PLEASE help me pop my freakin' ears!

[Wreck]

Mine prescribed a daily dose of Claritin D and a steriod nasal spray (Nasonex) that did wonders to help me. Some divers take Sudafed religiously for the same reason ... I think mostly because it's the only medicine whose effects have been studied (and approved) by the Navy for their divers.

Claritan can stay in your blood for more than 30 days. For that reason and a few other potential side effects, Zyrtec and Zyrtec-D(econgestant) are the more-favored stand-in now.

Sudafed's main ingrediant is suphedrine, which is sold as a cheap generic at your local drugstore or Walmart. Quite a few divers use it religiously before every dive around here. It's especially used if they have sinus/allergy issues that frequently hinder clearing. I have this issue with allergies, and Nasonex doesn't have much effect. Suphredirne solves it quite nicely, without having to use anything stronger. I would reccomend staying away from every medication if you can help it, though. However, the benefits may outweigh the risks in a given situation. Consult with your doc first.

 

[oceancrest67]

Blowing hard--with the pinching nose method--for a long time can cause issues / problems and even damage. One must be careful...luckily I have no ear issues...but, it took me a while to figure out what works for me: a gradual, periodic equalization---with the pinched nose method---as one descends.

 

[The Kraken]

What concerns me here is why were you trying to equalize when there was no pressure differential to correct.

You created a potentially dangerous situation by creating an unnecessary pressure differential. You can blow your ear drums out like that. As is taught, equalize frequently, starting at 3 feet and every few seconds after that.

There may be other issues and factors involved, I don't know, so seeking medical assistance is certainly good advice, but once again, equalize frequently.

 

[Beej1123]

Hey all,

I am totally stuck and need some help!

Im undertaking my OW course right now but cant pop my ears to save my life! I know this is frequently asked but I just need a really useful tip.

I have tried every last technique to no avail, last time I attempted too my nose bled for hours and i could barely hear for days..all this happened just on the sand without the prerssure!

If and when I do manage to get some sort of response from the tubes, it feels as if the air stays as a 'lump' in the middle of the tube and NEVER makes it out all the way. This feeling stays for days!

Can anyone provide some actual help, as my instructor says to .."just blow harder!"..YEAH RIGHT! HELP!

Hi,

I'm glad I'm not the only one who has this problem. I am still in the instructional phase of diving (3 weeks left to go) and not once have I been able to clear my ears. I try and try, but it just doesn't work. AFter a class of diving the following day my ears throb and I feel like my head is in a fish bowl. I saw my Dr. once for it and he measured pressure in my ears, etc...told me pressure is fine, however, said I have a dysfunctional eustachian tube (right side). Gave me Nasonex to use once a day (2 puffs in each nostril) and told me to drink more water. Well, I've been on it for over a week now and still am not feeling right. Have an appt. with an ENT, but can't see him until 5/27. So until then, I don't plan to put my head back under water. I don't think you are supposed to feel pain days after being in the water.
Let me know how you make out and I'll let you know what happens at the ENT.

 

[jdr159]

I would also recomment an ENT Dr, however, I'd look for one who dives.. I had a problem w/reverse squeeze many years ago and really got locked up (at 60'). When I got home I found an ENT Dr/diver, and went to him. After fixing everything, he told me to do the following:
-Use 12 hour nasal spray before every dive "forever".
-Add Sudafed to this if I have any nasal congestion (cold).

He told me to do this since I have fairly narrow sinus passages. Now I know alot of people will disagree with this approach, but I tried it (nasal spray first) on shallow dives. This has worked for me very well for 14 years.

As the Dr. pointed out, the 12 hour nasal spray will last through any dive, but your body doesn't get hooked on it due to the higher metabolism rate underwater.

I only mention all this to you since you might need the meds. to help open everything up. You don't want to burst an eardrum..

Good luck.

 

[SingleMalt1971]

My wife is getting recertified after 10 years of not diving. She had warned me that she used to have problems with her left ear, though her right ear was never a problem. Well, same problem 10 years later.

The instructor has advised her to practice (all the same techniques everyone always says to use) ... that she needed to excersize the muscles ... and that he thought she would be able to overcome it.

Well, we are going on Blackbeards in just a few weeks and I want to make sure we do anything possible to prevent any problems. If this nose spray helps, I need to know more about it. Is it prescription or OTC. What is the name of it?

Thanks

Jason

My wife and I go to a doctor that just happens to also be a diver. My wife suffered an ear injury not to long ago, becuase she had trouble equalizing. The doctor told her she would probably never be able to do a face down descent becuase of the injury. My wife started clearing her ears at least thirty times a day. You know when you are clearing the tubes, becuase you can hear air moving in your head. My wife also uses a nose spray prior to every dive by the advice of her ENT.

I personally believe you use special muscles when you clear your inner ear. And like all muscles, if you don't use them alot they are difficult to control.

Our last dive was on the PRINCESS ANN out of West Palm Beach, Florida. The current was almost too much to dive, but we did anyways. There was no descent rope to use. We had to go down with no references other than the boat and our compasses. We were advised by the Dive Master to do a head down swimming descent. I was worried my wife would not be able to make it to the wreck because of her ear. I let her lead the way down. I almost had trouble myself keeping up with her. Later after the dive, she told me she did not have any trouble clearing her inner ear.

I do want you to know that I'm not a doctor, and also advise you to see an ENT. I just thought this story may help you with you ear trouble. Good Luck!

 

[Conce]

I have problems equalizing my ears but till now I never aborted any dive because of that.

What I usually do:
I wear a proear mask (believe me it helped me very much with this problem).
Before I enter the boat I inhale salt water
I don´t backroll from the boat but instead I do the giant step - this was taught for me by Graham (a british guy) whom I met in Sipadan and believe me it makes the difference in my ears
I descend very slowly the first 5/10 meters (actually if I equalize properly the first 2 meters it is easier)
If I have a problem equalizing at a certain depth I go up a little bit and stay there trying not to be in a hurry to catch up the group.
I always tell the divemaster of my problem and that I can´t descent in the same velocity as the others. So if I need more time in a certain depth I follow the group from up

I went to 2 doctors (ENT) and they told me I don´t have any problems with my ears except that I have very small eustachian tubes. So I need more time to deal with pressure.

It helped me reading a little bit about the ears (www.scubadiving.com/training/medicine/stopearpain) and a phrase that I read somewhere: "The problem doesn´t reside if you equalize or not but the way you do it". And for my first dives I used the vasalva maneuver but the method more indicated for me it´s the toynbee maneuver. Sadly I learned this method by myself because my instructor dind´t teach it to me.

Believe me it gets easier with time and the most important thing is that you don´t force your ears because of the other divers can descent fast than you.

If I have problem equalizing my ears normally it takes 4 to 5 minutes for me to descend to 20/25 meters (from 25 meters to 40 meters I usually don´t have difficulties in equalizing). So if your dive can last 60 minutes it is worth to lost 5 minutes in the begining

 

[topflowerrubberforever]

hey guys

i used to have problems when i started my OW course.. now i am trying to use a different technique.. i can equalize by just moving the muscles inside my head or near the eustacian tube (spelled right??) it hurt me a few times.. i never tried it on a dive though cuz my regulator is just big. i also move my jaw and that equalizes there.. but you need to get it in the right spot..
anyone had the same feelin??

Jay

 

[Code Monkey]

We used Afrin for my daughter when she was younger (and her ear innards were smaller). It was recommended by a dive master and works like a charm.

I have the best luck when I clear my ears on _every_ breath while descending.

 

[Mortlock]

I'm seeing people give a lot of advice contrary to what this doctor (who specialises in diving) believes. I'd urge people to please watch this lecture.

http://faculty.washington.edu/ekay/index.html