Over-equalized ear?

[Duke Dive Medicine]

Medical professionals won't recommend ear beer. So to heck with them!

Medical professionals know that ear beer doesn't do anything for barotrauma, which is the most likely scenario here, and can actually do harm in the setting of eardrum rupture (no suggestion of that in this case, just an FYI).

Best regards,
DDM

 

[doctormike]

Medical professionals know that ear beer doesn't do anything for barotrauma, which is the most likely scenario here, and can actually do harm in the setting of eardrum rupture (no suggestion of that in this case, just an FYI).

Best regards,
DDM

Dandruff and migraines are both head problems, so it would make sense to treat them both in the same way, right? LOL

 

[DiverDan1975]

Hi all,
I am a not super experienced diver. This weekend I have a diving trip planned with coworkers. One of them is a dive master, and because my last dive was more than a year ago we did a refresh dive yesterday. We didn't go deep at all (max 7 m), mainly refreshed all the skills. Despite not diving super deep, at some point my right ear wasn't equalizing well. Then I think I tried too hard to equalize, putting a little bit too much pressure. I stopped when it felt uncomfortable, and interesting enough I didn't have problems with the ear for the rest of the dive.

Now afterwards I did get some issues again. There is a very mild pain, feeling of fullness and I hear a little bit less well with the right side. This sounds like something that is not super serious and might heal by itself, but probably means I shouldn't dive this weekend To be sure I tried to make an appointment with my GP to have a look at the ear, but they only wanted to schedule an appointment with the assistant for this.

The appointment is tomorrow. But on the phone the assistant told me that she thinks it's just a clot of earwax and that I need to have my ear's syringed. Now for any other issue I think that syringing the ears could be harmful no?

So I'm not feeling super comfortable having this checked out only by the assistant. What are your thoughts? Is a GP assistant qualified to look at this issue? Could she potentially do more harm? However if it is only an earwax problem I can still dive this weekend, so I would like to know. Thanks for your advice!

Hey there. I am a physician, although I am not an ENT. I would advise that you see an ENT. It boils down to the anatomy of your middle ear. You likely did cause some inflammation of the middle ear, and this can affect the ability of your eustachian tube to allow for an easy equalization. There is some risk that you could do further damage. There are simple procedures that can be undertaken as well as simple precautionary measures that can help you enjoy countless dives without enduring further difficulties.

 

[doctormike]

Hey there. I am a physician, although I am not an ENT. I would advise that you see an ENT. It boils down to the anatomy of your middle ear. You likely did cause some inflammation of the middle ear, and this can affect the ability of your eustachian tube to allow for an easy equalization. There is some risk that you could do further damage. There are simple procedures that can be undertaken as well as simple precautionary measures that can help you enjoy countless dives without enduring further difficulties.

Preach it, brother!

Michael Rothschild, MD: Ear Equalization Techniques