Ears still blocked after 8 days-HELP Anyone?!?!?!?

[Jim Lapenta]

Why are you asking us if you need to see a doc. If anytime after diving you think you may need to see a doc for something GO! We all have a mechanism in place called our inner voice that is to me interested in preserving our health and well being. If more people would listen to that voice there would be less problems. You don;t have to become a hypochondriac but this is a sport where you can get messed up pretty bad pretty quick. Ears are nothing to screw around with if you want to keep diving. Get it checked out.

 

[trigfunctions]

It sounds like you have an inner ear trauma. Rinsing or cleaning the outer ear (ear canal) won't do anything. This type of injury can lead to permanent damage. You need to see a doctor ASAP.

 

[cummings66]

tried peroxide and ear candleing yesterday to no avail....ANY suggestions guys????:

Based on this last part alone I'd see an ENT right away. Many people who try the ear candling damage their ears severely, it's not a good thing. There have been tests run that show this procedure is bogus and can not possibly work. They show how that wax you think you're getting out really is not ear wax but from the candle itself.

So, don't wait and ask for help here. Go to the doctor right away. A GP if you don't have an ENT around can look at it and see if there is damage. The real issue is that some damage left unmanaged gets worse and become permanent. Sometimes you can fix it if you attend to it quickly. Never wait when you're injured.

 

[Damselfish]

"ear beer" (various vinegar/alcohol solutions) are helpful for preventing outer ear infections but not for curing one that's really taken hold, or any other problems. Time often helps, but if you've got a problem that isn't clearing up after a week, it's time to see someone instead of pouring stuff in your ears.

I agree ear candling is a crock.

 

[Gil57usa]

See a Doctor! After 8 days there may be a real problem.

 

[wallacm]

I've had similar problems. It only happens to me when i get an ear squeeze when trying to surface not on the decent. Usually I am wearing a hood too, I don't know if makes a difference though. When it happens my ear stays in a fog for about a week or two, but I dont have any pain, and I try to clear them frequently to get it to pop. Eventually it does.

 

[wanadive]

Thanks for the reply - call the Dr. I will! Drats!!!
AWESOME pictures- looks like you were with a great, fun group of people.
Beautiful !!!

 

[PfcAJ]

Sound like you might have a mucus plug or other blockage in your eustacian tube(s). I suspect that you'll be put on a decongestant/antibiotic combo when you GO TO THE DOCTOR.

In the mean time, drink plenty of fluids and eat well balanced, health meals. Strengthen your best asset for fighting off ailements, your immune system! Also, dispense with the ear candling and any Q-tipping you might be doing. If you have impacted earwax, that stuff might make it worse.

I hope you feel better!

 

[wanadive]

Great Advice - thanks - see you are an EMT.
I am feeling great - just can't stand the thumping anymore!!!
Have a good day!

 

[ruthpenaluna]

Hi,
My partner suffered something similar. We have been diving for 5 months working on a boat in Turkey. The problem we had I think was too many repetitive shallow dives in a day. Going against all training we were doing around 8 try dives a day, so constantly stressing the tubes with equalising. He was finding it harder and harder to equalise, until on one dive he had a really sharp pain. When he came up he had a really loud whirring noise and like you could only hear himself talking, it was like living with an old man for a while. We saw an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist who said that it was his Eustachian tube, that connects the ear to the throat. This had become inflamed and basically I think it is stuck together. We have been told that he will need an operation to clear this, but tonight his ear popped for the first time, so I think that it would just clear up on its own. As we want to actually work as divers though he is going to get it looked at. My advice, if you can, get to an ENT specialist and explain what has happened.