Getting back in the water, ear-pressure post dive

[hornet115]

Hey all,
I'm a newbie (again) to diving. It's been a few years since I've done and just recently got refreshed.

Anyway, about 7 days ago, I did two 60 foot dives. A little pressure on the way down, but once I got to depth I felt right as rain. Had some pressure, spot to my Dive Master, he said it probably stirred up some congestion (it'd been going around our local area). I never had hearing loss, balance issues, no bleeding, no pain, no itch, but it feels like a head cold? When I wake in the morning its the worst, sometimes when I'm bending over (I sample ground wells,s o I'm hunched over throughout the day) I can feel the stuffiness, but normally by breakfast I'm feeling fine.

Head-cold I'm freaking out about, barotrauma?

I'm not crazy-concerned because there is no pain, no hearing loss, no balance issues.



Grad Student on a budget, and it IS getting progressively better.

 

[WildcatChris]

So is the pressure in your sinuses or your ears? I'm confused about the stuffiness.

I always take sudafed (the good stuff behind he counter in the U.S.) before a dive. The decongestant really helps me avoid a lot of problems. I also follow a certain regiment post-dive depending on the environment:

1) Regardless of location I always use "ear beer" a homemade mixture of half vinegar, half 50% rubbing alcohol. Two or three drops in each ear. This helps disinfect and dry out the moisture so that you avoid swimmers ear.

2) Recently I have started using a "neti pot"(nasal rinse) to rinse out my sinuses after I get home from lake diving. If you've never done it it can be kind of uncomfortable, but I have found that it helps prevent any sinus pressure I might get from water trapped after diving.


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