Ear problems, and more!

[blorkiemom]

I just finished my OW certification (4 dives in two days, none deeper than 25 feet) and had a whole series of problems. I've done some searches and see that nothing I experienced is unusual in itself, but I wonder if my having all these fun and exciting problems at once might add up to something more. (This has gotten quite long and I apologize for that.)

First, even in the 9-ft pool I had trouble clearing my ears. In the OW dives, I did my best to go slowly and clear, clear, clear, but as my control is not so hot I did go down too quickly once or twice and experienced some momentary pain. The problem seemed worst at about 10 feet; once I got past that, I felt okay. Once or twice I felt a big "pop" when I cleared; the other times I just felt a gradual lessening of pressure. I took sudafed the second day and didn't really notice a difference.

Then, I got two nosebleeds--the first and last dives. Neither was serious and my instructor wasn't worried.

THEN, within 1/2 hour of finishing dive 2, I got a visual aura that starts my migraines--except I haven't had a migraine in 4 years. I took my medication (midrin) and ended up with a low-grade headache the rest of the afternoon, along with a terrible lethargic feeling.

After the second day, I didn't get a headache but the lethargy returned; it took about 5 hours to go away.

Finally, I have that old "water in my ears" feeling. It's been four days so I went to the dr today and she told me I have blood buildup--behind the eardrum, I guess?--and my ears are both red and inflamed. They actually feel much better today--the cottony hearing is gone.

So are all of these problems the result of novice mistakes--going down too fast, breathing too shallowly and quickly--or could there be something causing this cluster of problems? My dr (not an ENT) told me today, "You know, some people just can't dive," and that has me scared. Of course, I'm not going to throw in the towel without seeing a specialist, but how common is it that someone "just can't dive"? I guess I am a bit sad and discouraged right now and any hopeful words (not to be construed as medical advice, of course!) would be greatly appreciated.

 

[kenlt]

If it adds anything, she was also breathing quite shallowly, at least on the first day (I was with her in the class). The instructor pointed it out and she did better on day 2. She did some searches (here, I think) and though she may have had CO2 poisoning, which could have caused her headache. And maybe the tiredness, but the ear problems?

We're a little concerned about her ears, so if anyone has any experience with this, we'd both like to hear it.

Thanks.

Ken

 

[RiverRat]

First thing she needs to do is see an ENT, or better yet an ENT experienced with diving. I squeezed my ears in OW dives. Pretty common for new divers to have equalization issues. I had typical fluid buildup, took 3 weeks to heal. I now pay much more attention to my ears especially during the first 30 feet of depth where the most dramatic changes in pressure occur. I also use several techniques, such as leaning my head away from the opposite problem ear to stretch the eustacian tubes etc. There are also prescription meds one can use to help with sinusitis etc. I was given Nasonex nose spray to help "open me up" and promote healing. ENT told me to be carefull that's all. I was a little nervous on dives right after I blew my ears, that's normal. So far I've had no problems and still using Nasonex as I'm prone to Allergic Rhinitus (stuffiness, swolleness) There is a video posted on the board somewhere that really shows the details of pressure on the ears, I'll dig it up and post it.

Here it is......
http://faculty.washington.edu/ekay/index.html

 

[MikeFerrara]

First, even in the 9-ft pool I had trouble clearing my ears. In the OW dives, I did my best to go slowly and clear, clear, clear, but as my control is not so hot I did go down too quickly once or twice and experienced some momentary pain.

I hate hearing stuff like this. Equalization needs to be worked out before OW. Being able to control descent speed is ALL important and again this is something to be squared away in the pool.

Then, I got two nosebleeds--the first and last dives. Neither was serious and my instructor wasn't worried.

I would guess a sinus squeeze but it's a guess and if I was teaching the class you wouldn't have gotten back in the water. Once we bloody the students I usually pull them out of the line up figuring that they suffered enough.

THEN, within 1/2 hour of finishing dive 2, I got a visual aura that starts my migraines--except I haven't had a migraine in 4 years. I took my medication (midrin) and ended up with a low-grade headache the rest of the afternoon, along with a terrible lethargic feeling.

After the second day, I didn't get a headache but the lethargy returned; it took about 5 hours to go away.

Finally, I have that old "water in my ears" feeling. It's been four days so I went to the dr today and she told me I have blood buildup--behind the eardrum, I guess?--and my ears are both red and inflamed. They actually feel much better today--the cottony hearing is gone.

So are all of these problems the result of novice mistakes--going down too fast, breathing too shallowly and quickly--or could there be something causing this cluster of problems? My dr (not an ENT) told me today, "You know, some people just can't dive," and that has me scared. Of course, I'm not going to throw in the towel without seeing a specialist, but how common is it that someone "just can't dive"? I guess I am a bit sad and discouraged right now and any hopeful words (not to be construed as medical advice, of course!) would be greatly appreciated.

I can't comment on the other symptoms but the fluid in the ear sounds like a plain old fashioned squeeze.

It's common especially when skills aren't mastered shallow (ie pool) before trying to go deeper as in OW.

Equalization is itself an issue but so is being able to control descents and ascents.

Sounds like you could have saved some money by just bashing your own head into the wall.

My advice is firt get a doc to check you out for fitness to dive. Then get in a pool and work on equalization SHALLOW. Start equalizing at the surface or just below. I prefer to start before my head even goes under. Then work on buoyancy control shallow. Then apply it to ascents and descents.

When descending....get neutral at the surface...Note: that doesn't mean dumping every drop of air in the bc!

Exhale and start to descend. At this point taking some air back into your lungs will be enough to halt the descent. Add air to the bc as needed to keep the descent under control. That way it's easy to stop the descent at anytime. If you have trouble equalizing just halt the descent and signal your buddy although they should see that you're stopping.

 

[crispos]

Mike Ferrara is giving you some good advice. But we can't and should not have to, teach you the scuba course or do medical diagnosis over the Internet.

We don't know your ages, your medical histories, what you were told, whether you read the book and understood it, how you were in the water, etc. etc.

I don't want to discourage you. In spite of your difficulties, you finished the course, but the depth wasn't that great. You owe it to yourself to get checked out before any more diving.

You should have been asking these questions during the OW, to your Instructor, who is being paid to do what you are asking us to do. You could have described to HIM or HER your feelings and problems, preferably before pain and symptoms.

If any student had such difficulties in equalizing, blood in their nose or "visual auras", I would have terminated their dive day and had them consult an MD and if qualified, go back into the pool for more practice.

So, as Mike quite rightly says, you need to have a full ENT examination by an experienced doctor (experienced in diving).

I am not an MD so I am not going to comment on the blood in your ears. For all I know, you ruptured either your ear drum, or your round window. Then again, your tubes might just be abit sore because they have never been exercised so much.

 

[divebomb]

I start clearing within 5 feet. This is something that I didn't understand. I remember diving down the 12' section of the pool when I was a kid. No one told us about clearing.

So on my first dives I didn't clear until I was deeper....and it hurts if you do it like this. Just dry up before your next dive and try clearing early and often. Descend slowly.

Beck

 

[RiverRat]

I start clearing within 5 feet. This is something that I didn't understand. I remember diving down the 12' section of the pool when I was a kid. No one told us about clearing.

So on my first dives I didn't clear until I was deeper....and it hurts if you do it like this. Just dry up before your next dive and try clearing early and often. Descend slowly.

Beck

Divebomb,
Keep in mind when you were a kid and freediving to 12' you were holding your breathe, not on scuba breathing pressurized air. Although, if I'm not mistaken, (I don't claim to know much about freediving) you can still equalize freediving as your lungs are compressing air as well. I also seem to remember as a kid diving to the bottom of the pool without any issues. Beyond me, but all I know is in Scuba you gotta get the pressure equal early and often or the dive is done.

 

[MikeFerrara]

Divebomb,
Keep in mind when you were a kid and freediving to 12' you were holding your breathe, not on scuba breathing pressurized air. Although, if I'm not mistaken, (I don't claim to know much about freediving) you can still equalize freediving as your lungs are compressing air as well. I also seem to remember as a kid diving to the bottom of the pool without any issues. Beyond me, but all I know is in Scuba you gotta get the pressure equal early and often or the dive is done.

When I used to free dive as a kid it hurt like hell. I just didn't know why.

Yes you should equalize when free diving too. You need to equalize equipment and body air spaces just as when on scuba with the exception that it's ok to hold your breath when free (breath-hold) diving obviously.

 

[blorkiemom]

I hate hearing stuff like this. Equalization needs to be worked out before OW. Being able to control descent speed is ALL important and again this is something to be squared away in the pool.

Thanks for the advice. I mentioned my difficulties clearing to my instructor, but as I was able to equalize in the pool, albeit slowly, I guess he wasn't too concerned. I was doing better with descents (well, if you can call 9 feet a descent) in the pool but with the 7 mm wetsuit and weights in the open water it felt like a whole new ball game. Now that they will let me in the pool during off-times without an instructor, I will definitely practice both clearing and descents before trying to dive again.

 

[RiverRat]

I was doing better with descents (well, if you can call 9 feet a descent) in the pool but with the 7 mm wetsuit and weights in the open water it felt like a whole new ball game. Now that they will let me in the pool during off-times without an instructor, I will definitely practice both clearing and descents before trying to dive again.

Awesome! Glad to hear you've realized your problem areas and decided to work them out before going gung ho and hurt yourself (or possibly others) trying to dive beyond your limits.
I too had a tough time during OW and AOW dives (I went right to AOW after OW) with weighting etc. Seems that it's just "easier" for many instructors to throw a ton of lead on a diver to get them to sink (or kneel down on the platform) for the OW skills. It would have been nice to learn about neutral weighting, trim etc. "during" OW and definately before Peak Performance Buoyancy class (part of my AOW) I'm not an Instructor but I feel the courses could be re-designed a bit to allow for some more defined weighting/trim/neutral buoyancy training both in the classroom pre-dive and somewhere early on in OW. The basic "float at eye level" weight check doesn't cut it. Many Instructors/divers on the board seem to agree.
I think this would help reduce accidents/environment damage/ear squeeze etc. especially for new divers on their first 10-20 "real" dives after certification. I still see some divers that went to classes with me that are having a hard time "getting" the concept of trim/diving neutral and are probably going to be struggling for quite a number of dives until they figure it out.