New Diver with Barotrauma...Help

[O'Malley]

Completed my OW cert last weekend (water temp 54-60 degrees, 20-23' depth and wearing hood) with some difficulty equalizing ears. At one point in third dive, pressure increased to slight pain and ascended immediatley. Remainder of dives were unremarkable. Following dives, fullness in ears experienced; right greater than left. Following morning, fullness in ears continued along with slight ache and crackling with swallowing....never pain, drainage, dizziness/vertigo, nausea or flu-like symptoms. Saw an ENT the next day...hearing test showed slight hearing loss in right ear (fullness greater in this ear). Physical examination revealed some bleeding in right middle-ear and left ear had some broken vessels at the surface of membrane. ENT diagnosed barotrauma and prescribed Methylprednisolone steroid pack. Yesterday, I completed the steroid treatment and continue to take a decongestant (Sudafed). Today, I feel 100% better yet I still experience occasional fullness in the right ear and crackling with swallowing; the ache in the ears has resolved. I have a follow-up appointment with my ENT tomorrow. I am a little nervous regarding my prognosis. Has anyone experienced this in the past? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[mrobinson]

I'm so sorry to hear this is your introduction to diving. Please give us updates.

 

[BillP]

I am a little nervous regarding my prognosis. Has anyone experienced this in the past?

Middle ear barotrauma is the #1 medical problem reported by divers- especially new divers. In most cases, with a little practice and experience, it goes away and doesn't come back.

 

[pipedope]

To learn more about your ears and diving go to;
http://faculty.washington.edu/ekay/
and watch the streaming video,
"The Diver's Ear - Under Pressure"

It will help you understand your ears and diving and how to avoid the problems you had.

 

[O'Malley]

To learn more about your ears and diving go to;
http://faculty.washington.edu/ekay/
and watch the streaming video,
"The Diver's Ear - Under Pressure"

It will help you understand your ears and diving and how to avoid the problems you had.

I have spent the last week absorbing as much information as I can, including this video which I found to be of great value...simply want to get the OK from Doc to get back in the water, apply the various methods of equalization and find what technique works best for myself.

 

[O'Malley]

Thanks for all you feedback! I had my follow-up appointment with ENT this morning and all is good..."may return to diving this weekend." Personally, I will give the ears a couple weeks more recovery but want to get in a weekend of dives to practice descents, equaliztion methods and buoyancy before Cozumel trip in a few weeks. This experience has certainly been a lesson well learned...

 

[liberato]

Before I started diving I didn't realize the amount of active engagement required in diving. One thing that I found valuable is anticipating equalization changes. Don't wait till you feel the discomfort. By then your body is already pulling body fluids into your middle ear in an attempt to balance out the relative pressure difference. Getting it down pat is just an experience thing and will naturally come. Your symptoms I would say are common when starting out so don't let them scare you away. When I think about it, there is always some mild trauma involved even now but it seems like I tolerate it as a trade-off for the diving experience.