Left ear

[DivingCRNA]

Dr. Deco-

Over the last year or two I have noticed that whenever I dive several days in a row, or often, that my left ear feels full. I have come back from two SCUBA vacations with fluid in my left ear. I do not have an otitis, just fluid. It usually eventually clears up on it's own, but it effects my hearing and I am left handed and it is hard to talk on the phone in that ear.

Do you know why this happens or how to prevent it? How do I get it to clear up faster?

Thanks!

 

[Eagle-scuba]

you must have had problems doing a Valsalva, could be several things,barotrauma, should be seen by a doc, just in case it might cause perminant ear problems...see ya` under

 

[DivingCRNA]

you must have had problems doing a Valsalva, could be several things,barotrauma, should be seen by a doc, just in case it might cause perminant ear problems...see ya` under

I forgot to mention this-I never have trouble clearing my ears. I have no trouble on descent. Never any pain.

I always feel both of them equalize. I have had an ENT doctor look at my ears and they say nothing looks unusual except that there is fluid in there. But no infection.

 

[Eagle-scuba]

your lucky....a lot of times your round window can rupture from over preasurizing during the Valsalva, from your discription it sounds like barotitus.... at higher pressures in the tissues and blood vessels ~squeezes~fluid and blood from them into the middle ear and sinus cavities, the result is pain in the ears and sinuses,and the feeling of fluid in the ears.....do you get dizzy afterwards....

 

[plongeursousmarin]

I'm no doctor but I've had my share of ear infections and water logged ears. Sounds like you have water in your ear (a.k.a., swimmer's ear or the onset of it). You could try a commercial solution like Divers' Ear or Oro-Dri or make your own with a blend of 90° rubbing alcohol (to dry the ear canal), white vinegar (to kill germs that could become infectious while trapped in water in your ear) and distilled water (optional - maybe to dilute the whole thing). I've just had a bout of the same problem (along with a mild ear infection) and after a bit of research on this board and on DAN's site, the trick is to keep the solution in your ear for a full 5 minutes per ear. On the days you dive, you could do this in the morning and in the evening or more as the case may be. It's working for me.

 

[DivingCRNA]

your lucky....a lot of times your round window can rupture from over preasurizing during the Valsalva, from your discription it sounds like barotitus.... at higher pressures in the tissues and blood vessels ~squeezes~fluid and blood from them into the middle ear and sinus cavities, the result is pain in the ears and sinuses,and the feeling of fluid in the ears.....do you get dizzy afterwards....

I did once after being on a live aboard for a week. Around 25 dives in a week. But I thought it was "land sickness" after being on a Blackbeards boat for a week. I have come up a little dizzy from some dives though. But not always.

 

[DivingCRNA]

I'm no doctor but I've had my share of ear infections and water logged ears. Sounds like you have water in your ear (a.k.a., swimmer's ear or the onset of it). You could try a commercial solution like Divers' Ear or Oro-Dri or make your own with a blend of 90° rubbing alcohol (to dry the ear canal), white vinegar (to kill germs that could become infectious while trapped in water in your ear) and distilled water (optional - maybe to dilute the whole thing). I've just had a bout of the same problem (along with a mild ear infection) and after a bit of research on this board and on DAN's site, the trick is to keep the solution in your ear for a full 5 minutes per ear. On the days you dive, you could do this in the morning and in the evening or more as the case may be. It's working for me.

I do not think there is water in the ear canal, but I will try it. If it works, it will be worth it.

I had a doc look with an otoscope, thinking there was a ball of wax in there, but he said there was fluid behind the membrane.

Thanks.

 

[Dr Deco]

I would just consult the DAN people. I personally do not have any thoughts or advice on this problem.

 

[Quero]

I just dropped one of my dive buddies off at the chamber because of inner ear DCI. His symptoms began Monday afternoon, and we got him to the hospital as soon as the boat could get back to port. He was diagnosed initially with inner ear barotrauma by the ER doc, but on a follow-up visit to the ENT specialist, suspicion of DCI grew. The ENT called in a diving physician, who called in a second one. Together these three concluded that my buddy needs to recompress. Now it's been over 24 hours, so it's a bit trickier, they say.

The point is, you should get an evaluation. Who knows, you may have a tendancy to trap bubbles in your inner ear.