Ear problem! plz help!

[TSandM]

Persistent sloshing sounds, clicking and muffled hearing are RARELY due to water in the external ear canal. In the majority of cases, such water can quickly be cleared, simply by putting the affected ear down and manipulating the pinna (the external part of the ear). When the symptoms are persistent over days, it's almost always due to fluid in the MIDDLE ear, caused by barotrauma. And I'd be extremely suspicious that that is what has happened here, both because you are a novice and because you made the statement that you were blowing very hard. Equalizing, when done properly, should require very little pressure or effort.

You might benefit from watching THIS video, and reading THIS piece on equalization techniques.

Treatment of barotrauma is mostly time. Some ENT physicians recommend the use of decongestants like Sudafed or Afrin for a few days (assuming you have no contraindications to such medicines), and there is some anecdotal evidence that the use of antiinflammatories like ibuprofen may be helpful, but mostly it's just tincture of time.

 

[Zosimus]

I too am having a weird ear experience. 3 weeks ago I dove several dives in one day. No limits were push and I was no deeper than 35ft at all times. I had no problem clearing my ears that day. The next day I started to notice some clicking in my ear. Well, more like really small "pops" I should say and they always came in pairs. Anytime I do anything that causes a pressure change in my sinuses (hick-up, burp, sneeze, cough, even swallow sometimes) I can hear and feel what seems to be my ear drum pop out then back in. It's less than a second between "pops". Like if i sneeze, right when my body contracts it pops, then after it is gone and my body relaxes it pops back. Since there is no pain I figured I may have just irritated my ear drum some when diving. It has been 3 weeks and it is still doing it. I even went diving again 2 days ago, and I was worried that it might keep me from diving but it didn't bother me at all. Has anyone else experienced this?

 

[K_girl]

I had this same problem crop up on me a couple of years ago. The more dives I did, the more difficult it gets to get the water out of the ear and the water would be there for weeks. I never had any problem equalizing. I tried "the solution" with no help in sight. I now have several weapons in my arsenal that work very effectively:

Doc's Pro Plugs: Doc's Proplugs: The Doctor's Choice for Ear Protection (these are also great for those having trouble equalizing)

and Dry Ear: Buy a Mack's Ear Dryer today

I use the ear dryer between every dive.

Most of the time, these two weapons really do the job, but if you feel soreness starting to occur in your ear and the ear is not draining, it probably means an infection is starting. I've desperately tried the vinegar and alcohol solutions. It helps for short trips, but if you are diving 3 to 4 times a day for a 4-day trip or longer, this begins to lose its effectiveness. I have two prescriptions that I use to stop ear infections and reduce pain. Both are ear drops:

Neomycin/Polymyxin - to stop the infection.

Antipyrine/Benzocaine - to ease the pain.

Hope this helps. I love to dive and I didn't want my ears to stop me, so I found a way and this works for me!

 

[DiveTheGalapagos]

I have developed major ear problems this year as the result of blowing mucous into my eustachian tubes back in January. Though I went to an ear specialist for 6 different visits (and way too many expensive tests), I still have problems. I'm going to go a couple of months without diving. I bought the Pro Ear Mask, but never go used to it last time and didn't use it. Wish I had. I know I blew too hard in July, but there were about 50 hammerheads below I just couldn't miss. Maybe my infection has been there for months, wrong diagnosis. I kept going and they kept saying, "You're fine" even though I said, "No, not really." We shall see what happens. Think I'm about to head to my 3rd specialist. Have bad tinnitis now, too.

Since I'm in Ecuador, we can't buy fancy things like the ear dryer, however, in the Galapagos, there are two home remedies we use at the end of the diving day. 1) Roll a double fold of newspaper into a cone, stick the small end of the funnel into your ear and light the large end. The fire draws out the water. 2) A visitor from Mexico came up with something simpler: Light a cigarette and stick it in your ear. I was surprised by how effective this turned out to be. You can feel it pulling the water out. Just be careful you don't burn your ear as it gets low.

 

[JenCell]

Since I'm in Ecuador, we can't buy fancy things like the ear dryer, however, in the Galapagos, there are two home remedies we use at the end of the diving day. 1) Roll a double fold of newspaper into a cone, stick the small end of the funnel into your ear and light the large end. The fire draws out the water. 2) A visitor from Mexico came up with something simpler: Light a cigarette and stick it in your ear. I was surprised by how effective this turned out to be. You can feel it pulling the water out. Just be careful you don't burn your ear as it gets low.[/QUOTE]

wow...must be dangerous to burn ourselves with this method...no?? first time I hear that.

 

[tlt]

for water in the EAR

This is our "home remedy" which we use is rubbing alcohol or isopropyl alcohol. This can be poured into the ear by someone, while you keep your ear "up" by turning your head to the side and lean over (ear up) and then your about a screw top full into the ear. Gently tug on the ear lobe, and work it it. Watch for bubbles to come out. Once the bubbles stop, turn your ear down, and let the alcohol run out. Repeat on the other ear if needed. Repeat once a day as needed. We have used this method for years, as it was handy to keep a small bottle of it on the boat.

For an ear ache
Use garlic willow oil, which you can possibly find in a health food store. You warm it up slightly and then put several drops in the ear.

 

[TSandM]

1) Roll a double fold of newspaper into a cone, stick the small end of the funnel into your ear and light the large end. The fire draws out the water. 2) A visitor from Mexico came up with something simpler: Light a cigarette and stick it in your ear.

Almost certainly, the fire has nothing to do with the effect. The material of the newspaper or the cigarette is porous and absorbs the water, acting like a wick. You can achieve the same thing with a bit of rolled toilet paper, which is softer and less likely to cause issues.

Isopropyl alcohol alone is too drying for a lot of people, and may actually increase external auditory canal irritation if used repeatedly.

 

[mbwilliamn]

I went to scuba dive for my first time, to 18 feet deep, I was paranoid about equalizing so Its the only thing I kept doing even when surfacing (I know i'm stupid) , and now I feel like I might have water stuck, it does not feel like I have anywater stuck do, it feels like my ear drums are heavier, and when I swallow I can hear "click" wich sounds like water to me, I listened to music full blast with my headsets on earlier today and noticed water on the side of my ear... any1 knows how Im suposed to fix this ? my hearing is still 100% on quality (atleast seems to be).

OK first remember "Never Blow Yourself UP" That means no blowing to clear as you ascend.

You should have a Doc look at your ears before you try to dive again. It's possible you have ruptured your eardrums. If not, you have at least stressed them so give a good rest before diving again.

Finally, Clicking and popping is very common (not the loss of hearing) especially if you have "sticky ears". Make sure the water is out of your ears (Alcohol, vinegar and water in equal parts).

Next time you dive try clearing using the following technique: Pretend you are holding a large strawberry in your mouth. Hold your nose and blow slightly. Now "crush" the strawberry against the roof of your mouth with your tongue and bite down at the same time. Its VERY powerful, but very controlled. Good Luck!

 

[culb3977]

My wife has experienced similar issues. We had to postpone her final check-off dives due to ear issues. She is certified now though. Her issues stemmed from too forceful and too frequent attempts to equalize. After trying every home remedy in the book, she went to an ENT and it was determined that she had irritated her inner ear and eustachian tubes. She was given a nasal spray and it cleared up in 48 hours.

 

[JenCell]

OK first remember "Never Blow Yourself UP" That means no blowing to clear as you ascend.

You should have a Doc look at your ears before you try to dive again. It's possible you have ruptured your eardrums. If not, you have at least stressed them so give a good rest before diving again.

Finally, Clicking and popping is very common (not the loss of hearing) especially if you have "sticky ears". Make sure the water is out of your ears (Alcohol, vinegar and water in equal parts).

Next time you dive try clearing using the following technique: Pretend you are holding a large strawberry in your mouth. Hold your nose and blow slightly. Now "crush" the strawberry against the roof of your mouth with your tongue and bite down at the same time. Its VERY powerful, but very controlled. Good Luck!

thanks for this technique, it works very well, I had trouble with one ear, it seems to work perfectly...!!