Need to find Dr. Specializing in Diving related ear problems

[sytech]

I posted the following about 2 weeks ago:

Question re: Ear problems
"Just came back from Bonaire last Sunday where I did around 30 dives in 2 weeks.

I have been taking a nasal spray before diving. No pills.

No "unusual" problems with equalizing my ears other than the ascent a few feet then descending and equalizing again. The last few days there my ears started to feel a bit clogged though.

On the plane coming home I experienced feeling pressure on my ear. Not exactly painful but somewhat uncomfortable.

Came home last Sunday with both ears feeling "clogged". I seem to remember feeling some pressure on my ears as I was ascending from one of my last dives in Bonaire. Maybe this is the "reverse squeeze" I've heard about.

Went to the Ear doctor today because I don't want this to develop into a more serious problem. She said both ears have "fluid" in them. She gave me an Rx for Cleocin (an antibiotic-probably to forestall the possibility of infection) and Prednisone tabs to be taken for 2 weeks.

Was wondering if anyone can speak to this and give me some advice on how I might prevent this in the future or if they've had similar problems and how they dealt with it".

Thanks,

Sy




Today I went back to the ear Doctor for my follow-up appointment. Any fluid which I'd had in my ear is gone. No infection thankfully but still have that "clogged" feeling in my ears. She gave me an Rx for Nasonex which is a steroidal nose spray inasmuch as I've had very chronic congestion in my left nostril which "may" have something to do with my problem.

Actually I think she was stumped or this may take longer to "resolve". In any event I was wondering how I might find a Doctor who specializes in Dive Medicine.

I live in Northern-New Jersey.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.


Thanks,

Sy

 

[dvrliz1]

Sy,

Contact DAN. When I needed a neurologist who specialized in Dive Medicine they told me who. I now live on Bonaire, but am originally from South Jersey.

Hope they can help.

Liz

 

[Justwander]

I have somewhat of a similar situation. Two weekends ago I was diving in the ocean, about 5 dives and all fairly shallow. I ended up with an awful ache in my ear. Went to the doc who said I had Otitis Externa- swimmer's ear. I took medicine felt fine and went diving the next weekend. Last dive, felt incredibe pressure and heard/felt popping and hissing sound in right ear. Since then my right ear has felt very clogged and unable to clear and have been a bit off balance. Went to a doctor who gave me medicine for feeling dizzy and said i was fine. I called DAN and told them my situation- they agreed I should see someone else before I went diving again.

I went to Dr. Jarod Josephson, 111 E. 77 Street between Lex and Mad. on the upper east side of manhattan.

He sent me to do a series of tests because he could not see anything wrong but believed there could be something. Today I went to an audiologist (did I make that word up) to do the tests. His first test was a simple hearing test and he felt I was completely fine. Then he did another test, where he put air in my ear to see if I would get dizzy. From that he was able to tell that my LEFT ear and not my right ear has some issues. Wierd. I'm going back to Dr. Josephson on Monday night. You can look him up as he has written a book about sinus issues.

I wish you luck in figuring out what's bothering your ears. It is totally frustrating to know something is wrong and not get an answer.