NEWBIE Diver with ear pain

[Midget Clown]

Just finished my AOW in Thailand and had a few issues equalizing on my first deep dive. It was nothing crazy but took a couple extra minutes and had to go up a couple feet a few times to get my right ear to clear. I was fine on the next two dives with just a little discomfort. Its been 24 hrs and I have a very slight pain in one ear and had like a dime size blood stain on my pillow. From the research I did it doesn't seem to be anything crazy but I have 2 more dive days Mon and Wed and want to make sure ill be ok. I have 12 dives so if this is a stupid question please go easy on me.

And Hello from a new member. Any info would help.

 

[Diver0001]

You need to get a doctor to look at it before you go diving again. You have very likely experienced what is called a barotrauma (pressure injury) to your ear. A doctor can give you more specific details. There probably won't be any long term damage but diving until it heals is a bad idea.

R..

 

[Midget Clown]

How does that work in a different country? Should I ask my dive shop for a recommendation?

 

[Diver0001]

If you have travel insurance you usually need to pay upfront, get the doctor to document the visit and then claim it using that "proof" at home again. Keep everything. Make notes, get a signature, call the insurance company to get a "todo" list before you go.

The dive shop may indeed be able to recommend someone. Many shops have doctors they work with on a regular basis. I would go that route.

R..

 

[Diver0001]

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A ScubaBoard Staff Message...

moved to the medical forum

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[BoltSnap]

I wouldn't go back into the water if I were you until I am checked and OK'ed to go back by a specialist physician. See the specialist ASAP without delay.

 

[fmerkel]

Likely you've done barotrauma (pressure damage) to you inner ear. It bled. The pressure probably ruptured you eardrum so the blood leaked out. You really don't want to dive until that heals. Unsanitary saltwater will get in your middle ear. All kind of bad things can happen from that.

Suggest after you see the doctor, then you should figure out something to salvage your vacation. Your diving there is done for now. It will not heal in time to dive unless you are there for a good while.

You want to get it attended to so it can do some healing. You also have to fly home I assume, which involves pressure changes. You want do discuss that and your timeline with the doc.

Long term, you need to do some serious research on clearing, clearing techniques, and consequences of improper clearing when you are able to dive again so this does not reoccur.

 

[Dogbowl]

I agree with the previous posts. Get it checked out by a doctor locally and refrain from diving on this trip.

I had a reverse block once and there was no bleeding. I had a hearing test done recently and was told I had a mild hearing loss. Doc said it could very possibly have been caused by the barotrauma. So please be careful.

 

[tursiops]

Call DAN collect before doing anything else; assuming you have DAN accident insurance? Otherwise you are risking not having them cover any costs. Since you will be missing dives for medical reasons, your travel insurance will kick in too; assuming you have travel insurance?