Ear problem, Tinnitus & Buzzing - Never Diving Again

[Oezkan]

Only 5 days left. I'm really scared. So far I don't feel anything in my ear anymore and even the tinnitus seems to be gone. (But it maybe just was never quite enough in my room to hear it)

I just wonder about one thing and wanted to ask about your opinion

: Shall I tell the Prof. On Wednesday that I have been to another ent before and she said I can never go diving again or should I act like its my first visit. Bec. I actually wanna show him the results from the audio and tympanogram of course but in the other hand I'm afraid he will be influences and be on the side of the ent and say the same that I shouldn't go diving if an Ent said so?! (Even tho she said I can dive before and the go diving doctor said so too)

 

[lowwall]

Only 5 days left. I'm really scared. So far I don't feel anything in my ear anymore and even the tinnitus seems to be gone. (But it maybe just was never quite enough in my room to hear it)

I just wonder about one thing and wanted to ask about your opinion

: Shall I tell the Prof. On Wednesday that I have been to another ent before and she said I can never go diving again or should I act like its my first visit. Bec. I actually wanna show him the results from the audio and tympanogram of course but in the other hand I'm afraid he will be influences and be on the side of the ent and say the same that I shouldn't go diving if an Ent said so?! (Even tho she said I can dive before and the go diving doctor said so too)

Give the doc all the info you have. Those test results will be valuable in determining what happened. He'll pay far more attention to the test results and what he observes than any of the previous diagnoses.

 

[Scraps]

Only 5 days left. I'm really scared. So far I don't feel anything in my ear anymore and even the tinnitus seems to be gone. (But it maybe just was never quite enough in my room to hear it)

I just wonder about one thing and wanted to ask about your opinion

: Shall I tell the Prof. On Wednesday that I have been to another ent before and she said I can never go diving again or should I act like its my first visit. Bec. I actually wanna show him the results from the audio and tympanogram of course but in the other hand I'm afraid he will be influences and be on the side of the ent and say the same that I shouldn't go diving if an Ent said so?! (Even tho she said I can dive before and the go diving doctor said so too)

Give the doctor all the info available.

That way, If you later choose to disregard what he says, you’ll know you’re ignoring the best advice you could get.

Seriously, I hope you get good news, recover fully, and are able to resume diving safely.

Best wishes,

 

[Chris Ross]

Only 5 days left. I'm really scared. So far I don't feel anything in my ear anymore and even the tinnitus seems to be gone. (But it maybe just was never quite enough in my room to hear it)

I just wonder about one thing and wanted to ask about your opinion

: Shall I tell the Prof. On Wednesday that I have been to another ent before and she said I can never go diving again or should I act like its my first visit. Bec. I actually wanna show him the results from the audio and tympanogram of course but in the other hand I'm afraid he will be influences and be on the side of the ent and say the same that I shouldn't go diving if an Ent said so?! (Even tho she said I can dive before and the go diving doctor said so too)

Just tell him you are there for a second opinion and of course give home all the test results.

 

[Duke Dive Medicine]

Only 5 days left. I'm really scared. So far I don't feel anything in my ear anymore and even the tinnitus seems to be gone. (But it maybe just was never quite enough in my room to hear it)

I just wonder about one thing and wanted to ask about your opinion

: Shall I tell the Prof. On Wednesday that I have been to another ent before and she said I can never go diving again or should I act like its my first visit. Bec. I actually wanna show him the results from the audio and tympanogram of course but in the other hand I'm afraid he will be influences and be on the side of the ent and say the same that I shouldn't go diving if an Ent said so?! (Even tho she said I can dive before and the go diving doctor said so too)

I concur with the other posters in that you should furnish this ENT with all the medical information you have. As to whether to tell him about the previous ENT's opinion, I would be honest with him. You can make it clear that you're there for a second opinion, and make sure that he has all of the information that the first ENT did when she evaluated you. It's encouraging that you aren't experiencing any more tinnitus.

Best regards,
DDM

 

[Oezkan]

Hi Guys. I had my appointment with the Prof. Ent now. I gave him all Information very detailed also the ones from the 1st Ent including the Audio and tympanogram.

He checked my ear with a camera and went deeper inside to photograph everything. He also checked my tests I gave him from the 1st ent.

The good thing is he said I don't need to end my diving career most likely as my ear looks alright. But it might need some treatment first.

I only have scars in the left ear (recent hole) and my left ear canal or something (didn't get it 100%) is a little bit tight which is why equalizing is maybe a little bit more difficult.

1. I am taking 2x daily nasonex Allergy for congestion and another Pills 2 hours before the dive (which is also I think to open everything from congestion not sure). And in only 1-2 weeks if my 2nd audiogram and tympanogram is good, I need to do a test diving - considering I didn't dive for 6 weeks by then and taking the "medicine" it is likely to work already!

2. If it doesn't work - or if I want to make sure even if the diving works without symptoms he will do a balloon dilation to expand my ear making equalizing easier.

3. If even that doesn't work he can give me a surgery (dont ask me what because I didn't understand) to make the scars stronger or something because this could be the weak spot. But the surgery has a risk of hearing Loss and rupture in the ear.

He said that step 3 will be very likely not needed.

Good news but I don't know how I feel. I am happy he didn't say I have to stop diving and maybe next week when I finally go diving again everything will be already good working. But knowing the scar Could be a weak spot doesn't feel good either.

Let's see. I'll go diving next week or the week after.

 

[Oezkan]

Don't know how to edit my post. But he said I got a middle ear barotrauma which also included a small inner ear trauma.

 

[Oezkan]

And I thought inner ear Barotrauma is a reason not to dive again but it doest seem so?!

 

[Duke Dive Medicine]

And I thought inner ear Barotrauma is a reason not to dive again but it doest seem so?!

It depends. If the inner ear barotrauma involves a fistula (tear) and the diver is left with permanent damage to the inner ear that the opposite inner ear apparatus then has to compensate for, then the recommendation is to stop diving. A non-fistulating inner ear barotrauma would be a little different and would focus more on preventing the injury again, which is probably why your ENT is considering balloon tuboplasty if you have difficulty with your test dives.

Best regards,
DDM

 

[Oezkan]

Hey guys. Just wanted to update. I've been diving yesterday 2 times. The dive was good and I had no symptoms during or after the dive. So it looks like I gonna start the diving study soon as the Prof. Ent said if I have no symptoms I'm fine.

The only thing I realised is that I need to equalize my left ear more often then the right one. I gonna call the ent Tuesday and ask if that's OK and if he recommend the balloon dilation nevertheless.

But I'm very happy now I can follow my dream and dont need to give up diving.