Once again, let me be the poster boy for ‘don’t let this happen to you…’. It seems like I post that a lot but if someone besides me can learn from my dumb a$$ mistakes then that is a positive.
So, two weeks ago we are on a dive – our first OW since certification about a year ago (I did perform a recert in a pool a month ago). I jump in the water and am all excited – I remember most things to do …. except …… equalize. So, I am happily descending, thinking I’m cool because my weight is dialed in decently, I remembered all the usual stuff like the OK signal when I hit the water, quick weight check, my buddy/spouse is close to me. I get maybe 10 ft or so and there is the pressure on the ears. CRAP! That is what I was forgetting. So, I do exactly what I should not have done – did a rather forceful equalization. It cleared, everything is cool, and I continue the dive, equalizing from that point on just like I am supposed to.
We do three days of diving. The only thing is that I seem to have ‘swimmers ear’ in my right ear and my equilibrium is totally shot. I mean, I am walking like I did years ago in college when I was leaving a frat party at 3AM… but I haven’t had a drop to drink this time! But it’s all ok – I’ve had swimmer’s ear before. And this is the first time I’ve used a Transderm Scop patch so that must be making me dizzy – Hey, being a little dizzy is much better than getting sea sick and ruining a perfectly good dive trip!
So we come back home to God’s Country (Atlanta) and I still have that swimmers ear and a high pitched tone. Oh well, it will go away in a few days – heck, I’ve had this last for 3 days before. Now, fast forward to a week later (yesterday). Still have the same symptoms. Maybe I should go see an ENT – so I managed to actually get an appt yesterday afternoon – I had to drive over hell’s acres to get there – but I was able to be seen the same day.
After a hearing test and exam, I learned that I have most likely done some major damage to my right ear and have almost no hearing at all in it! So today I am dosed up on 60mg of prednisone and on a declining dose. I go back to the ENT in two weeks. I am hopeful that I have not done permanent damage but it’s possible that I have indeed. I’ve read horror stories of divers that really messed themselves up this way.
So again, I tell this story so that we all can remember our training; equalize often. Don’t get carried away with ‘new diver, this is way cool’ syndrome. Take it very slow and think about what you are doing – the reef is not going anywhere, I promise. I know that this is advice that I will remember from this point forward.
Take care all!
So, two weeks ago we are on a dive – our first OW since certification about a year ago (I did perform a recert in a pool a month ago). I jump in the water and am all excited – I remember most things to do …. except …… equalize. So, I am happily descending, thinking I’m cool because my weight is dialed in decently, I remembered all the usual stuff like the OK signal when I hit the water, quick weight check, my buddy/spouse is close to me. I get maybe 10 ft or so and there is the pressure on the ears. CRAP! That is what I was forgetting. So, I do exactly what I should not have done – did a rather forceful equalization. It cleared, everything is cool, and I continue the dive, equalizing from that point on just like I am supposed to.
We do three days of diving. The only thing is that I seem to have ‘swimmers ear’ in my right ear and my equilibrium is totally shot. I mean, I am walking like I did years ago in college when I was leaving a frat party at 3AM… but I haven’t had a drop to drink this time! But it’s all ok – I’ve had swimmer’s ear before. And this is the first time I’ve used a Transderm Scop patch so that must be making me dizzy – Hey, being a little dizzy is much better than getting sea sick and ruining a perfectly good dive trip!
So we come back home to God’s Country (Atlanta) and I still have that swimmers ear and a high pitched tone. Oh well, it will go away in a few days – heck, I’ve had this last for 3 days before. Now, fast forward to a week later (yesterday). Still have the same symptoms. Maybe I should go see an ENT – so I managed to actually get an appt yesterday afternoon – I had to drive over hell’s acres to get there – but I was able to be seen the same day.
After a hearing test and exam, I learned that I have most likely done some major damage to my right ear and have almost no hearing at all in it! So today I am dosed up on 60mg of prednisone and on a declining dose. I go back to the ENT in two weeks. I am hopeful that I have not done permanent damage but it’s possible that I have indeed. I’ve read horror stories of divers that really messed themselves up this way.
So again, I tell this story so that we all can remember our training; equalize often. Don’t get carried away with ‘new diver, this is way cool’ syndrome. Take it very slow and think about what you are doing – the reef is not going anywhere, I promise. I know that this is advice that I will remember from this point forward.
Take care all!
