Ears blocked for 5 weeks after SCUBA diving :( help

[time2sail]

Go to a medical specialist, the internet, including SB, isn't the proper place for questions of this type.

This is sound advice for diagnosis. Note however, that many of the specialists do their research on the internet.

The first time I had middle ear barotrauma (yes, its happened more than once...i know....my bad...), I went to the doc after three weeks of not clearing. He checked my ears, nose and throat and said everything looked perfect. He prescribed a nasal decongestant (spray in the nostrils type) as he suspected i had fluid inside of the middle ear. His thought was that the decongestant would remove the moisture from the surrounding tissues and may allow them to absorb the fluids of the middle more efficiently. It worked after a few additional days. It also worked the second time it happened to me (took approximately 5 days to clear fully).

 

[doctormike]

There is not much consistent scientific evidence that nasal sprays or antibiotics have any effect on middle ear fluid. However, middle ear fluid spontaneously resolves in almost all cases. This is why you have lots of people swearing that garlic oil drops, ear candling, cervical manipulation, etc... all cured their middle ear fluid.

 

[BoltSnap]

There is not much consistent scientific evidence that nasal sprays or antibiotics have any effect on middle ear fluid. However, middle ear fluid spontaneously resolves in almost all cases. This is why you have lots of people swearing that garlic oil drops, ear candling, cervical manipulation, etc... all cured their middle ear fluid.

You forgot olive oil

 

[doctormike]

You forgot olive oil

Oh, you are referring to my recipe for salad dressing, right? One part olive oil, one part garlic oil, and one part earwax.

 

[Radoo]

Note however, that many of the specialists do their research on the internet.

With the difference that the specialists know how to filter all the information available online and likely use peer reviewed sources like Uptodate rather than Wiki.

 

[CuzzA]

With the difference that the specialists know how to filter all the information available online and likely use peer reviewed sources like Uptodate rather than Wiki.

They also know how to take cash, check and credit cards.

I hope the OP updates this thread with her ENT diagnosis.

As an anecdote. My better half had severe MEBT. Her dad, who is a doctor prescribed antibiotics as the risk for infection was high. Ultimately though she just had to tough it out for about 6 weeks or so with the fullness/fluid in the ear feeling.

 

[doctormike]

They also know how to take cash, check and credit cards.

I hope the OP updates this thread with her ENT diagnosis.

As an anecdote. My better half had severe MEBT. Her dad, who is a doctor prescribed antibiotics as the risk for infection was high. Ultimately though she just had to tough it out for about 6 weeks or so with the fullness/fluid in the ear feeling.

Middle ear infection (acute otitis media, or AOM) is extremely rare in adults. The presence of middle ear fluid (aka a "sterile effusion", otitis media with effusion, or OME) is not thought to be a risk factor for AOM. In fact, the kids who have almost chronic OME - cleft palate patients - rarely get AOM.

The only adults that I see are divers, but when I have an adult patient with OME that is very symptomatic, I usually offer them a short course of systemic steroids. If it's driving them crazy and they really can't wait, I can do an office myringotomy and drain it with local anesthesia. This is pretty uncomfortable (even with the anesthetic), and certainly a concern for a diver. The myringotomy usually heals in a week or so, but you can't dive with a tympanic membrane perforation. Of course, you shouldn't dive with OME either... tough call!

 

[CuzzA]

Middle ear infection (acute otitis media, or AOM) is extremely rare in adults. The presence of middle ear fluid (aka a "sterile effusion", otitis media with effusion, or OME) is not thought to be a risk factor for AOM. In fact, the kids who have almost chronic OME - cleft palate patients - rarely get AOM.

The only adults that I see are divers, but when I have an adult patient with OME that is very symptomatic, I usually offer them a short course of systemic steroids. If it's driving them crazy and they really can't wait, I can do an office myringotomy and drain it with local anesthesia. This is pretty uncomfortable (even with the anesthetic), and certainly a concern for a diver. The myringotomy usually heals in a week or so, but you can't dive with a tympanic membrane perforation. Of course, you shouldn't dive with OME either... tough call!

Honestly, it was so long ago, it could have been a steroid or placebo. lol I just recall whatever drops she was putting in her ear seemed to not do much, if anything, instead, time was the cure.

The OP should not infer anything from my posts as being related to her situation.

 

[almostDIR]

I got cortisone pills for 2 weeks, I think the first dose was around 80 or 100mg or so (which is pretty heavy steroids compared to many other ilnesses). Got a recipe for antibiotics as well "just in case if you develop this or that symptoms which may indicate it becoming infected" but did not need to use it. Took less than a week or so that the ears cleared fully and was back diving in two weeks.
my ENT checked the ears very carefully, did the hearing tests via skull bones, balance tests etc to see if there was anything fancy going on with the inner ear and so on. I had pretty easy and typical case she said... sometimes people come to her with similar type of middle ear barothrauma which they got from airplane by not being able to clear correctly and having the ears blocked for hours after the flight which led to inflammation, blocked tubes and fluid in the inner ear just like typical scuba related case. The airplane thing happens also on adults.

Scuba diving can lead to more serious damages though if not being careful or just being unlucky, much larger pressure differences in shorter time etc

I would want to know that the inner ears are undamaged especially when you have slight balance issues

 

[Many94]

There is not much consistent scientific evidence that nasal sprays or antibiotics have any effect on middle ear fluid. However, middle ear fluid spontaneously resolves in almost all cases. This is why you have lots of people swearing that garlic oil drops, ear candling, cervical manipulation, etc... all cured their middle ear fluid.

I hope mine resolves soon !
Once i see the ent i will update with my diagnosis ,
Also if it is middle ear barotrauma is that a much easier issue to heal from then eustachian tube dysfunction ?