problems equalizing

[KingFirley]

Hello ScubaBoard people!
I'm looking for some advice on how to equalize better. I have been diving for over 6 months and I have my advanced open water PADI certification. My problem is that I seem to have problems equalizing. When I hold my nose and blow, the air seems to come out the corners of my eye sockets rather than my ears and this makes it harder to equalize. If I close my eyes tight it seems to help but it doesnt always work. Eventually I can equalize but it takes a long time and I still have pain in my ears especially in the depths of 30ft and deeper. Some divers I have talked to suggest the divers earplugs but I'm hesitant to try them. What should I do?
Thanks!
- Scott

 

[ScubaSarus]

Let your buddies know you have a problem and ask them to go down slow. Equalize early I say start when you wake up yes equalize on dry land and on the surface before going down.

Dont go down head first since mucus will collect in the sinuses. Always go down feet first. Take time and also avoid going up and down large depths which effects mine.

Good luck

 

[WellBelowH2O]

Hello ScubaBoard people!
I'm looking for some advice on how to equalize better. I have been diving for over 6 months and I have my advanced open water PADI certification. My problem is that I seem to have problems equalizing. When I hold my nose and blow, the air seems to come out the corners of my eye sockets rather than my ears and this makes it harder to equalize. If I close my eyes tight it seems to help but it doesnt always work. Eventually I can equalize but it takes a long time and I still have pain in my ears especially in the depths of 30ft and deeper. Some divers I have talked to suggest the divers earplugs but I'm hesitant to try them. What should I do?
Thanks!
- Scott

From what you're writing, it sounds like you're blowing air through the tubes (nasolacrimal duct) that connect you're nasal passages to your eyes (or vice-versa really). They're there to drain fluid from your eyes into your nasal passages and is one of the reasons your nose runs when you cry. Most people have to blow with tremendous amounts of pressure to force air through those tubes (and the amount of people who can even do this is very small).

I'd say that you haven't equalized soon enough/often enough while you're on your way down. Make sure that you start equalizing right away (even when only a couple of feet under) and do it often. Go down slowly and if you start feeling pressure that won't clear, rise a couple of feet and try it again. You shouldn't be diving with pain in your ears, as this can lead to worse problems than just not being able to equalize (blown ear drums, etc.).

 

[KingFirley]

I do start to equalize as soon as I start to descend and when the pain starts I ascend until it clears and then continue to descend. But it seems to take a very long time and then it comes to a point where no matter how hard I blow, my ears just wont equalize. I've tried moving my head back a forth and that helps sometimes but not always. Do you think the diving earplugs would help my case at all?

 

[WellBelowH2O]

I do start to equalize as soon as I start to descend and when the pain starts I ascend until it clears and then continue to descend. But it seems to take a very long time and then it comes to a point where no matter how hard I blow, my ears just wont equalize. I've tried moving my head back a forth and that helps sometimes but not always. Do you think the diving earplugs would help my case at all?

You should go get your ears checked to make sure you don't have wax build up or other problems. I don't know much about earplugs, but take a look at this page on DAN's site for some opinions both ways:

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/articles/article.asp?articleid=33

Edit: And if you do decide to go with some type of earplugs, DO NOT use anything that isn't specifically made for scuba diving.

 

[KingFirley]

You should go get your ears checked to make sure you don't have wax build up or other problems. I don't know much about earplugs, but take a look at this page on DAN's site for some opinions both ways:

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/articles/article.asp?articleid=33

Edit: And if you do decide to go with some type of earplugs, DO NOT use anything that isn't specifically made for scuba diving.

Thanks! I think Ill have the Doc check me out.

 

[pipedope]

While waiting, go to;
http://faculty.washington.edu/ekay/index.html

and watch the streaming video.

 

[Stryker]

you could always try using hydrogen peroxide to clear some wax from your ears....

About the air coming out the corners of your eyes, that is perfectly normal.... Some people do this easier than others, but it happens to everyone to some degree.... I have seen people who INTENTIONALLY suck a liquid into their nose and can blow it out of that small air hole in the corner of the eye.... weird and hard to believe until you see it...

 

[MoonWrasse]

you could always try using hydrogen peroxide to clear some wax from your ears....

About the air coming out the corners of your eyes, that is perfectly normal.... Some people do this easier than others, but it happens to everyone to some degree.... I have seen people who INTENTIONALLY suck a liquid into their nose and can blow it out of that small air hole in the corner of the eye.... weird and hard to believe until you see it...

It must get a bit boring on those long voyages at sea

 

[ChillyWaters]

Most people have to blow with tremendous amounts of pressure to force air through those tubes (and the amount of people who can even do this is very small).

And nobody yet has stressed that he shouldn't even be blowing this hard in the first place. If using the "blow" technique, you should only blow gently, otherwise you may end up with something worse than an aborted dive!

- ChillyWaters