I got Middle Ear Barotrauma! Diving next week argh...

[NCSCUBADOOBA]

Well, diving has been quite the adventure for me so far.
I just got certified last Friday in our local quarry. So far, I've experienced my freak out on my first dive (wouldn't remove my mask... panicked) then got tons of great advice from many of you and did my remaining 3 dives and passed my OW certification in 48degree murky water!!!!
Well, on my 2nd dive Friday, I was supposed to navigate the group that I was with. I worried more about that darn compass than my ears. I had a lot of pain in my left ear, ascended, equalized, then descended and the pain subsided. When I finished my dives, I felt as if I had water in my ear (as I always do). I put the Auro Dry drops in and for days the "water" wouldn't go away. I tried every freaking trick you guys had on this board and nothing worked.
I did what a member suggested and contacted DAN. The medic told me I had MEBT. Well, I called my doc, he's not in 'til tomorrow, to ask for steroids to bring down the swelling and let my eustachian tube drain so I can get all better. I'm going to Belize on the 29th and would DIE if I can't dive. I did all of this cert. training for this trip and more.
So... any of you out there who have had this and still able to dive? I don't have an infection, no pain, just fullness and popping and no blood or drainage.
I certainly have learned a valuable lesson to worry about my ears first, compass/camera/whatever later and to not push myself.
Any tips or experiences with this would be really helpful!!!!!
Thanks.
Angela

 

[Kray_Z]

i am currently having something like what you have but you put a name to it for me... feels like water drained in and didnt come out and i too am diving soon, in fact this sunday hopefully.... but the dif is that mine happened freediving.. i think i just didnt equalize and on the way up somewater got trapped when air was trying to escape and mix hurt like hell and i couldnt go back down for the life of me.. hopefully thats gone now! gl with your ear too

 

[cmufieldhockey8]

I wouldnt' rush it. I had a similar thing going on with my ears and it took longer then I expected for my ears to drain and feel normal. Sorry about your luck.

 

[Bratface]

You've got to get the meds ASAP. Come to my emergency room if you can't get in to your doctor (yes, we know each other). I had my ear do the same thing the first time I dove in that quarry wearing a hood. I got better, but you can't rush things. You could cause permanent damage or lose your hearing. I'll pm you.

 

[O'Malley]

Well, diving has been quite the adventure for me so far.
I just got certified last Friday in our local quarry. So far, I've experienced my freak out on my first dive (wouldn't remove my mask... panicked) then got tons of great advice from many of you and did my remaining 3 dives and passed my OW certification in 48degree murky water!!!!
Well, on my 2nd dive Friday, I was supposed to navigate the group that I was with. I worried more about that darn compass than my ears. I had a lot of pain in my left ear, ascended, equalized, then descended and the pain subsided. When I finished my dives, I felt as if I had water in my ear (as I always do). I put the Auro Dry drops in and for days the "water" wouldn't go away. I tried every freaking trick you guys had on this board and nothing worked.
I did what a member suggested and contacted DAN. The medic told me I had MEBT. Well, I called my doc, he's not in 'til tomorrow, to ask for steroids to bring down the swelling and let my eustachian tube drain so I can get all better. I'm going to Belize on the 29th and would DIE if I can't dive. I did all of this cert. training for this trip and more.
So... any of you out there who have had this and still able to dive? I don't have an infection, no pain, just fullness and popping and no blood or drainage.
I certainly have learned a valuable lesson to worry about my ears first, compass/camera/whatever later and to not push myself.
Any tips or experiences with this would be really helpful!!!!!
Thanks.
Angela

I, too, had a similar experience during my OW check out dives. I experienced some difficulty with equalizing, ascended immediately and went on to complete my dives unremarkably. However, in the few days following, I experienced ear fullness, crackling with jaw movements and a slight ache, ringing in the ears. I never developed nausea/vomiting, drainage/bleeding, vertigo or flu-like symptoms. I saw an ENT within three or four days and was also diagnosed with Middle-Ear Barotrauma. I was treated with Methylprednisolone and a decongestant, Sudafed. I was sidelined from diving for approximately 3 weeks but I did have some significant trauma, bleeding in the middle-ear. I know your predicament well...I had a trip planned for Cozumel within a month of my incident.

You've done the right thing by contacting your physician...always best to be safe.

 

[NCSCUBADOOBA]

S... I will call u if my doc can't see me today!!!!!
I was just thinking it was quarry water in there... to think it could be blood from my eardrum. yikes!!!!!
I've been downing Profen Forte each night, but it makes me high as a kite.
I'll see either you or my doc today. Promise
Angela

 

[Bratface]

For everybody reading this post....if you THINK you are having any problems with your ears such as drainage (not a good sign), crackling, muffled hearing, ear pain, dizziness, etc. Go to the doctor as soon as possible, especially if you are going on a trip. Remember, you've got to get on the airplane first. Flying with ear or sinus problems can be just as bad on your ears as diving.

 

[O'Malley]

Remember, you've got to get on the airplane first. Flying with ear or sinus problems can be just as bad on your ears as diving.

This was the foremost concern after my experience. Although It would have been dissapointing to not dive in Cozumel, it would have been a real bummer to not make the trip altogether...or pehaps quite painful had I flown without consultation. Ultimatley, I was treated and recovered for my trip. I agree, if you suspect something isn't normal...check it out so treatment can begin expeditiously.

 

[NCSCUBADOOBA]

okay. my doc checked me out. no infection/swelling/redness of any kind. no perforation either. he said i just have fluid trapped in my ear and my eustachian tubes are a little swollen and having a hard time draining. he gave me an RX for a steroid/antibiotic/pain relieving eardrop, but I don't really need it. I called DAN, not satisfied with how my doc explained it, and he said that during equalization my ear created a vacuum and sucked water/fluid from my middle ear into my inner ear and the tubes became swollen. he said to treat with decongestants until the symptoms disappeared and that took days and days, and to take an NSAID i.e. Ibuprofen. I have been taking both since Monday and do notice some change for the better.
He said you can take Sudafed or Claritin.
Luckily, it'll be almost 2 weeks since beginning treatment and 2+ since diving before I have to fly, and he recommended taking Afrin before boarding the plane.
I agree it's best to get it checked out!

 

[cerich]

i hope you are using the drops as well, in my experience they work and fairly quickly.