Equalization: should I hear a pop?

[M.D.]

I've had constant difficulty with equalizing on every dive(I haven't been out yet this year though), some dives more than others. Every problem described in this thread has happened to me. I've called a dive before because I just couldn't seem to get it. I've bruised my ear before from pushing my limits. On some ascents my ears crackled like crazy and I couldn't hear for a few seconds. It takes me a long time to equalize on every dive and I often have to ascend a couple feet to ensure proper equalization.
I've tried every equalizing technique mentioned. I've seen a doctor, flushed my ears of wax, and asked every diver I've met for advice (Diveprof's suggestion combines many techniques into one, so try that one out).
This post probably sounds to be an extreme case, but on a positive note, every dive gets easier. The last dive I did last year went great and I almost had no problems... to get to the point---dive, dive, dive and drill 'early and often' into your head.

ps quit smoking if you smoke, not only is it generally bad for you, but it decreases your bottom time and irritates the eustachian tubes which makes it more difficult to equalize. I just recently quit and I can't wait to get wet to see how much easier it will be to equalize.

 

[KansaiKitsune]

I went out today to attempt the first OW certification dive, diligently attempting to equalize at every step of the way. One hand on the line, the other on my nose. Consistently, my right ear would clear easily. My left ear NEVER cleared. I even took a couple Sudafed beforehand at the DM's suggestion. No dice. Tried all the techniques I knew -- swallowing, looking up, compressing the chest, compressing the throat, wiggling jaw, turning ear up, looking up. Nothing worked.

I didn't get past 12 feet before my left ear was aching. Kept going up a few feet, trying to equalize, going down to 12. Going up, try again -- same results every time. Right ear pops immediately, left ear doesn't. Descending, I get pain in my left ear warning that any further and I was going to have a problem.

I fail. Insert "Price is Right" failure music here. :sad_2:

After several minutes of trying and failing, the DM signaled for me to ascend and I did. I sat the rest of the OW period out on the beach. I don't think I've ever been so depressed about anything in my whole life -- especially since there were some really lovely angelfish schools out today.

I've got an ENT appointment for this week. We'll see what he says. I had tubes in my ears at age 3. I hope it doesn't go all the way back to that. I don't have any sinus troubles (that I know of) now and I don't smoke. Praying that he doesn't say, "You can never dive."

Funny that all of the DMs with me and the other students smoked, and had a cigarette right after they surfaced (the instructor doesn't). Just seems unfair that the smokers have no trouble diving, and me who's never even touched a cigarette would have so much.

Anyone want to speculate on what it could be and the likelihood of me actually getting to finish my cert would be? The instructors seem patient and they'll let me try again.

 

[spectrum]

Okay so you are depressed. It was exactly 1 year ago that it seemed like the world was conspiring to keep my wife and I from getting our checkout dives done. 103 dives latter trust me, it will be worth it.

I give you permission to edit your post (#22) and remove the statement about failing, that is simply the wrong word.

You did things just right, you tried, you knew the limits and you obeyed them. Now you are following up with the ENT. Since you had 1 ear clearing OK you are probably reasonably OK on technique.

You have a lifetime of diving waiting for you. Meanwhile your good practice will mean that the ENT does not need to ground you for a month or so while things heal.

Good luck at the doctors, often it is as easy as them flushing out a lifetime of rubbish that gets in there.

Pete

 

[SeaHorseWoman]

Thanks to all of the magnificent responses here -- and so quick, too.

The general rule of thumb seems to be that if it's any struggle at all to equalize, I'm not doing it early or often enough.

Yes, early enough and often enough are the key. Just came home from dives 20-24---I'm a beginner, too. It's the first trip that I didn't come home hearing as if I'm stuck in a bubble. I started equalizing the second my head was under water and kept doing it until we were at a steady depth. It worked! Get advice from your doctor, but don't give up. As Spectrum said, you haven't failed. This is normal stuff we work through at the beginning, and it will pass, and its worth it to keep trying, Diving is awesome!
Barbara

 

[KansaiKitsune]

Thanks very much for the kind words. I've had time to shower off and take care of business and I feel a bit better now -- your message is uplifting. Today was a pretty big blow to my confidence.

I'm a bit of a perfectionist, I take criticism fairly hard, and there's no worse critic than myself. I'll see the doctor, pray for a non-difficult solution, and maybe I'll be out there. I'll keep you all updated on my situation.

I suppose the GOOD thing I can say about today is that I knew my limits enough to not try to descend even though it hurt and risk barotrauma.

Thanks.

 

[scubafool]

Being alert enough to recognize limits and stay within them is a fundamental diving skill. I would be willing to bet that eventually you will work through this, and a year or so from now you will be posting in this subforum, encouraging a new diver with the same problem to keep after it.

 

[KansaiKitsune]

I saw the ENT today and I have some new information on this. I posted also in the Diving Medicine forum here: http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=145570

Long story short: there's nothing wrong with me! He gave me a prescription for Flonase and told me to practice equalization techniques repeatedly many times during the day -- he said whenever I thought about it, grab my nose and blow.

Are there any techniques I can use other than Vasalva or advice on how to do them? I've not successfully accomplished it other than drawing in air, holding my nose, and blowing the air I've held into my nose. Am I really just doing it wrong, or not experienced enough in doing it? I've never really HAD to inflate my eardrums until now.

 

[LowVizWiz]

Another method of clearing that works good for many:

1. with a closed mouth (or reg in mouth), put your tongue on the roof of your mouth.
2. Pinch your nose
3. Look up
4. Swallow

This is the only method that works for me and I usually hear a high pitch whistle sound.
It also takes me a long time to feel comfortable... I'm usually the last one down just making sure I'm golden.

When I look up a really exagerate the angle of my neck to really stretch the tubes.

Hope you will be alright...
Wys.

 

[LowVizWiz]

I fail. Insert "Price is Right" failure music here. :sad_2:

After several minutes of trying and failing, the DM signaled for me to ascend and I did. I sat the rest of the OW period out on the beach. I don't think I've ever been so depressed about anything in my whole life -- especially since there were some really lovely angelfish schools out today.

Hey K!

Don't despair, I also had to sit out my first dive ever because I couldn't equalize. I was told to drink lots of water while I waited on the boat for everyone else... On the second dive I was able to equalize. Now I don't know how effective the water was, but at worst it helped me be hydrated

 

[KansaiKitsune]

Oh, a brief question for you guys here. Everyone says "swallow", but all that does is cause a crackling in my ears. It doesn't inflate my eardrums at all. If I just swallow saliva at the the surface, I don't feel any pressure building up inside the ears, just a popping in my ears. I thought the idea of descending was to increase the pressure in your ears to countermand the increased pressure from depth.

Or do you guys mean a FORCEFUL swallow, like when I was a kid and would try to swallow air so I could let off a burp and amuse my friends? :shakehead