A few points about this thread... and please keep in mind that I understand that we are a friendly, helpful community of divers, and that all advice given here is given with only the best intentions. Thanks to all of you for joining in the conversation...!
However, I wouldn't be doing my job as a medical moderator without putting some of the comments into context..
Your perforations sound like they are so small, that they act like Doc's Pro Plugs. The fact that you can keep pressurizing your ears prevents higher pressures at depth from overcoming the surface tension of the water against your (presumably) tiny perforations.
This is a good analogy from the purely physical point of view, and probably does describe the situation of someone who is able to dive with a small tympanic membrane (eardrum, or TM) perforation. However, keep in mind that the space behind the TM is the middle ear, and the space behind a proplug is the outer ear (external auditory canal). Getting seawater in the middle ear has potentially much more serious consequences (e.g. permanent deafness, chronic infections requiring surgery) than does getting seawater in the outer ear (e.g. swimmer's ear).
gert7to3 is also correct in saying that a tympanoplasty might be necessary...
coldwaterlloyd:
Let me start out by saying I am not a medical professional and my opinion is only my opinion not advice .I have been diving with the same condition for over 20 years . Has not been a problem . I dive-mastered and taught during that period without a problem . I still dive and it does not affect me . I have not encountered infections , reverse blocks , vertigo etc .
Make sure you can equalize effortlessly if you have students under your care and you will be fine. Just my opinion , and a bit of experience with your situation . Dive On
The disclaimer notwithstanding, this is a potentially dangerous type of advice. While again, I am sure that Lloyd has only good intentions, none of us know what is actually going on in the OP's ears. Therefore, it is not a good idea to simply reassure the OP by saying "I have the same thing, and I haven't had problems, so go ahead and dive".
coldwaterlloyd:
By the way , a few drops of rubbing alcohol in the ear prevents a lot of trouble , I always have some in my dive bag .
Again - advice that is fine for an intact TM (although this works better with a little white vinegar in the alcohol), but potentially a very bad idea if there is a perforation.
Any kind of eardrop would NOT be a good idea for an ear drum with a suspected perforation.
The only exception would a med such as Floxin, which is used to treat middle ear infections through a perforated eardrum.
That is true, there are only two medications that are FDA approved as eardrops if the TM is not intact: Floxin (an antibiotic) and Ciprodex (an antibiotic/steroid combination). There are studies showing ototoxicity (potential for permanent hearing loss) for a number of other medications when used in the presence of a perforation.
Mike
