Looking For An ENT In The San Diego Area Who Dives

[tracymercury]

Does anybody know of one?
I'm new to diving; have consistent problems equalizing; would like an exam from someone who is familiar with diving-related stuff so I can find out if there's anything wrong in there. I've always been a slow and problematic equalizer, even from altitude changes.

 

[ronbeau]

Does anybody know of one?
I'm new to diving; have consistent problems equalizing; would like an exam from someone who is familiar with diving-related stuff so I can find out if there's anything wrong in there. I've always been a slow and problematic equalizer, even from altitude changes.

If you call DAN they might be able to refer you to an ENT who is familiar with diving.

DAN - 1-800-446-2671
http://www.diversalertnetwork.org

 

[tracymercury]

But, I'm not a DAN member.

 

[Ben_ca]

I don't think it matters...it's a toll free number anyway... what's the worst they can say? No?

 

[tracymercury]

Thanks, guys. I'll try it.

 

[gert7to3]

Another thought, though DAN was the first one, try some of the local LDS. They might be able to give you a name or two.

 

[tracymercury]

I'll try that, too, if the DAN thing doesn't work. Thanks.
So....I noticed you use a ProEar mask. How do you like it, and why do you use it, if you don't mind my asking? I mean, I get generally why you'd use it, I meant why do you, specifically, use it?

 

[dk2943]

When I first started, I had trouble equalizing. I am not a member of DAN, but I emailed them and they referred me to a local ENT who was also a diver. He checked out my sinuses and said there was no problem. He then suggested that a day before each dive, I start using Afrin. It worked like a charm!

 

[gert7to3]

Tracymercury, I had a tympanoplasty (reconstructed eardrum) in my right ear. The stress of water in my ear canal, especially cold water gave me some trouble with equalization. The Pro Ear mask keeps my ear dry. I found it easier to equalize with air on both sides of my eardrum. It's also easier on a dive week. No swimmer's ear etc. In colder water I'm blowing warm air over my ears, no ice cream headache. Finally, if I should perforate the eardrum, I probably won't flood my middle ear, thus avoiding vertigo and infrection.

I also saw a post where someone was complaining about sunfish (freshwater) biting his ears. They'll have to go after something else on me.

dk2943, regarding meds. Afrin is a powerful decongestant, but longterm use can cause a rebound effect. On advice of my ENT I use a mucus relief product (think Mucinex). This helps keep things flowing in my sinuses. I also flood my nasal passages with saline solution, it hydrates and cleanses.

Pressurizing your ears in the weeks before a dive trip is helpful for me. Gets my ears used to the changes.

I will occasionally use Sudafed, but just the 4-6 hour acting variety. You should not be popping 12 hour capsules repeatedly. Afrin is for use if I feel really clogged up. By and large I don't need either.

 

[tracymercury]

Thanks for the info, guys.
I just got OW certified in February, and so I've only got 14 dives in my little log book. Don't tell anybody, but.... I'm ashamed to admit that I've had to take Sudafed every time I've dove, even for the pool sessions of the class.

I couldn't equalize/had real difficulty equalizing, taking forever to even get 6-10 feet below the surface, and sometimes not ever being able to equalize my right ear (this is in a 12-foot pool). I was distraught, because learning to dive mattered a lot to me, and I couldn't figure out this thing that was threatening my ability to even see if I could learn the skills and had the confidence to not freak out underwater.

I was at my wits' end, when a friend suggested I try Sudafed. I know it's frowned upon, and I understand the physiological dangers of the possiblity of it wearing off while I'm diving. But, I tried it anyway because I didn't know what else to do, and it worked.

I was trying to figure out why a vasoconstrictor would help me, and I was reading a bunch of stuff in these forums. I read somewhere in here or on somebody's website about the skin cells in the ear canal swelling when there's water present in there persistently, and that somehow causing equalization difficulties (I understood the reasoning at the time, but can't remember it now). I think maybe that's my case, because I surf regularly, but I suck so I fall a lot and get tumbled around? So, I'll have water backed up in my sinuses, unbeknownst to me, for a day at a time, ready to release in a flush the first time I get in a wierd position. I also sometimes get water stuck in one of my ears for a day or two.

So, dk2943, I only have to take the Sudafed right before I dive, and I'm thankful for that, but I would like to know if there's anything wrong in there. So, thanks for your experiences with DAN. I'll get off my butt here soon and contact them.

And, gert7to3, thanks for your info, as well. I'm really interested in those ProEars as a last resort if I can't get this thing straightened out with a visit to the doctor. It's nice to hear the experiences of someone who's used them. I'm going to try Doc's ProPlugs first, because I already have them, and because it would be really cool if they would do the trick and I wouldn't have to use Sudafed, because I can use them for surfing in cold water, too.

Also, what you were saying about using drugs like Afrin? I hate taking the Sudafed, 'cause I normally take drugs for anything only really rarely. Hopefully, I won't develop a tolerance, because I don't dive very often, and I only have to take it when I dive, not the day before or anything. And, the 4-6 hour variety works fine for me, too.

Sorry about the novel.