Perhaps a reverse block?

[Americana_Mama]

Hi there~~ First off, thank you in advance to those who take a sec to read and respond. I really appreciate it! So on to my question/quandary...reverse block. I'm in an open water course with a great instructor. I was ascending (pool is only 12' or so) at a steady rate and had my left ear do the pressurized thing like on descent- before you clear your ears. Then the discomfort and utter surprise that that happened to me. Wha?? I'm not descending, I'm coming up! Whenever I descend I'm always able to clear and keep on going on my way. Now, maybe this is important to note... but earlier in the class I made a rapid ascent after freaking out a bit trying to clear my mask (a whole 'nother post). Could all the up/down during the class caused a reverse block? The instructor said that was what I felt coming up and that sometimes a bit of mucus has to move along before it is right. Any thoughts? I tried doing the "hold the nose and swallow" bit, and I felt like my right ear was "clicking" normal, but not sure about that left ear. Will this eventually right itself or do I need to see a doc?

Much peace,
AM

 

[TMHeimer]

The Instructor's thought makes sense, but I'm no doc. I assume you don't have a cold/congestion right now. Have you recently (even a month ago)? I doubt there is anyone who equalizes as easily as me--unless of course, there is congestion-- which in my case can last weeks after being sick. It can even recur months later on very rare occasions. It likes hanging around in my sinuses.

 

[Bigd2722]

At this point, just be aware and reasonably cautious. You probably had a reverse block. Not serious enough to see a doctor, yet.

 

[Adventure-Ocean]

I dove for 40 years with trouble clearing my left ear. The first ten years I was younger and could work with it as long as I descended and ascended slowly. After ten years I started really having trouble. I started using Sudefed a half hour before diving and had no trouble for 20 years. As I got "old" I found trouble no matter what I did. I lost the ability to bounce dive which sucked because my job often called for it.

I found out after my diving career was about over that I have a under developed bone in my maxillary sinus on my left side. I was born with and you couldn't see it without an MRI. Doctors for the most part do not know much about diving a lot with a problem like this.

Today I am being treated for sinusitis that the doctors do not know why I have it. I've had trouble in my forhead now daily for over a year and a half. It may be a big coincidence that I dove so many years with a problem and now I have a problem in my sinus.

From my own experience I would recommend a detailed look at your sinus if your problem continues. Adventure-Ocean

 

[Diver0001]

Could all the up/down during the class caused a reverse block?

A lot of ascending and descending can certainly cause irritation that can affect your ability to clear. It sounds like this is what your instructor was saying. What you describe sounds like slow clearing due to irritation. I would say that this is not uncommon. I guess you could describe that as a reverse block, but a reverse block of the type they warn you about in the book would hurt to the extent that it would stop you from ascending.

How does it feel now? Am I to understand that you have retained a "dull" feeling in one of your ears?

R..

 

[Americana_Mama]

Thanks, R. for your reply. My ears are doing fine- no pain, no real fullness. I have TMJ so they always feel a little "off" from all that crap. Thanks for your thoughts on the matter )

 

[Diver0001]

Ah.... well... (BIG disclaimer) I'm no doctor but given that you weren't experiencing pain and you have no residual discomfort then I would suspect that what you were experiencing had more to do with your jaw issues than your ears.

To be sure, get an ENT to check your ears for any signs of trauma.

If you want I'll move this thread to the dive-medical forum for you. There are a number of doctors on Scubaboard who don't mind giving a perspective on these kinds of things.

R..

 

[EFX]

.... I tried doing the "hold the nose and swallow" bit, and I felt like my right ear was "clicking" normal, but not sure about that left ear. .....AM

I'm glad to hear you're doing fine. I had a reverse block which did lead to ear trauma and like you, had no prior problems on descent. Trying to equalize as if you are descending will not work and should NEVER be done. It can make the problem worse. When you equalize on descent you are moving air into the middle ear to increase the pressure to equalize the greater pressure exerted by the water. But on ascent you want to remove pressure from the middle ear. According to Alex Brylske in his book "The Complete Diver" as soon as you feel a slight buildup in pressure that is increasing stop immediately and descend a few feet. Come up very slowly to give the middle ear a chance to clear. Sometimes, it just needs more time. If you still have trouble hang upside down and stretch the neck on the side of the ear your having trouble with. This may help open a partially blocked tube. The upside position places the eustachion (sp?) tube, and opening at the back of the throat, above the middle ear allowing the air to rise and clear. I know this seems counterintuitive but makes sense once you think about it.