Happy Day!!! I can dive!

[jringold]

If you have seen some of my recent posts you may have noted that I screwed up three weeks ago and forcefully equalized causing some major barotrauma to my right ear. I’ve had pressure and ringing in that ear ever since. I’ve been seeing an ENT since that time and have had several treatments but it is only doing marginally better. I leave for a long vacation on Saturday and was concerned that not only would flying be an issue but also diving. The good news is that my ENT happens to also be a certified diver. I just had a follow-up visit today and he cleared me to dive on several conditions. 1) stay above 60’ (no problem – I was going to do a deep dive cert but I’ll scratch that off the list) 2) Freaking equalize often (totally got that now) and 3) Use a vented ear plug that he ordered overnight delivery for me. To be able to dive I would have accepted a truck load more conditions. He still was not totally wild about the idea but finally acquiesced.

I was afraid that my vacation was going down the crapper. Fishies and corals, here I come!!!

 

[Subcooled]

Remember to do the descents and ascents really really slowly (especially near the surface). The ear is a delicate little thing.

Happy diving

 

[Bearded_fire_worm]

i wonder why he said stay above 60 feet? The biggest pressure change is going from air and down through the first atmosphere of water at least that is what i read.
I also suffered a middle ear barotrauma which included ringing in the affected ear. It happened at only 25 feet.
I've been since reading a lot on the subject and some articles have said the deeper you go the less often you need to equalize, but i like you i will be equalizing a whole lot more!

 

[jringold]

i wonder why he said stay above 60 feet? The biggest pressure change is going from air and down through the first atmosphere of water at least that is what i read.

Dude, I wasn't gonna argue. I went into his office today expecting him to say no diving (or flying). If he had said that to dive I had to stick my finger in my nose, I would not have argued!

 

[Bearded_fire_worm]

How was the ear on your Jamaica dives? What do you think of Doc's vented plugs? Would you recommend then?
Nice that you had a good trip.

 

[jringold]

Hi! I don't think I can fairly review the ear plugs - it fell out as soon as I hit the water (or sometime during the first dive). The good news is that I didn't have any issues diving. We earned PADI Adventure Diver cert and did the Deep dive working toward AOW. Did 100 fsw and didn't have a single issue. I equalized constantly this time. If I had it to do over, I would have bought a complete pair with the strap. However, my ENT ordered a single right ear plug.
Here is the strange thing. When I would equalize, I could feel bubbles coming from my right ear (that is the one the ENT injected prednisone into two weeks prior to the trip). I'm guessing the hole still existed. I think that actually helped a lot. I was afraid it might get infected but it's been a week now since the first dive and so far, so good.

If you have time, check out my Jamaica trip thread. I put a link to a youtube movie that I posted. I've never done a movie or posted to youtube but I thought it turned out ok. It at least gives everyone a chance to see what the reefs here look like.

We are about to leave the resort for the airport then be back home late this evening. It sucks to have to leave this awesome country and the many friends that we reunite with every year (for the past 12 years). But we just booked our trip back for next year. So we have more Jamaica reef diving to look forward to.

Take care all!

 

[Bearded_fire_worm]

Sounds like you have a vented ear drum. Shouldn't have to worry about reverse block in it. Maybe the earplug was too small? I read they do need to be the right size. I was hoping to hear positive reviews.

Oh yeah, going against doc's orders to stay above 60 feet..lol

I did watch your youtube video, nice job. Who's the pretty gal?...maybe you could ask her if she would like to go to Cozumel with me...just kidding.
I do need to find myself a pretty dive buddy though.

 

[jringold]

Going against Doc’s orders is something that I am consistent about. I actually had not planned on going below 60 fsw but we were trying to complete our AOW cert and needed the deep dive. I did go very very slow and monitored myself for ear pressure/pain and was ready to call it at a moments notice. I even told our DM/Instructor to plan on seeing me surface if I had any pain.


As far as the ear plug size, it was sized by the ENT soI’m pretty sure it was the correct size. I think the issue was not the ear plug, but the fact that I had only one with no strap. If I was going to do it again, I’d get a complete set. Please don’t use my experience as a quality gauge. I’m sure they would have worked fine.


The pretty gal appreciated the comment! She has been my beautiful wife for the past 27 years and loves diving as much as I do! Unfortunately if she accompanied you to Cozumel, you would have a slightly pudgy 51 year old dude tagging along as well…. We are a matched set! I recommend you find yourself a pretty dive buddy though – gives you something pretty to see during long SI’s!

 

[ygthad]

Great, Go and have fun!

 

[TMHeimer]

Good to hear things are smoothing out. I too don't understand the 60' thing. If you get Doc's plugs (2) you can wrap the cord that connects them around the mask strap--then you really can't lose them. I'm never sure why these are supposed to help with equalisation. Would seem you can't get any better than with completely open ears. Maybe ask your doc if you think of it.