help with equalizing

[gmrviper]

So i have made a total of 5 dives. 3 at the swimming pool and 2 at our local lake. Im unable to get my ears to equalize. At about the 10 ft mark i have go back to the 8 ft mark to relieve the pressure. I have watched the diving doc video and have found that the maneuver where you plug your nose blow and swallow works the best for me. I can feel and hear the crackle. But i still feel the pain when i descend down to 10ft. I tried probably 20 times yesterday to get the pain to go away. I would go down a ft equalize go another equalize. I even equalized a couple times on the car ride down. My instructor seems confused. He sent me to a doctor and he said i have no issues that he can see. But he gave me some nose spray and allergy pills to try. This was a couple of weeks ago.

Anyone else have this issue. It was really a bummer to be at the lake for the first time and not get the chance to really see anything. Everyone else got to see an old house and school bus. I was just kinda stuck for 2 hours trying to equalize. I hear sudafed is a good thing to try and maybe the docs pro plugs? I have no history of ear infections or problems with my ears prior to this. I think i can lick this problem, but im just missing something. Thanks for the help and advice.

 

[coglesby]

Some folks just have narrow eustachian tubes and have a harder time equalizing than others. It's my experience with these divers is that the more you dive the easier it becomes...the more you work the tubes, the more "stretchy" they become. I'd also recommend clearing your ears "early & often" prior to a dive (on shore, on the surface, etc)...on the descent, try looking up while doing the valsalva manuever...It even helps to practice this when sitting around at home watching tv, etc. Since there isn't any medical condition noticed by your doctor, I suspect the more you practice it, the easier it will. Don't give up.

 

[gmrviper]

Ok good call on the looking up. I wasn't doing that. Thanks for the encouragement and advice. It does seem like i can get down a bit farther each time i go.

 

[spectrum]

gmrviper,

So you saw the video, saw you doctor and did some conditioning on the way to the sire.

As you have probably learned from your research there is the trap door effect. What are you doing in the water? Do you equalize just before leaving the surface and on each breath during descent? If you do that you should be able to keep the trap door from closing on you.

Keep practicing it daily, a few times a day. Learning to apply just enough pressure to promote air flow is the trick. More is not better here. You develop skill and your tubes become conditioned to respond this way.

Sometimes tipping your head back for an instant can re-contort passages and that can help too.

Is your hood especially tight, especially against the ears? This can be tested by pulling the hood away form the ear momentarily while trying to equalize. A tight external seal to the ear can also set you up for misery.

Pete

 

[gmrviper]

No im not doing it on each breath. Im still kinda new so i still am a bit nervous. So i just kinda take my time going down. And i didnt wear a hood yesturday. The water was 65 degrees and i had a 3mm wetsuit on. The instructors thought the cold may have been causing me an issue. I had this same problem in the pool, but i was not able to get the sound in my ears that i can now.

 

[Lee Taylor]

Hopefully this will help.

I have never had problems with my ears going down, but have had significant problems comming up. They call it "reverse block"

Here is what I have found to work for me:

1. I was talking to upper management at PADI and he said that Navy divers snort salt water. So, I purchased a squeeze bottle at the grocery store with saline in it and start using it the day before diving.

2. Ascend very slowly all the while working your eustation tube. In your case. Descend very slowly all the while working your eustation tube.

3. While clearing the eustation tube tilt the head from side to side as if trying to put your ear on your shoulder. This stretches the tube.

 

[a22shady]

I too had a simliar issue. As i struggled a lot. It took me about 15-20min just to get down to the platform at about 25'. I was strecthing my neck looking up swallowing everything. It felt as if i was being stabbed in the ear with a knife is only way to explain it. After watching the Diving video by Dr. Edmound Kay I wrote him a letter and he wrote back and actually called. And had stated it was most likely my form to why I could not equalize and he was correct my trouble was that everyone say's t blow softly well, If you do not blow hard enough you wont equalize. And in his video he demonstrates how much force is needed So my next dive. I blew a little harder and sharper and I heard the sqeak and I could dexcend better but at that point my ears were still sore from before so it didn't feel to great. After 2 weeks and my ears feeling better back to the water and Zero problems. I can descend like a rock. One thing he pointed out is to equalize / Pressurize your ears right before your head goes under as this makes it easier to equalize once under.

Make sure you blowing hard enough to equalize. Also pressurize your ears just before you descend.

My Doc also recomded Sudafed or 12hr Claritan. took for a couple dives but stopped using it.

Doc's Diving Medicine Home Page

 

[gmrviper]

Yeah that Docs page is great i have watched his video on Youtube. Found it very interesting.

Ive heard alot about sudafed, ill have to pick some up.

 

[Walter]

To prevent a squeeze, which can cause barotaruma (pressure injury); it is necessary to equalize the pressure in the middle ear. The Eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the throat and makes equalization possible. The Eustachian tube is normally closed and must be opened to allow air to flow into and out of the middle ear. The Eustachian tube varies greatly among individuals. Factors that affect your ability to equalize the middle ear include partial obstructions, width, angle and shape of the Eustachian tube.

A number of methods exist which allow you to open your Eustachian tubes and equalize your ears. Equalizing the ears is frequently, although incorrectly, referred to as “clearing.”

The most common method of equalization is the Valsalva Maneuver. Named for Antonio Valsalva, this technique involves pinching off the nostrils and blowing gently into the nose. Never blow forcefully while attempting this method as a too forceful Valsalva Maneuver can result in the rupture of the eardrum, round window or oval window. This will usually result in immediate vertigo and hearing loss, which can be permanent.

The Frenzel Maneuver was named for developer, Herman Frenzel of the Luftwaffe in World War II. This method is preformed by closing off the vocal cords, pinching the nostrils and an effort is made to make a "guh" sound.

The Toynbee Maneuver is simply pinching of the nostrils while swallowing.

Beance Tubaire Voluntaire (BTV) or Voluntary Tubal Opening is the preferred method of equalization once mastered. It feels very much like a yawn and a difference in tonal quality of sounds will be noticed when successful. The muscles of the upper throat are used to pull open the Eustachian tube.

You should employ equalization techniques immediately upon descent and continue them regularly on descent. If any pain is experienced, you should ascend until all pain disappears and begin again.

Often divers find it useful to chew gum or eat foods such as apples or carrots prior to diving. You should not attempt to chew gum or eat while diving. Another equalization technique divers find helpful is to gently massage the area under the ear, just behind the jaw. This gentle massage is most effective when used in conjunction with one of the other equalization techniques mentioned above.

If you are unable to equalize ear pressure, it is possible to rupture the eardrum, round window or oval window. This will usually result in immediate vertigo and hearing loss, which can be permanent. If you are unable to equalize, you should abort the dive.

 

[gmrviper]

Yeah i chewed some of that gum for people with dry mouths on the boat ride out to the dive site. I will try the carrots and apples on my next trip. I did order some of those pro plugs. Figured it was worth a try.
So sounds like i need saline nose spray, sudafed, and eat some apples and carrots. Plus ill keep working on my technique.