Equalization Problem

[a22shady]

Hi am a new diver Just recently certified. I have a question about equalizing. I had a very hard time getting down the the platform at 25' on my first dive it took me about 18 Min to get down. As i began going down im guessing by "ear squeeze" for me it felt as i was being stabbed in the ear very painfull. But i continued goin up and down strcthing my neck, Swallowing, wiggling, jaw, looking up, yawning, Flooding hood. After everything about half way down i stopped and thought what else to try. So i tried pushing a little harder thinking maybe i was not equalizing properlly. After blowing a little harder not forceful but firm i heard a "sqeak" sound. and felt some relive. I thought wow thought was it great. I got to the platform and managed to go to to our site at 40' and during equalizing i kept hearing the Squeak sound. Hoping this is a good thing to hear. But each dive going down even when i heard the squeak i was equalizing after everybreath going slowly i would still at a point get that very bad pain in my ear. i immediatly stopped came up equalized and continued down. after that first dive i was able to get down a little qucker only took 7-10 min. But still painfull everytime i got that feeling also water was very cold 50. Is tihs pain a normal feeling and was that sqeak sound meaning i was properlly equalized? is this pain feeling something i should expect all the time or something that will grow less as you dive. Thanks for your help

 

[Walter]

Pain is your body's way of telling you something is wrong. Go see your ENT doctor before you attempt to dive again. Take DAN's phone number 800-446-2671 with you in case your doctor needs to consult with them about diving during your exam.

 

[TSandM]

It's very hard to diagnose over the internet, but it sounds as though you weren't able to equalize easily, and by the time you were that deep, you had to use a LOT of pressure to squeak a little air into your Eustachian tube. My guess is that after that day's diving, your ear probably felt full, may have made some odd noises, and your hearing may be decreased on that side. These are all signs of barotrauma.

I'm with Walter -- I'd get the ears looked at before diving again. You might also benefit from watching THIS (long) video, which has a lot of good information about the anatomy and physiology of the ear in diving, and about equalization techniques.

 

[a22shady]

i dont think my ears made any noises, the y did feel like there was some water in them and hearing as sounded as if they were clogged. I made an Appointment just to check better safe then sorry thanks, Like i said i only had trouble getting to the platform after that i was able to complete all my dives to 60'. i am hoping maybe that during the first dive since i was not equalized properlly maybe my ears were alitttle sore or something little hopfully

Update: Thanks for the advice i did go to my doctor and he checked me out. He is not an ENT specialist but has delt with some divers before plus his daughter dives so he is little familiar he checked me out said there was a little inflamation but nothing else said to take claritan D 12hr about 1-2 hours before diving and that should help

 

[don Francisco]

I'm glad your ears are OK. A note for the future - you're probably waiting too long to equalize.

As you descend external pressure on your eustachian tubes will tend to close them making equalizing harder. The effect is akin to how soda straws collapse if you try to drink a thick shake too fast.

As a general guideline, non-pressurizing methods like swallowing, or stretching your neck are only effective at pressure changes equal to added depth of 3-4 feet. The pressurizing methods like the Valsalva Maneuver will work up to added depths of 7-9 feet, about the point that you start feeling pain. Beyond 9 feet (depth change) equalizing becomes very difficult or nearly impossible and the risk of ear injury becomes real.

Follow the general advice to clear early and often, about every 2 feet or so minimum, when you first feel pressure changes or sooner. If you feel pain it's too late, and you need to ascend until your last equalized depth and start again.

If you need more help, search "equalizing" in the new diver forum and you'll find lots of guidance.

I hope your future dives go easier.

 

[a22shady]

Thanks for the info. i have been looking at a few different things also watched this Long video Doc's Diving Medicine Home Page

My problem was i never felt any slight discomfort when i began the dive it was fine then pain instantly. i didnt feel a slight progrssion but i did notice during that first dive i was not pushing hard enough to equalize but the other dives i did every foot but each time going down i got that sharp pain even as i was equalizing. But not sure if that might have been from ears being sore already from the 1st dive. Or maybe my ears are just super sensitive. Either way i was able to make it down sooner then the first but the pain really sucked. I have not been back in the water since but i will hopefully this weekend and will try everything again plus what the doctor said in the video