. I dont get pain but I feel it getting "closed" and cant really hear normally.

I am going to ask around at the dive shops for a doctor who is also a diver. Hopefully he can steer me in the right direction.

Thank you guys so much for the replies....keep them comming!

 

[fisherdvm]

Your original post suggested "pain which brings tear" while driving up a mountain or diving down to bottom of a pool.

If your mountain is 3000 ft high, the drop in barometric pressure is only 10%.

If you dove to 10 ft deep, that pressure increase is only about 30%.

Now if you were to ascend from 90 ft to the surface, that would be 300% decrease, or dove from surface to 30 ft, that would almost be a 100% increase.

There are extensive posting on the use of sudafed, antihistamines, and nasal decongestants... The right combination might work for you... But all it takes is one traumatic barotrauma, and you might have chronic to permanent ear damage.

Take care of your ears, they have to last you a lifetime.

 

[Tigerman]

Your original post suggested "pain which brings tear" while driving up a mountain or diving down to bottom of a pool.

If your mountain is 3000 ft high, the drop in barometric pressure is only 10%.

If you dove to 10 ft deep, that pressure increase is only about 30%.

Now if you were to ascend from 90 ft to the surface, that would be 300% decrease, or dove from surface to 30 ft, that would almost be a 100% increase.

There are extensive posting on the use of sudafed, antihistamines, and nasal decongestants... The right combination might work for you... But all it takes is one traumatic barotrauma, and you might have chronic to permanent ear damage.

Take care of your ears, they have to last you a lifetime.

Hey theres always subtitles and sign language as well as reading lips?