Left ear has quit!

[Miami Mermaid]

Dear Doc,

My first open water dive was last Saturday. I did have some problems equalizing my ears during descent, but was able to make it to the bottom successfully with no pain on both dives. I did develop a minor nosebleed during the descents.
I should say that I did this feeling well, but with a cold.

After the dives, I treated my ears with AuroDry (the swimmer's ear medication) as directed. Although it helped, I could still hear myself swallow (meaning my ears never totally cleared).

Today is Friday and as soon as I woke up, I felt my left ear closing itself. (It felt as if I plugged it on purpose.).
This is really starting to concern me, and doctors are booked until next week.
My second open water dive (for certification) is this Sunday....should I do the dive? and...what can I do now to help my ear? I'm really starting to get concerned.

Thanks in advance!

 

[scubadoc]

First, let me say that no one should dive with a 'cold'. This is a perfect set up for middle ear barotrauma - which is what you have developed from failure to clear your Eustachian tubes adequately, even though you "had no pain".

Second, ear drops do not get across the tympanic membrane (ear drum) and have no effect on the middle ear. The blocked ear that you now have is from serum, blood or pus in the middle ear from the damage of the pressure changes as you dived.

Third, I would consider this an emergency and you should not be put off for a week for medical care for this problem.
You should have oral decongestants and antibiotics prescribed after a good examination.

Fourth, you should cancel your plans for diving until you have this problem cleared up and until you learn the proper techniques to clear your ears.

Clearing techniques download
http://www.scuba-doc.com/download/Equalizing_Techniques.zip

 

[Miami Mermaid]

Dear Doc,

Thanks for your advice. Yesterday, my family doctor was able to see me. He said the same thing you did, and prescribed Claritin D (pretty strong stuff). I have to say that I feel a bit better already, although I really don't like the side effects of the medication.

I cancelled the dive and my instructor agreed. Thanks again!

 

[blacknet]

Hello,

I take claritin-D. Yes i've used it before diving to. If your having problems with the side effects then you may want to switch over to the non 'D' version (btw the D has sudafed which gives most of the side effects

Oh btw, I have severe allergy problems and use it for that.

Ed

 

[egg007]

never dive with any kind of ear problem. In fact if feeling at all unwell d'ont dive

 

[joewr]

M-M,

We were on Saba not too long ago and I had a "minor" ear infection. I did not dive again until I had seen the island's doctor, been medicated and felt more or less normal (Some folks doubt my normalcy!).

The ears and the sinuses are not to be taken lightly! You can serious damage yourself if you do not pay attention to your body's warning signs. Diving with a cold, plugged sinuses, pulled muscles, etc. for recreational diving is just not worth the risk.

Happy--and uncongested--diving!


Joewr