Narrow Eustachian tubes and diving?

[lord1234]

My wife has struggled with very narrow eustachian tubes and difficulty clearing. When she uses Afrin(name brand only) at least an hour before dives, she can dive just fine, but without she can barely clear past 5 feet. We're considering a ballon sinuplasty as a remedy, but am wondering if there are any other solutions.

 

[100days-a-year]

I dive with Afrin and Mucinex knockoffs all the time for the same reason.I prefer that to surgery.
300-400+ dives a year for many years.
I get reverse blocks if I don't use something. Very painful and nd annoying as well as a threat to any deco schedule.

 

[jfe]

Two things I use / used with success. Following an op to open my tubes a couple of years ago I started with the Pro Ear mask (Pro Ear Masks - IST Sports) and continued diving, seach SB there are a few discussions around this mask. Early this year I changed to Docs Proplugs (Doc's Proplugs: The Doctor's Choice for Ear Protection) and use them on every dive now. Maybe she can try these.

 

[lord1234]

I dive with Afrin and Mucinex knockoffs all the time for the same reason.I prefer that to surgery.
300-400+ dives a year for many years.
I get reverse blocks if I don't use something. Very painful and annoying as well as a threat to any deco schedule.

Do you find yourself addicted to Afrin? How many days in a row will you use it?

 

[MASSE]

A good ENT can help you. I also have issues and dive almost every day. My ENT prescribed Fluticasone/Flonas as it is non addictive as Afrin and can use it everyday. Has worked great for me. I also have a friend that used Doc Ear Plugs and it works great for her.

 

[100days-a-year]

Nasal spray addiction is a myth,there are people who have various rebound issues(mistaken for addiction) when using nasal sprays but Afrin's ingredient seems to have a low incidence
Oxymetazoline nasal spray three times daily for four weeks in normal subjects is not associated with rebound congestion or tachyphylaxis. - PubMed - NCBI

 

[lord1234]

This is super interesting. Do you suggest just using Afrin, or a Prescription strength like Nasacort?

 

[wheeledgoat]

I dive with Afrin and Mucinex knockoffs all the time for the same reason.

As a pharmacist, please permit me to chime in a little bit here... guaifenesin (Mucinex) is no better than being adequately hydrated. Really. (I hate the overuse of medication, so I can't help myself when the opportunity presents itself to dispel a myth or misunderstanding.) That said, if it works for you, by all means continue. It wouldn't be the first time someone benefits from a medication through a different-than-expected or unexplainable mechanism. Even if it's a placebo effect, sometimes it just works and there's no convincing people otherwise.

And +1 on the oxymetazoline causing rebound effects, that shouldn't be misinterpreted as addiction. systemic decongestants are also a great option. note it's worth going up to the pharmacy counter and showing your driver's license to get the pseudoephedrine; phenylephrine off the shelf is a distant second.