Having a few problems with my ears.

[foreverbored]

It's deffinatly not water.

I'd say i probably bruised something trying to equalized, as i had alittle trouble. and its just swolen slightly, and making ot hard for the air to escape.

just give it time.

Thanks for all your help guys.
Much appriated.

 

[HomelessDiver]

Doctormike... thanks a bunch for those links! Seriously, I learned a lot more than I ever knew and honestly, might have prevented my recent 'perforated eardrum' at 20m and descending. I guess thats the tympanic membrane to be accurate. Now I'm drydocked for at least a month the Doc says. (not an easy thing when you live on Boracay)

Theres a lot of reading in those links so that'll be tonight's internet foray... again, thanks!

 

[doctormike]

Doctormike... thanks a bunch for those links!

Sure, no problem! Always glad to help...

Feel free to keep us posted...!

Mike

 

[obx_diver]

If its a reverse block, take a decongestant and give it time. Even if you don't have a cold, it will dry you out and help it clear.

Next time you dive, take it SLOW. New divers can't go too SLOW. On the way up, you will of course NOT blow, but you can flex your throat, wiggle your jaw, swallow, etc.

And all the advise above is on the money.

 

[foreverbored]

I'm 95% certain i just bruised something, which has swollen up, thus muffling my hearing, and giving a feeling that the ear is blocked.

I still have the feeling in my ear, but no were near as bad, and it seems to be slowly going.

 

[doctormike]

I'm 95% certain i just bruised something, which has swollen up, thus muffling my hearing, and giving a feeling that the ear is blocked.

I still have the feeling in my ear, but no were near as bad, and it seems to be slowly going.

OK, it's good that things are improving. However, if the hearing doesn't clear up quickly, it might not be a bad idea to see an ENT doctor and get an audiogram.

 

[Andy077]

easiest thing for me, i had the same issue, instructor zero help, was to pull my tongue back as far as it could go when equalizing, went from trouble to get to the bottom of the pool, to zipping down to 80 feet no problem.

 

[Lee Taylor]

I woke up this morning, and the blockage in my right ear seems to have gone, but my left ear is twice as bad. It doesn't hurt. hearing is muffled, and it's basically the same type of sensation, as needing to equalize when you go up a tall mountain, ect.

My unprofessional opinion: I have been studing the subject a lot lately. I also have the muffled ear due to a "reverse sqeeze". From what I have read, apparently the muffled sound is produced by the inner ear cavity having fluid in it. IF this is the case, I think the resolve will be that the fluid will have to be absorbed by the body over time. The only inner ear drain that I am aware of is the eustactian tube. A doctor would perhaps perscribe a medicine to help this absorbtion process along. I doubt seriously a doctor will cut into the inner ear to drain this fluid. The objective of the diver is to keep his eardrum in a "neutral" position, neither bulging outwards or inwards. The eardrum bulging "excessively" inward or outward is the root cause of the divers ear problems. I hope this helps. I love diving and I am struggling with resolving reverse squeeze problems.

 

[DandyDon]

easiest thing for me, i had the same issue, instructor zero help, was to pull my tongue back as far as it could go when equalizing, went from trouble to get to the bottom of the pool, to zipping down to 80 feet no problem.

The video link in my sig below may still be helpful. It's helped many...!

My unprofessional opinion: I have been studing the subject a lot lately. I also have the muffled ear due to a "reverse sqeeze".

I didn't see a mention of a doctor visit? Still bluffing? Yeah, I do that too much too, but do - ok?

 

[Andy077]

The video link in my sig below may still be helpful. It's helped many...!

I didn't see a mention of a doctor visit? Still bluffing? Yeah, I do that too much too, but do - ok?

thanks! that would have been useful in April!
my instruction on equalizing was basically, "Yes, do that."