Okay, we are not going diving until Monday, but we fly tomorrow night. Sadly, I have not been diving anytime recently. I was having problems with my ears being block earlier today, and I pressurized them to make them feel better. However, one never equalized. It just stayed pressurized. I have waited almost 8-10 hours no change. I will head to the doctors in the morning (it will have to be a walk in clinic, as my doctor is closed). But I worry this is going to end my diving before I start....
Any suggestions?
Hey, Mrs. K... thanks for writing!
There are a lot of threads here on that exact problem, but I'll summarize what I usually mention:
1) There is a bell curve for everything - some people equalize easily, some don't. Some people need to work on this skill and practice to get good at it.
2) If you haven't already looked at it, check out
this video. There are a lot of good techniques for equalization - some work for some people better than others. For example, pinch the nose and blow through the nose (Valsalva), pinch the nose and swallow (Toynbee), jaw maneuvers, etc...
3) Although people use a lot of stuff to help equalize, there is no scientific evidence that nasal sprays (decongestants or steroids) address the Eustachian tube itself. Oral steroids can help, but they should not be used on a regular basis, and certainly not as a substitute for good equalization techniques.
4) Most dive agencies do not approve of using things like oral decongestants (which may have a minor effect on ET function), as they can wear off during a dive and cause a reverse block. People use them anyway.
5) The only way for you to find out if it will be safe to dive would be to try equalizing in a pool or other shallow water before diving. If you can't get your ear to clear in a few feet of water, it is not going to get better (and the stakes are going to be a lot higher) on SCUBA in the ocean.
6) Sometimes ear problems are not what they seem. Outer ear problems can mimic middle ear problems, etc... Always best to have a good exam by an ENT doctor. I hate to say this, because it always comes off as sounding arrogant, but the bottom line is that many primary care doctors do not have the equipment, training or experience to make a good diagnosis about ear stuff. Pediatricians usually have more experience with this than most primary care docs, just because ear disease is so common in kids. I could be wrong, and the person at the walk in clinic may well be able to help you, but if there are any persistent symptoms or lingering questions, it is best to see a specialist for ear problems.
Good luck! Feel free to PM me if you want a local referral, etc...
Mike
