New Diver OW water in my ears?

[Maria1404]

Hi Guy's im new here and new at diving I am still working towards my OW but not far of I done my first 6 meter dive yesterday in the pool, I had trouble equalizing at first but the second time I seemed to be able to do it a lot better.

But now It feels like I still have water in my ear, anyway of clearing this??? I have my next lesson on Sunday but this one is only in a 2 meter pool so the preasure is not as bad.

Help Please

Thanks In Advance.

Maria.

 

[Quero]

Hi Maria. It sounds to me as if you hurt your ears a little bit on that first dive. It's called barotrauma of the ear and it's very common among new divers. When it happens you get a full feeling in your ear and muffled hearing as if you had water in it. It's sort of like a bruise in the middle ear with some swelling, and like a bruise, it just takes time for the injury to heal up and the swelling to go down. There's nothing you need to do to get rid of the fluid--it usually takes a day or two to clear up. So if a day or two after the injury you don't see improvement, you should go visit an ear-nose-and-throat specialist to have your ears examined professionally to check for a more serious injury. Don't dive again until your ears are okay.

 

[dfx]

Or it could just be water or maybe some dislodged earwax. I used to get that a lot because naturally I have too much earwax. In any case, have it checked out by a doctor - if it's just earwax or water trapped between it, you can use ear drops and/or a syringe or pump to clean it out. But don't do that before you know for sure.

 

[TMHeimer]

If you have tried the usual shaking of head, you may also use the ear drops. Good idea to check with doctor, but I would figure you're OK if there is no pain. Then if you're not wearing a hood, consider Doc's Pro Plugs.

 

[DevonDiver]

It feels like I still have water in my ear, anyway of clearing this??? I have my next lesson on Sunday but this one is only in a 2 meter pool so the preasure is not as bad.

Hi Maria,

You will, of course, get some water in your ears when diving... but no more so than when swimming or, for that matter, when taking a shower. Water will only enter the outer ear canal... then it will drain out. If you have an accumulation of wax in the ear, it may leave that feeling 'wet' for a while afterwards.

The most common sensation of having 'water in the ears' actually arises from accumulated fluids in your middle ear. As others have mentioned, it's a symptom of minor barotrauma (pressure injury) and is extremely common with novice divers. The most likely cause of this is over-forceful equalization. If you blow to hard when equalizing, you will push fluids into the middle ear. This can help protect the middle ear from pressure, but for as long as the fluid remains, it can cause the 'water logged' sensation.

Luckily, that sensation typically ceases (with a 'pop') within 12 hours of the dive... as the fluid drains out. If it doesn't cease after 24 hours, then consult an ENT specialist doctor.

Alternatively, you may simply have had some minor congestion and the act of equalizing pushed that congestion (mucus) up the Eustachian tube into the middle ear. Same result - fluid in the middle ear and symptomatic sensation of 'water logged' ears. Again, it should drain of its own accord within a few hours of the dive.

In either case... note for next time.... EQUALIZE GENTLY.

 

[flots am]

Hi Guy's im new here and new at diving I am still working towards my OW but not far of I done my first 6 meter dive yesterday in the pool, I had trouble equalizing at first but the second time I seemed to be able to do it a lot better.

But now It feels like I still have water in my ear, anyway of clearing this??? I have my next lesson on Sunday but this one is only in a 2 meter pool so the preasure is not as bad.

If it doesn't clear up in a couple of days by itself, please see a doctor before you try any home remedies.

If you've managed to damage your eardrum, it will generally heal up nicely, possibly with a little attention from a doctor, but if you start squirting in liquids and get any behind your eardrum, it will make things much worse.

flots.

 

[Maria1404]

Thanks for your help guys , it feels some what better today I don't feel any pain in the ears. I think I may have been congested a bit as well because as I was going up I started to get dizzy and had to stop and this is only a 6 meter pool. My boss at work is a diver and said what I feel sound like some water or soft wax held from the preasure (when I swallow every time I hear the sound of like little popping I can't explain it, feels like its going out and then back in :/, but I wana get more opinions rather then just one persons experience. He has recomended stuff like Otex or earex is this right?

P.s. I hear fine and my hearing don't sound muffled not like when you first get out the water.

Thanks.

Maria.

 

[DevonDiver]

Maria... everything you describe sounds (no pun intended) like a middle-ear issue. With all due respect to your boss at work, ear drops will have no effect on a middle-ear problem.... the middle ear being separated/sealed from the ear canal by the ear drum.

 

[Quero]

Maria, that squishy sound and popping sound are symptomatic of middle ear barotrauma. Ear drops will not fix that. You should go see a doctor and have your ear examined. Here is a streaming video that shows what happens when you hurt your ear with a barotrauma injury. It also describes ways to prevent this from happening. I think you would do well to view the video, and of course seek first-hand medical advice.
Scroll down on this page to view the video: Doc's Diving Medicine Home Page

 

[Maria1404]

Thanks guys, got a Doc appointment for today. Will have a check over and hopefuly wont be anything serious so that I could continue with my lesson on Sunday. Will let everyone know the verdict.

Appreciate everyones helps.

Thanks.

Maria.