LOVE the Water but the pressure does not like me

[Water Maiden]

I have started diving and I have had a hard time equalizing when I get into the water. Once I manage I get sinus problems the next day. Has any one got any ideas on what is going on? It's driving me crazy. I love the water so I really want to get back in, any suggestions.

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

Get to your doctor to make sure there are no problems that diving might make worse. It helps if your doctor knows diving medicine.
I have called DAN (Divers Alert Network) to find a doctor in my area that is familiar with diving medicine.
Good Luck!

 

[Walter]

These are several things you can do to make equalization easier. Munch on something crunchy like apples or carrots prior to the dive, it works the muscles around the jaw/throat. As you're heading to the dive site move your jaw side to side, yawn and gently practice the Valsalva Maneuver.

Once you are in the water, gently use the Valsalva Maneuver as you begin your descent. I often hear people say equalize early and often. I believe it is better to equalize continuously throughout your descent. If you experience any difficulty, ascend until the pressure is relieved then try again continuing the Valsalva while massaging the area under your ear against the back of your jaw.

 

[AliKat]

If it was just problems equalizing, I would agree with Walter and say just take it slow, and also, the more dive, the easier it will get.

However, since you also say you have sinus problems the next day, you really need to see an ENT. Just try to find one who is familiar with diving...best if he/she is a diver as well. I have a lot of sinus problems and used to have trouble clearing. The first ENT I went to had never dove, and knew nothing about it. He said you won't/can't don't even try it. The second was such a hard core diver, he took orders to Guam (second time there) as a Navy Captain to fill a much more junior job just so he could dive. He checked me out, said you are going to have some problems, just take it slow and understand you may have to abort now and then if you can't clear.

 

[arj_scubabunny]

I have the same problem too. new to diving, have had all kinds of ear problems before when i was little, but i have quit smoking 1 yr ago to start this sport and the difference was amazing.

i also got these ear drops, kind of like alcohol, any dive shop or wal-mart usually have them and it helped greatly on my cert dive and also in the ocean.

good diving!! ashley

 

[zeN||]

Hello. In your post you say you have trouble equalizing. Obviously if this is re-ocurring you have to descend carefully, making sure you do equalize before descending further, and avoid traumatising your sinus and ear tissues by rough forceful clearing methods. Some people have smaller eustacian tubes which make equalizing more difficult. Sounds like you are prone to sinus infections, and congestion, and since your ears and sinuses are conjoined they affect each other. You may be experiencing allergies from your environment, in the home, food, air quality, even water quality that inflame your sinuses, eustacian tubes. For your external ears you can use Otic Domboro before and after a dive to prevent ear infections, which acts as a disinfectant and drying agent zeN||

 

[Ber Rabbit]

zeN|| once bubbled...
For your external ears you can use Otic Domboro before and after a dive to prevent ear infections, which acts as a disinfectant and drying agent zeN||

I believe I read somewhere on the medical forum that Otic Domboro is no longer available. There was quite a discussion about it by the docs.

Maiden,
Sounds like you're blowing too hard with the valsalva maneuver. I can force air into my frontal sinuses using that clearing method so you may be doing the same. Walter gives good advice, another thing you can try is pointing the ear you are trying to clear up and away from your shoulder (lean your head to the side) then repeat with the other ear. I find this helps me equalize, I believe it stretches the eustachian tube a bit. Make sure you clear before your head goes under the water and continue to clear all the way down. Use a line to control your descent speed if one is available, many new divers concentrate so hard on clearing their ears they don't realize they are rocketing to the bottom making clearing more difficult.

Good luck! Like the others said, you may need to see a diving doc if the problem continues. Believe me, the last thing you want to do is rupture a sinus!
Ber

 

[zeN||]

:doctor: No Otic Domboro is available by prescription or you can do as I do and make your own for considerably less zeN||

 

[Ber Rabbit]

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14259

Go to the posts by DocVikingo "Don't believe so Larry" and L. Stein DDS "Domboro Solution". They discuss the Otic Domboro availability there. I'm not a doc, just thought I'd show you where I was getting my info.

I too make my own stuff LOTS cheaper that way!

Safe diving
Ber

 

[zeN||]

According to my research navy divers developed otic domboro, which is acetic acid (vinegar), alcohol, and an aluminum compound (often sold as domboro), these elements disinfect and dry the ear, which is a big factor in preventing infections; according to one source when the ear canal is wetted it becomes more susceptible to infection, mostly from natural flora (bacteria) already in the ear canal, you need to dry the ear. The solution is used for 5 min before and after the dive. After getting a nasty infection (extremely painful) I started using this solution and have had no re-occurring otitis media, it is available in Cal as a prescription (I checked, about $30 a small bottle), but it's cheap to make happy diving zeN||