Newbie here, trying to get back

[Compressor]

@Duke Dive Medicine is a great source of advice and resource.
Welcome to ScubaBoard @Kristine Murphy.
Perhaps it's time to be seen by a specialist in ear, nose and throat area.

 

[Duke Dive Medicine]

First, I totally appreciate you taking the time to help on this. So thank you.

First 5 dives for certification (1995) were fine. Pool to start, open water after that, no issues. Open water were mostly calm water, the bay didn't get much action for wind.

Two dives after certifying were fine as well (1995) usually about 30-40 feet, outside of the bay but calm waters.

95 dive where I got sick, last dive until 2018, choppy seas, first time diving where there was choppiness, first time wearing shorty suit, only wore skins before that. First time going down past 60, went to 70ish. Had a bad ear infection in months prior, I do not remember if I struggled to equalize, vomitted in regulator about 20 mins in and surfaced immediately. I honestly do not remember anything of that day after that. Went to doctors after complaining of upset stomach, dizziness. Nothing done. I'm pretty sure my hearing was okay, I had to pass a hearing test to transfer.

2018 did refresher course dive in the pool, full wetsuit, swam around at the bottom, equalizing was a challenge. Thought it was due to out of practice. Started getting nauseous when I was under at about 8 feet, surfaced, got out of my gear to get to the trash can. Out for the rest of the day, okay a day or two later.

2018 open water dive, full wetsuit, took two dramamine, equalized okay, spent about 25 minutes at roughly 30 feet, surfaced slowly, started getting sick on way back to boat, by the time I was climbing aboard I could not stand up.

2019 lake dive, dramamine again, up to 15 feet but went up and down. A little dizzy but manageable.

As for the non-diving times. I had a horrible attack while flying commercial airlines two years ago, full dose of dramamine. I have had trouble with ear pressure for what seems like ever, I'm constantly moving my jaw and popping my ear, I noticed when I have a bad head and I blow my nose I feel fluid in my ear. I have issues with turning my head too quickly, standing too quick, anything too quick.

Kristine, thanks for the details, this is helpful. From your description, it seems like Eustachian tube dysfunction could be a factor here, especially with your mention of the vertigo while flying. A forced Valsalva maneuver can cause inner ear barotrauma, so that may be contributory as well if there's chronic inflammatory damage to one or both vestibular apparatuses and equalizing your ears sort of pushes you over the edge. I'll be interested to hear what you learn from your ENT team.

Best regards,
DDM

 

[Kristine Murphy]

Kristine, thanks for the details, this is helpful. From your description, it seems like Eustachian tube dysfunction could be a factor here, especially with your mention of the vertigo while flying. A forced Valsalva maneuver can cause inner ear barotrauma, so that may be contributory as well if there's chronic inflammatory damage to one or both vestibular apparatuses and equalizing your ears sort of pushes you over the edge. I'll be interested to hear what you learn from your ENT team.

Best regards,
DDM

Thank you for your input. I'll post updates as I know more.

 

[Akimbo]

Sorry for all of the questions, but this will give you a good baseline history to relay to your ENTs and may help with diagnosis.

Perhaps it's time to be seen by a specialist in ear, nose and throat area.

Thanks to both of you for your contributions.

One of the great things about reviewing issues like this here is it can help people choose the best physician and be better prepared for their appointment. It's not easy to find medical professionals with diving or hyperbaric experience. It can also be hard for a patient to know what is important to tell them and the best vocabulary to employ.

The other great thing is we never know how many other people are helped over the following years. My rough estimate is that about 75% of the people reading ScubaBoard are non members and many of them land here through search engine links.

 

[Kristine Murphy]

@Duke Dive Medicine is a great source of advice and resource.
Welcome to ScubaBoard @Kristine Murphy.
Perhaps it's time to be seen by a specialist in ear, nose and throat area.

I've actually been seeing an ent, I'm on my third actually. The third one is the one that mentioned the fistula so i thought I would seek thoughts of divers.

 

[Compressor]

Paging @doctormike.

Besides the very knowledgeable @Duke Dive Medicine, we have our own ENT specialist @doctormike. Thank you.

 

[Kristine Murphy]

I've actually been seeing an ent, I'm on my third actually. The third one is the one that mentioned the fistula so i thought I would seek thoughts of divers.

Thanks! He's been very helpful!

 

[Kristine Murphy]

So after all the testing it seems that they are thinking it's Meniere's. Aka, they don't know what it is so MD. I think what originally happened is that when I was diving in the 90s I went diving too soon after a bad ear infection, when I got sick under water and surfaced too quick from 70ish feet something tweaked in my ear that just did not go back to normal. They put me on topamax and water pills that seem to help with the vertigo but I don't know if I'll be able to dive again.