Over-equalized ear?

[IndyJack]

Really good suggestions here!
I’ve found Frenzel easier to do without overdoing it, unlike with Valsalva. Staying upright on descent also helps.

I’ve had bad ears all my life and am running into a strange problem. Take my time descending, but if I do repetitive dives my worse ear does fine but I end up with barotrauma to my good ear. I stay comfortable on ascent but in the last 10-15 feet I get sudden gurgling from major depressurization.

Any ideas to try? Eustacian tube dilation? It’s the only thing holding me back from doing dedicated dive trips.

 

[pauldw]

Ear beer.

 

[Allen-1]

Really good suggestions here!
I’ve found Frenzel easier to do without overdoing it, unlike with Valsalva. Staying upright on descent also helps.

I’ve had bad ears all my life and am running into a strange problem. Take my time descending, but if I do repetitive dives my worse ear does fine but I end up with barotrauma to my good ear. I stay comfortable on ascent but in the last 10-15 feet I get sudden gurgling from major depressurization.

Any ideas to try? Eustacian tube dilation? It’s the only thing holding me back from doing dedicated dive trips.

This is probably gonna sound like I’m trying to be funny. I’m not trying to be funny.

You said it’s the last 10 to 15 feet. Spend an extra minute or two at 20 feet or 25 feet before ascending to your safety stop at 15 and go super slow from that 20 or 25 up to the 15 give your ears extra time, opportunity to equalize

 

[IndyJack]

Ear beer.

I like the beer part but know I can consume significantly more the traditional way!
Care to explain?

 

[Allen-1]

Ear beer
50% white vinegar
50% isopropyl alcohol

Dries out ear and kills bacteria post dive

 

[tridacna]

This may sound wrongheaded, but I wish that responses to questions on this forum were limited to those from medical professionals.

 

[pauldw]

This may sound wrongheaded, but I wish that responses to questions on this forum were limited to those from medical professionals.

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