ear questions

[smokey braden]

i just returned from a week on grande cayman.
my first day diving i dove 2 am tanks boat diving.
first dive was 86 ft for 44 min.
next dive was 60 ft 55 min.
i had 1000 lb in my tank after both dives.

while returning to shore i experienced sharp pain in my right ear.
i canceled my dives for the next day and went to a doctor.
the doctor has been diving for 30 years.

after he looked into my ears he said i had hemotoma in the right ear.
he said that small blood vains behind the ear drum had ruptured.
he gave me some antibiotics and told me not to dive for the rest of the week.

my question is, could i have done something to advoid this?
i have had a bloody nose once many years ago.
i have had a red spot on my eyeball once years ago.
is this ear thing similiar?

in november i'm going to bali for 2 weeks.
i don't want repeat this experience again.

thank you for all your advice and cooments.
regards,

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi smokey braden,

I suggest that you begin by viewing the following video that runs about 45 min in duration:

The Diver's Ear: Under Pressure
Doc's Diving Medicine Home Page

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[DRsharky]

This is strictly a medical issue, I wouldn't take any advise from anybody else then professionals.

 

[tridacna]

i just returned from a week on grande cayman.
my first day diving i dove 2 am tanks boat diving.
first dive was 86 ft for 44 min.
next dive was 60 ft 55 min.
i had 1000 lb in my tank after both dives.

while returning to shore i experienced sharp pain in my right ear.
i canceled my dives for the next day and went to a doctor.
the doctor has been diving for 30 years.

after he looked into my ears he said i had hemotoma in the right ear.
he said that small blood vains behind the ear drum had ruptured.
he gave me some antibiotics and told me not to dive for the rest of the week.

my question is, could i have done something to advoid this?
i have had a bloody nose once many years ago.
i have had a red spot on my eyeball once years ago.
is this ear thing similiar?

in november i'm going to bali for 2 weeks.
i don't want repeat this experience again.

thank you for all your advice and cooments.
regards,

Did you have any problem clearing your ears on either dive? IMO the depth and time are largely irrelevant because the damage occurs closer to the surface. I had a similar diagnosis many years ago - I blew a little too hard when trying to clear. It has never happened again. I make sure that I pre-pressurise my ears on every dive at the surface before descending. BTW my doc took pics of my ear for diagnosis - it does not look pretty.

 

[300bar]

This is strictly a medical issue, I wouldn't take any advise from anybody else then professionals.

Maybe thats why OP posted the question here.