Inner ear trouble - can anyone help...?

[martincooke]

Hello
I'm new to diving and have only logged 10 dives.. Can anyone help me with my ears!

Since my last dive i've had water trapped in my inner ear and it wont come out. I'm travelling SE Asia for 2months and my ears have been blocked for 6 weeks now. My symptoms aren't severe but i have occasional headaches, dizzy spells and hearing loss (estimated @ 20-30%). I am always conscious of the small amount of water in them.

In Thailand I went to a hospital where they said i had a mild inflamation (not infection), and so I took a 5 day course of decongestants which didn't shift it, then steroids for a 5 days, but this hasn't worked either.

Do my symptoms sound farmiliar to anyone - What advice would you give considering i am in Asia and the medical services aren't as hi-tech as perhaps at home in the UK.

Should i be worried/go home to get this sorted?

Any replies would be greatly appreciated.
Martin

 

[garyfotodiver]

How do you know you have water trapped in your inner ear? Do you have a perforated eardrum? Is this what the Thai hospital people told you? When you have dived, can you clear your ears?

I think you need a decent ENT physician to help sort this out.

 

[martincooke]

How do you know you have water trapped in your inner ear? Do you have a perforated eardrum? Is this what the Thai hospital people told you? When you have dived, can you clear your ears?

I think you need a decent ENT physician to help sort this out.

Gary,

Not sure about the water in my inner ear - I kinda assumed that seeing as it hadn't come out after so long - I can hear the water whenever i create a vacuum over my ear... I hope i haven't got a perforated eardrum.

In all my dives i have been able to clear my ears - Ive had no trouble.. it just now the water wont dissapear. Do you think Hopi ear candling would help between now and getting to a decent ENT physician?

Martin

 

[jjmktg]

You need to see an ENT as soon as possible and certainly before you fly or dive. The inability to pressurize your middle ear during ascent or descent in air or water can cause serious pain and damage. This is NOT something to play around with home remedies with as it suggests chronic narrowing or blockage of eustacia passages.

 

[DocVikingo]

Sounds unpleasant and understandably you are concerned.

Symptoms of the sensation of water trapped within the ear, occasional headaches, dizzy spells and hearing loss estimated within the 20-30% suggest a high probability that the ear has been damaged. Given these complaints and an apparently negative examination of the outer ear, the problem likely is centered in the middle ear.

Here is graphic of the main sections of the ear-->http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cach...&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

As such, any technique that primarily acts on the outer ear canal is not likely to provide much benefit.

Among these is Hopi ear candling, a procedure for which many scientifically unsubstantiated claims have been made. Not only is it very improbable that it would provide any relief, but it could result in damage to the ear such as burns, infection or harm to the ear drum. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has stated that the practice is not safe and considers the ear candle an unregulated medical device.

A study of the procedure in a well-respected medical journal (Laryngoscope. 1996 Oct;106(10):1226-9) reported:

"Ear candles are a popular and inexpensive alternative health treatment advocated for cerumen removal. A hollow candle is burned with one end in the ear canal with the intent of creating negative pressure and drawing cerumen from the ear. If effective, significant savings could result from the use of ear candles. This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of this alternative method for cerumen management. Tympanometric measurements in an ear canal model demonstrated that ear candles do not produce negative pressure. A limited clinical trial (eight ears) showed no removal of cerumen from the external auditory canal. Candle wax was actually deposited in some. A survey of 122 otolaryngologists identified 21 ear injuries resulting from ear candle use. Ear candles have no benefit in the management of cerumen and may result in serious injury."

Based on a diagnosis of mild inflammation, decongestants and steroids are reasonable initial therapies, but reportedly have been ineffective to date. It is possible that inadequate dosages or courses were prescribed, although some response would have been expected. It is possible that an infection of some type exists.

Under such circumstances, a thorough evaluation by a qualified ENT seems indicated. Bangkok has facilities providing this specialty, including:

Bangkok Ear Nose & Throat Center
Tel. (66) 2310 3010,
(66) 2310 3188
ent@bangkokhospital.com

Bumrungrad Hospital
Phone:66 (0) 2667-1555
Fax:66 (0) 2667-1214
Appointment@Bumrungrad.com

In addition, Divers Alert Network South East Asia-Pacific (DAN SEAP) http://www.danseap.org/ may be able to provide guidance.

Please let the board know how this resolves.

This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual, and should not be construed as such.

Best regards.

DocVikingo

 

[martincooke]

Thanks to all that replied to my post regarding my ears

I went to Bumrungrad Hospital and the ENT doctor said that i have no damage to my ears - Great news... He has prescribed oral and nasal decongestants for when i fly, and tablets to thin the blood called 'Sermion'...

My ears are feeling better already.

Thanks once again to all on Scubaboard.

Regards, Martin Cooke