malefactor
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I have a hard time equalizing. Does anyone have a good method past holding your nose and blowing? I have tried nose drops and cold medicine. I do not dive when I have a head cold
Eustachian Tubes
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Some Suggestions:
Don't blow too hard
Try Pre clearing
Slightest tightness - clear don't for pain
Acsend a few feet
Rotate your jaws
Swallow
Use a combination of above
Decend feet first
Try to avoid any medication...there is a saline solution on the market to rinse your sinuses that works well for me when I'm stuffy
Don't blow too hard
Try Pre clearing
Slightest tightness - clear don't for pain
Acsend a few feet
Rotate your jaws
Swallow
Use a combination of above
Decend feet first
Try to avoid any medication...there is a saline solution on the market to rinse your sinuses that works well for me when I'm stuffy
airsix
Contributor
Go to your local dive shop and pick up a Suunto dive computer catalog. In the back there are illustrations and instructions for performing several equalization methods and their variations. It's a great value (free). I thought I knew everything there was to know about equalizing, but I found some great new info in the back of that little booklet.
-Ben
-Ben
fisherdvm
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I agree, don't blow too hard. If you can't clear with pressure, don't try harder... This might result in a reverse squeeze, and damage your ear on the way up.
Try a claritin (over the counter) or allegra (prescription) 2 or 3 hours before your dive.
Psudafed has been shown to help, but can be risky (some one noted that it can decrease your MOD on both air and nitrox). In can increase your blood pressure, and your anxiety.
Afrin helps some folks, but one study shows no effect compared to placebo... So it depends on the person.
Of course, don't do any meds unless your doctor said it is ok.
Try a claritin (over the counter) or allegra (prescription) 2 or 3 hours before your dive.
Psudafed has been shown to help, but can be risky (some one noted that it can decrease your MOD on both air and nitrox). In can increase your blood pressure, and your anxiety.
Afrin helps some folks, but one study shows no effect compared to placebo... So it depends on the person.
Of course, don't do any meds unless your doctor said it is ok.
annasea
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I've got problems equalizing, too, so I'm off to visit an ENT specialist who's familiar with diving in hopes that he can help. One thing that hasn't been mentioned in this thread yet are Doc's ProPlugs. If you do a search, you'll find a recent thread on them.
johnnyseko
Contributor
I had problems equalizing during OW...
Long story short, I ended up at the ENT and had to have my adnoids removed. It wasnt pleasant, but well worth it in the end. I now have a better sense of smell, no ear pain when I fly and I can dive! Of course, this is probably a more severe case. We had also tried sprays for a while which didnt help.
I still have to equalize BEFORE decending, and often (every few feet) on the way down.
If you continue to have problems, I'd advise a trip to the ENT.
Long story short, I ended up at the ENT and had to have my adnoids removed. It wasnt pleasant, but well worth it in the end. I now have a better sense of smell, no ear pain when I fly and I can dive! Of course, this is probably a more severe case. We had also tried sprays for a while which didnt help.
I still have to equalize BEFORE decending, and often (every few feet) on the way down.
If you continue to have problems, I'd advise a trip to the ENT.
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Hi malefactor,
Many folks find the following very informative and helpful:
The Diver's Ear: Under Pressure
http://www.uwtv.org/programs/displayevent.aspx?rID=2272
Regards,
DocVikingo
Many folks find the following very informative and helpful:
The Diver's Ear: Under Pressure
http://www.uwtv.org/programs/displayevent.aspx?rID=2272
Regards,
DocVikingo
I find my students learn a great deal from this:
http://www.dansa.org/downloads/The Divers Complete Guide to the Ear.pdf
http://www.dansa.org/downloads/The Divers Complete Guide to the Ear.pdf
I had a lot of trouble equalizing as well. It was during my trip in Hawaii that I finally solved the problem. You can't imagine my relief in solving it because it would really hurt, and for some reason my left ear took longer to equalize than my right ear.
Here's what I did. On the boat, five minutes before you're ready to jump into the water, just swallow and blow your nose. The same stuff that you do underwater, but above ground. Just try to consciously remember to do it a few times and when you're descending, keep doing it.
For me that really worked. I noticed that anytime I forgot to "equalize" on the surface, I would have tremendous trouble doing it underwater. But if I remembered, viola, no trouble!
HTH.
Here's what I did. On the boat, five minutes before you're ready to jump into the water, just swallow and blow your nose. The same stuff that you do underwater, but above ground. Just try to consciously remember to do it a few times and when you're descending, keep doing it.
For me that really worked. I noticed that anytime I forgot to "equalize" on the surface, I would have tremendous trouble doing it underwater. But if I remembered, viola, no trouble!
HTH.
I find that it is very common for new divers to have a problem with this. Clearing your ears is a new skill that takes time to master. Eventually you will have a better feel for when you need to clear your ears and it will become almost automatic.
Make sure that you are clearing early and often. Built up pressure makes it harder to equalize. By equalizing early you don't let this pressure build up. Equalize before you get in the water and then as soon as your ears are under the water. Continue to equalize often as you descend. Try putting your tounge on the roof of your mouth and swallowing. I personally find this more effective than holding my nose and blowing, but everyone is different.
I would also suggest looking into Neti. It is an excelent method of clearing your sinuses of excess mucus which makes clearing your ears much easier. This website has information: http://www.jalanetipot.com/
~Jess
Make sure that you are clearing early and often. Built up pressure makes it harder to equalize. By equalizing early you don't let this pressure build up. Equalize before you get in the water and then as soon as your ears are under the water. Continue to equalize often as you descend. Try putting your tounge on the roof of your mouth and swallowing. I personally find this more effective than holding my nose and blowing, but everyone is different.
I would also suggest looking into Neti. It is an excelent method of clearing your sinuses of excess mucus which makes clearing your ears much easier. This website has information: http://www.jalanetipot.com/
~Jess
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