New Diver - Ear Problem

[altaskier]

My wife did her first four open-water dives over two days, and had a plugged-up feeling in one ear for weeks. She consulted with DAN who directed her to a ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor. We were both worried about how her next trip would go a few months later, and she took antihistamines on the advice of the ENT doctor. Turned out on this second trip, where she did 7 dives, all was well.

Best guess is that she didn't properly equalize on her first few dives, and insulted the eustachian tube or something else so things got puffy and thus harder to equalize during that trip. On the second trip she had a better handle on things, equalized properly and didn't insult her ear tissues.

On one of my first dives I had a nosebleed from working too hard and in the wrong way to equalize.

So have hope - as you gain experience, and gather info, you have a good chance that the problem will not recur on subsequent dives.

 

[pherzog1]

Thanks for all your input. I'm going to the ENT Dr. this afternoon to have things checked out. Thanks for all the advice, I do equalize early and often, but this is just a very good reminder that it is extremely important.

ce4jesus ~ I misused the word, pain, I meant pressure. After a couple more dives, I'll probably use the terms more appropriately.

 

[mrlipis]

Something that helped me was to start the equalizing on the surface prior to going under then continue equalizing every few feet. You should equalize before you feel pressure. Eventually you will be able to equalize with a simple jaw movement.

Bruce

 

[z3r0c00l]

Adding to the MrLipis post, I do a few blows every day. Practice, like anything else, really helps. Now I can not only clear quickly (for free diving) but also can do it very gently - and that is as important as anything. Scuba gives us orders of magnitude more time than free diving, and we should take advantage of that by blowing slowly and in a relaxed manner.

With practice, I have also been able to blow air from the corners of my eyes (sounds gross I know) which can be used if you dive with goggles but dont have a mouth tube. Not that I really need to do that, but a fun little trick that I assume most people can do. Could probably blow smoke out my eyes that way if I wanted to.

 

[anzac65]

Hey pherzog1.

I haven't read the posts linked here but I'll bet you just have wax in your ears.

Do you wash your hair every day ? If you do (like me) this tends to dry out your ear canal and stimulate wax production. Diving may move the wax and cause all your symptoms. If so, your GP can syringe them for you, but probably only after you've spent a couple of weeks putting olive oil in your ears to soften the wax.

Post how you do with the specialist please.

 

[DandyDon]

Hey pherzog1.

I haven't read the posts linked here but I'll bet you just have wax in your ears.

Do you wash your hair every day ? If you do (like me) this tends to dry out your ear canal and stimulate wax production. Diving may move the wax and cause all your symptoms. If so, your GP can syringe them for you, but probably only after you've spent a couple of weeks putting olive oil in your ears to soften the wax.

Post how you do with the specialist please.

Wax? Perhaps. Oil for two weeks? Nah. There OTC kits that include oil and syringe for irrigating wax out of ears, the doc exam is the prudent approach.

 

[anzac65]

Wax? Perhaps. Oil for two weeks? Nah. There OTC kits that include oil and syringe for irrigating wax out of ears, the doc exam is the prudent approach.

Oil ? Yes. If the wax is too hard. My GP's orders....

 

[DandyDon]

Oil ? Yes. If the wax is too hard. My GP's orders....

Oh, I have used oil to soften ear was the day before irrigating, not for two weeks....

There are many opinions on ear wax and removal, and they generally may differ in the UK from those common in the US. Following physician's orders is always best, unless one needs to shop for a new physician. We have a self-policing AMA here, and I've known a few quacks. Generally we have very good docs here and while an ENT is the ultimate resource for ear help, GPs really seem to know what they're doing for minor problems like we're discussing.

​

 

[anzac65]

Hey DandyDon. Thanks for your reply. My GP sent me off to do the daily oil treatment after examining me, stating that the wax was too hard to remove without at least a week to 10 days of oil. This was after my referral, so maybe I had years worth of wax ? I was as deaf as a post between seeing the doctor and finally getting syringed.....

It was also recommended to put a bit of oil in every couple of weeks to keep future wax soft. It can then apparently dissipate without going hard and building up.

 

[DandyDon]

Hey DandyDon. Thanks for your reply. My GP sent me off to do the daily oil treatment after examining me, stating that the wax was too hard to remove without at least a week to 10 days of oil. This was after my referral, so maybe I had years worth of wax ? I was as deaf as a post between seeing the doctor and finally getting syringed.....

It was also recommended to put a bit of oil in every couple of weeks to keep future wax soft. It can then apparently dissipate without going hard and building up.

Hehe I remember my GP helping me with my first wax blockage. I couldn't believe how loud my world became. :11:

I don't know that adding oil periodically is good for all? Probly depends on the person...