Is it bad to let the doc drain your ear by making a small hole?

[LucidKid]

Is it bad to let the doc drain your ear after barotrauma by making a small perferation in the drum? as far as being able to dive again goes i mean. b/c this doc isn't a "diving" doctor so he probably doesn't think diving again matters.

 

[jonnythan]

I had a perforated eardrum when I was a kid.. never even thought about it when I took up diving. Obviously it hasnt' been a problem, cause the things heal just fine.. but you'll want to ask your doc to be sure and see how long you might have to stay out of water.

 

[Firefyter]

My eardrum has ruptured (perforated) 4 times, the most recent being a week ago. The first 2 times was due to sinus problems, the last 2 because of barotrauma. I usually stay out of the water for a month, and I'm good to go again.

 

[jbd]

Is it bad to let the doc drain your ear after barotrauma by making a small perferation in the drum? as far as being able to dive again goes i mean. b/c this doc isn't a "diving" doctor so he probably doesn't think diving again matters.

Typically the eardrum will heal fairly quickly and there will be no problem as the others have noted from their personal experiences. One thing you need to make sure about is if the doctor is going to insert a PE tube once he/she incises the eardrum. A PE tube is a small plastic, somewhat hour glass shaped tube that is placed in the incision in the eardrum. It keeps the incision open and allows for drainage for a "prolonged" period of time. If you get the tube you would be better off not diving until it is remaoved and the eardrum is healed and intact again.

 

[Diver0001]

the last 2 because of barotrauma. .

Oh dude..... you gotta tell use the details now......

R..

 

[gert7to3]

Just because your doc isn't a "diving doc" doesn't mean that they don't care if you have an intact eardrum. Right now diving is distinctly secondary to treating your ear. If an infection really gets going in there you stand the chance of loosing your eardrum, the ossicles, your hearing and perhaps even getting an infection into the sinuses around your ear.

Bottom line, your eardrum will heal, but only after you take care of your injury.

 

[siebharinn]

My eardrum has ruptured (perforated) 4 times, the most recent being a week ago. The first 2 times was due to sinus problems, the last 2 because of barotrauma. I usually stay out of the water for a month, and I'm good to go again.

I have also perforated my eardrum twice while diving. I think that the first time, I pushed too hard and blew my eardrum from the inside. I took a month off, used antibiotics, and got better. The second time was strange. No real pain or vertigo when it happened. I finished the dive normally, but had pain on the second dive and aborted. I wasn't even sure if I'd blown it, but I felt stuffed up in my middle ear so went back to the ENT just to be sure. Sure enough - same place on my eardrum, same size hole. Another month off. I have a follow up on Tuesday to see if everything healed properly.

It sucks in a big way, because I haven't determined completely how to keep that from happening again, so I'm going to have that hanging over me. I'd hate to be on a dive vacation and have to sit out dives because I broke.

My plan for the next couple dives is to load up on decongestants and see if my doctor will prescribe some kind of nasal steroid to dry everything out. And work on my equalization techniques.