Normal new diver stuff

[Jamie_r]

Hi, you people have probly heard this amillion times before,

Im going to complelte a Padi OW course this weekend, after the exams were finished and all skill tests were finished it was time to goto the deepend of the pool, yay.
until: . uhoh, this is my firs ttime going past 5 feet, i cant equilize my left ear, i accend a bit and try, pinching nose, blowing wiggling, a divemaster came up to help me but i couldnet get down so eventually i just went down inch by inch and after a long 20 minute processs i got down there about 15 feet, now i had to do a controled emerengcny swimming accnet with a buddy and i had a reverse squeeze accending, this was painful but it worked its way out.
To get to the point; im extreamly worried that i may just not beable to dive ever? is this possible? im always aparanoid guy but i mean this is what ive been waiting for for al ong time and put alot of money into and it became a obsessoin and now i wonder is it somthing i just cant do?

on the surface if i pinch the nose, blow my right ear will pop, and to get the left one to go too i have to look up and to the right. i dont know if this works underwater yet.

thank you for your time
Jamie

 

[divingjd]

With the disclaimer that I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV, I'll take a stab at this (instructors learn a fair amount about diving physiology). It sounds like you are having a problem with the left eustachian tube. By looking up and to the right, you may be stretching it out and opening it up, allowing you to equalize.

It's a little hard to tell from your post, but are you equalizing every foot or so? If you wait even a few feet, it can be hard to equalize. But you did say you ascended and then descended inch-by-inch. The reverse squeeze could be a sign of a real problem. It would probably be a good idea to see an ear, nose, and throat specialist, particularly one who knows something about diving. You may be able to get a recommendation from your instructor or local dive shop. If not, call Divers Alert Network to see if they can refer you to an ENT in your area.

 

[Ice9]

Its unfortunate that a lot of alternative methods of equalization are not taught in OW dive classes.

The method that works perfectly for me every time is a modified valsalva. Basically, you pinch your nose and blow gently, but while you are blowing, swallow once. This seems like an impossible thing to do - swallow while doing valsalva - but with practice it gets really easy. I found that this works great and equalizes both ears every time.

Also remember, its easier if you equalize on the surface before you start your descent, and keep ahead of the need, all the way down.

Hope this helps!

 

[c555]

I had the same problem when I started but now not so much. I do the valsalva and if needed also swallow like Ice9 said.

 

[spectrum]

Are you in good health? Any sort of congestion even from allergies can cause big problems. You have identified a difference in your ears (L v R) behavior so that points to an issue other than technique. Also the reverse squeeze on ascent is not usually a diver modified thing.

I'd see a local ENT doctor so see what's in there. Sometimes it's as simple as a good ear flush. Get this checked, don't mess around and risk and injury. My all means don't give up on diving.

Pete

 

[PfcAJ]

This used to happen to me from time to time. As I went diving more often, the issue went away.

When one ear doesn't equalize, I'll lean my head in the opposite direction (right, for you) and hold my opposite ear (right ear) closed with my tragus (the little triangle piece of cartlige). It works for me, so maybe its worth trying.

 

[ScubaJorgen]

Hi, you people have probly heard this amillion times before,

Im going to complelte a Padi OW course this weekend, after the exams were finished and all skill tests were finished it was time to goto the deepend of the pool, yay.
until: . uhoh, this is my firs ttime going past 5 feet, i cant equilize my left ear, i accend a bit and try, pinching nose, blowing wiggling, a divemaster came up to help me but i couldnet get down so eventually i just went down inch by inch and after a long 20 minute processs i got down there about 15 feet, now i had to do a controled emerengcny swimming accnet with a buddy and i had a reverse squeeze accending, this was painful but it worked its way out.
To get to the point; im extreamly worried that i may just not beable to dive ever? is this possible? im always aparanoid guy but i mean this is what ive been waiting for for al ong time and put alot of money into and it became a obsessoin and now i wonder is it somthing i just cant do?

on the surface if i pinch the nose, blow my right ear will pop, and to get the left one to go too i have to look up and to the right. i dont know if this works underwater yet.

No, I haven't heard this a million time before

It happens so now and then that a diver has difficulty clearing. If this happens, try different techniques, start equalising early on descent, if it does not work out go a bit more shallow and try it there, etc. When diving frequenly equalising becomes easier.

However, having a reverse block is quite uncommon. This means your Eustachian tubes (airway between nose/throat and ear) are obstructed. Like Spectrum/Pete indicates there may a reason like alergy or having a cold.

The ENT advise seems a reasonable advise

By any means:
- Pain=bad. Period.
- Don't force hard when equalising. You may end up with REAL nasty problems, like blowing out your inner ear round window. Then the **** really hits the fan.:shakehead

 

[Jamie_r]

wow I didnet expect to see so much help rightaway, thank you all very much,

At the time and upuntil today wheni wokeup i hadnet felt any effects of a cold but now i seem to find im sneezing alot and my left nostril runs (ew).
think that was the start of the cold giving me so much problems? i sure hopeso, i guess. i dont want to be a "yeah i tried to go diving way back when"
And any recomondations for medication? someone told me suidafed (cant spell sorry) up until the day i go diving and not to take it that day, i go in 3 days to do the final so i hope im fine for taht

 

[Damselfish]

I know this isn't what you want to hear, but if you still have a cold when it's time to do your dives you should delay them. I know it sucks but it happens. Talk to your instructor, maybe you can do them with the next class or something. Any decent instructor should understand and not encourage you to dive sick. Colds/congestion and diving don't mix well, you've already discovered this first hand. It's an even worse idea when you're new and don't have a handle on what is ok for you and what isn't - you don't even have any experience yet with being able to clear successfully in a pool, your first OW dives with a cold is not the place to work on it.

I don't understand advice to take Sudafed until the day before you go diving. It makes you feel better but doesn't cure the cold. It wears off, there will be no effect from it the next day. You won't be diving on drugs which is good, but either you have a cold at that point, or you don't. Some people do dive with Sudafed or other things for mild congestion even though it's not really recommended, but they take it while diving and take special care that it's not going to run out while diving. Diving on medication with congestion is a good way to suffer a reverse block, which is no fun at all.

Don't push it and do permanent damage or you will be "yeah i tried to go diving way back when"...

 

[skybird]

This may sound strange, but many times I have to take my mask off to equalize. I almost always have to swallow and for some reason it is hard for me to do that with my mask on. Good thing I have never had a problem taking off my mask.

That said, I completely agree with the advise to find an ENT who knows about diving. I was having major problems equalizing the last coulple of months and was referred to an ENT who also IS a diver. He understood, checked me out really well, and then prescribed nasonex......not just for diving, but all the time. It has helped quite a bit.

Good luck. It will happen. Just don't push it because it would be better to wait and dive than to dive when you shouldn't and never get to dive again.

SkyBird