lolarent
Registered
First times are not good for me. Let me explain.
The first time I went scuba diving (9 years or so ago), I perforated my ear drum out of inexperience with equalizing. It turned out to be a small perforation, and the ENT (ear-nose-throat specialist) told me that I had to stay out of the water for 6 weeks. I did, and have been happily scuba diving since. No more problems with my ears.
3 weeks ago, I went out for a scuba diving event with some friends. Part of the events were a freediving initiation. I happily joined, and we attempted a freedive to 40 ft. At 20 ft, I felt pressure on my ears, so I tried valsalva. I made the wise (???) decision to keep going down though, and at 30 ft I felt the familiar sensation of a bursting ear drum. Not good. I made it back to the surface, I experienced insane vertigo and someone had to tow me back to shore.
Long story short is that I end up at an ENT again (different ENT because I moved countries since my first experience). This ENT could not see a hole in my ear drum so told me that I did not perforate it. After lots of insisting on my end and tons of questions hinting at the fact that I did have a perforation (where does the liquid come from that leaks out of my ear, why do I hear air escaping from my ear when I blow my nose) she agreed to do an additional test, and she was surprised when she observed that I did have a hole. Again though, she couldn't see it and considered it medically insignificant.
Ok, now here comes my problem. This ENT says I am absolutely forbidden to go diving for 3 months. Well, let's compare that against my first experience when I had a perforation. The first time, the ENT could see the hole, so I would call that a bigger trauma versus the second time where the ENT cannot see a hole. The first time, I was not allowed to go diving for 6 weeks (with bigger trauma), and now the ENT says I can't go for 3 months.
The problem is that I have a dive trip planned about 5 weeks from now. I have been out of the water for 3 weeks already, so that gives me 8 weeks of healing time. Not the 3 months the second ENT suggests, but more time than I originally needed for a bigger injury.
So, here is my question: do you think I am ok to go diving after 8 weeks. Currently I do not hear any air escaping anymore when I put pressure (blowing nose), I feel no more pain, my hearing is about 95% restored, and I have no problems with vertigo or balance anymore, so the healing is well on its' way already.
If it matters: I am 38 years old, non smoker, no medical problems. I have about 250 dives, which is far from an expert, but I consider myself proficient at knowing how to equalize when on scuba (clearly not while freediving though ;-)
Your suggestions, hints, tips, opinions are very welcome!
The first time I went scuba diving (9 years or so ago), I perforated my ear drum out of inexperience with equalizing. It turned out to be a small perforation, and the ENT (ear-nose-throat specialist) told me that I had to stay out of the water for 6 weeks. I did, and have been happily scuba diving since. No more problems with my ears.
3 weeks ago, I went out for a scuba diving event with some friends. Part of the events were a freediving initiation. I happily joined, and we attempted a freedive to 40 ft. At 20 ft, I felt pressure on my ears, so I tried valsalva. I made the wise (???) decision to keep going down though, and at 30 ft I felt the familiar sensation of a bursting ear drum. Not good. I made it back to the surface, I experienced insane vertigo and someone had to tow me back to shore.
Long story short is that I end up at an ENT again (different ENT because I moved countries since my first experience). This ENT could not see a hole in my ear drum so told me that I did not perforate it. After lots of insisting on my end and tons of questions hinting at the fact that I did have a perforation (where does the liquid come from that leaks out of my ear, why do I hear air escaping from my ear when I blow my nose) she agreed to do an additional test, and she was surprised when she observed that I did have a hole. Again though, she couldn't see it and considered it medically insignificant.
Ok, now here comes my problem. This ENT says I am absolutely forbidden to go diving for 3 months. Well, let's compare that against my first experience when I had a perforation. The first time, the ENT could see the hole, so I would call that a bigger trauma versus the second time where the ENT cannot see a hole. The first time, I was not allowed to go diving for 6 weeks (with bigger trauma), and now the ENT says I can't go for 3 months.
The problem is that I have a dive trip planned about 5 weeks from now. I have been out of the water for 3 weeks already, so that gives me 8 weeks of healing time. Not the 3 months the second ENT suggests, but more time than I originally needed for a bigger injury.
So, here is my question: do you think I am ok to go diving after 8 weeks. Currently I do not hear any air escaping anymore when I put pressure (blowing nose), I feel no more pain, my hearing is about 95% restored, and I have no problems with vertigo or balance anymore, so the healing is well on its' way already.
If it matters: I am 38 years old, non smoker, no medical problems. I have about 250 dives, which is far from an expert, but I consider myself proficient at knowing how to equalize when on scuba (clearly not while freediving though ;-)
Your suggestions, hints, tips, opinions are very welcome!
