So I know this gets rolled around a lot, but I had a sinus infection 7 days before I got to Mexico. I thought it was completley healed, but it might of not have been. When I was diving I was having a lot of problems getting them to clear I dunno if it was wrong technique or what. My nose bleeds after almost every dive I have heard this could be technique or that I have small sinus passages. Is there a possibility that I might not be able to dive ever again because I have small passages?
Ears and Diving
- Thread starter Bflem55
- Start date
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FuzzyNutz
Contributor
I've heard of people on these forums that have had nose-bleeds after every dive for yeeaaars. It is just something they have come to terms with and just deal with it. If you're having trouble clearing, just remember to do it often and early. Don't wait until you feel discomfort to start clearing. If you're still having trouble, ascend and keep trying until they do (don't force it though!). Perhaps this will come with time and practice for you, but if the problem never goes away, find a doctor who is knowledgable with dive medicine. I'm no expert on the subject, and still a pretty new diver myself, but I figured I'd offer my 2 cents until the others chime in. Until then, take it slow and easy. No need to be in a hurry in this sport
Bflem55, if you are having problems with nosebleeds after every dive, I'd highly recommend you go get an examination from a diving-savvy ENT doc (DAN, Diver's Alert Network, can help you find one in your area.) Nosebleeds can be due to improper equalization technique, or you may have some kind of lesion that is particularly friable and prone to bleeding.
You don't say whether your problems with equalization were with your ears or with your sinuses. Problems with the ears are often solved by better technique, including equalization earlier and more often. You might enjoy watching THIS (long) video on the diver's ear, and reading THIS nice article from DAN, as well as THIS piece on equalization techniques.
But nothing replaces an evaluation by a good otolaryngologist.
Eustachian tubes don't stretch, although a lot of people swear that frequent practice in equalizing makes it easier to do.
You don't say whether your problems with equalization were with your ears or with your sinuses. Problems with the ears are often solved by better technique, including equalization earlier and more often. You might enjoy watching THIS (long) video on the diver's ear, and reading THIS nice article from DAN, as well as THIS piece on equalization techniques.
But nothing replaces an evaluation by a good otolaryngologist.
Eustachian tubes don't stretch, although a lot of people swear that frequent practice in equalizing makes it easier to do.
7 days after? It may feel like you were ready to dive but it's very possible that your ears weren't. I just had this issue myself. A bad cold then 5 days of rest before a weekend trip. The ears felt ready but they definitely were not - I had to sit out every dive. I missed the next weekend's trip too. Now, two full weeks later, I can finally open both tubes. I will check it out in the pool later this week because I have a full week of diving starting Sunday.
Wantonmien
Contributor
Anyone know a mechanic or similar who can redesign the inner workings of the human ear huh ... dodgy design if ever there was one !
Reading the above and other threads in this part of forum, thought I'd throw in my most recent saga, as it must be one of the most annoying 'ailments' I've ever endured - being malfunctioning "eustachian tubes" (those are the narrow tubes that connect the middle ear with the back of the nose and should open or close to keep pressure equal either side of the eardrum) !
Mid August after 4 dives over two mornings weekend (following all the descent/ascent/deco time limits) a few hours later when travelling home by road found myself having to 'equalize' every 20 mins or so, a bit unusual, but then later after getting to sleep - awoke after 3 hours with a rotten headache, totally 'full head' feeling and trouble in equalizing - of course then wondering if I'd over done it diving, ascended to fast, missed something on the dive computer and all the thoughts of "what have I done wrong" ! After constantly equalizing every few minutes during the next few days and having two or three nights pretty restless headache filled nights
finally all felt normal.
Then the next weekend arrives - made 2 dives and later in day - same as above, having to equalize constrantly, woke up 'full head', trouble in equalizing, rotten headache !
Monday, it's to the the ENT doc - (Taiwanese guy who speaks broken English) - peers in the ears, down the throat, up the nose and quite calmly says "Oh it's just your Eustachian tube malfunction, very common, don't fly, don't dive, take these pills for 3 days". ... (What the hell are my Eustachian tubes I wondered ?) - but 2 days later no problem. Went back for follow on check 3 days later and everything working well, problem gone.
Next weekend (first of September) - flew away for a 4 day dive holiday - worried the E tubes would malfunction again, armed with the ENT pills just incase - but 10 dives over four days, no problem at all.
Two weekends back at home - no diving as weather rotten.
Last weekend - one shallow dive, rotten viz, strong currents, wave movements above so big left us at 10 ~ 15 metres getting rolled around and so after 40 mins called it a day.
Last Monday, bit of a head cold and ...
... back came the need to equalize every five minutes or so, sleepless Monday night with the headache - Tuesday morning, back to the ENT doctor, and here we are again 
diving, or flying for a few more days --
So there yah go .. those "eustachian tubes" can be annoying and if you are getting trouble equalizing or find after dives you need to regularly equalize, or waking with that 'need to equalize a lot feeling' - get yourself to the ENT.
Should add that about a year back the same ENT doc carried out the surgery to remove my then grossly 'overgrown' nasal polyps so regards my nose channels and now E tubes as his chief responsibility - and has told me if the latest bout has totally disappeared by Friday, I'll be ok to dive at the weekend - provided I go and visit him Monday morning for a check again !!
Now then - where's the mechanic who can fit me some redesigned inner ear workings !
Safe diving !
Reading the above and other threads in this part of forum, thought I'd throw in my most recent saga, as it must be one of the most annoying 'ailments' I've ever endured - being malfunctioning "eustachian tubes" (those are the narrow tubes that connect the middle ear with the back of the nose and should open or close to keep pressure equal either side of the eardrum) !
Mid August after 4 dives over two mornings weekend (following all the descent/ascent/deco time limits) a few hours later when travelling home by road found myself having to 'equalize' every 20 mins or so, a bit unusual, but then later after getting to sleep - awoke after 3 hours with a rotten headache, totally 'full head' feeling and trouble in equalizing - of course then wondering if I'd over done it diving, ascended to fast, missed something on the dive computer and all the thoughts of "what have I done wrong" ! After constantly equalizing every few minutes during the next few days and having two or three nights pretty restless headache filled nights
finally all felt normal.Then the next weekend arrives - made 2 dives and later in day - same as above, having to equalize constrantly, woke up 'full head', trouble in equalizing, rotten headache !
Monday, it's to the the ENT doc - (Taiwanese guy who speaks broken English) - peers in the ears, down the throat, up the nose and quite calmly says "Oh it's just your Eustachian tube malfunction, very common, don't fly, don't dive, take these pills for 3 days". ... (What the hell are my Eustachian tubes I wondered ?) - but 2 days later no problem. Went back for follow on check 3 days later and everything working well, problem gone.
Next weekend (first of September) - flew away for a 4 day dive holiday - worried the E tubes would malfunction again, armed with the ENT pills just incase - but 10 dives over four days, no problem at all.
Two weekends back at home - no diving as weather rotten.
Last weekend - one shallow dive, rotten viz, strong currents, wave movements above so big left us at 10 ~ 15 metres getting rolled around and so after 40 mins called it a day.
Last Monday, bit of a head cold and ...
... back came the need to equalize every five minutes or so, sleepless Monday night with the headache - Tuesday morning, back to the ENT doctor, and here we are again diving, or flying for a few more days -- So there yah go .. those "eustachian tubes" can be annoying and if you are getting trouble equalizing or find after dives you need to regularly equalize, or waking with that 'need to equalize a lot feeling' - get yourself to the ENT.
Should add that about a year back the same ENT doc carried out the surgery to remove my then grossly 'overgrown' nasal polyps so regards my nose channels and now E tubes as his chief responsibility - and has told me if the latest bout has totally disappeared by Friday, I'll be ok to dive at the weekend - provided I go and visit him Monday morning for a check again !!
Now then - where's the mechanic who can fit me some redesigned inner ear workings !
Safe diving !
Last edited:
Wantonmien
Contributor
Oops - seems like I killed the thread with my scenario !!
Just thought I'd better add that my ENT Taiwan doc, with the magic pills finally cured it or so it seems .. more than 3 weeks now and problem seems totally gone.
Cheers
Just thought I'd better add that my ENT Taiwan doc, with the magic pills finally cured it or so it seems .. more than 3 weeks now and problem seems totally gone.
Cheers
batman diver
Contributor
hey wat pills he give you
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