Question re: Ear problems

[sytech]

Just came back from Bonaire last Sunday where I did around 30 dives in 2 weeks.

I have been taking a nasal spray before diving. No pills.

No "unusual" problems with equalizing my ears other than the ascent a few feet then descending and equalizing again. The last few days there my ears started to feel a bit clogged though.

On the plane coming home I experienced feeling pressure on my ear. Not exactly painful but somewhat uncomfortable.

Came home last Sunday with both ears feeling "clogged". I seem to remember feeling some pressure on my ears as I was ascending from one of my last dives in Bonaire. Maybe this is the "reverse squeeze" I've heard about.

Went to the Ear doctor today because I don't want this to develop into a more serious problem. She said both ears have "fluid" in them. She gave me an Rx for Cleocin (an antibiotic-probably to forestall the possibility of infection) and Prednisone tabs to be taken for 2 weeks.

Was wondering if anyone can speak to this and give me some advice on how I might prevent this in the future or if they've had similar problems and how they dealt with it.

Thanks,

Sy

 

[gert7to3]

What nasal spray were you taking? Using a decongestant nasal spray for two weeks solid would put you at risk for a rebound effect. This is where you can so irritate your sinuses with the spray that they start to become inflamed. Dry tank air doesn't help matters.

The fluid your doctor saw was probably due to inflamation. She did not tell you there was any trauma to your eardrums, correct? Also your hearing is mostly normal, right?

The way I deal with sinus congestion (and this is not medical advice) is to prevent it by using saline nasal spray, it hydrates and flushes out my sinuses. I will use Afrin if I feel clogged up, but sparingly. For a more chronic congestion problem I would use Sudafed (4-6 hr formula). This however can have some other effects on one's metabolism, especially if hypertension is an issue.

 

[spectrum]

Fluid in the ears.... Do you also you happen to hear a sort of krackling sound when you swallow?

This happens often especially with new divers (even from pool work) from not equalizing often and gently. It's from fluid that gets moved into cavities where it usually isn't and dissipates on it's one in a few weeks. Pain is usually not part of this situation.

Good move on getting it checked though. Better that than be out of commission for en extended period because something nasty got growing in there.

In your case it could just be the cumulative effect of 2 weeks of diving. Did you take any days off?

Pete
Not a medical person of any sort, just another diver.

 

[TSandM]

My guess is that this was the cumulative effect of multiple dives and being just a little late on equalizing from time to time. I know for me, I have so little discomfort from descent that it's easy to be just a little behind. ANY time there's a pressure gradient from the capillaries into the middle ear, it's going to encourage fluid to transudate out of the circulation and into the air space. Even if it's only a little, doing this repeatedly over a week can lead to a buildup that's noticeable to the diver, and visible to the examiner. Although you feel as though you're equalizing adequately, your ears just basically told you you need to be more aggressive about it (equalizing more often, not harder, that is!)

Using oxymetazoline or neosynephrine nasal sprays daily for two weeks CAN set you up for a rip-roaring rebound syndrome, but the symptoms are usually nasal congestion and sinus fullness, and not ear plugging.

I ran into an interesting research paper from Brazil, looking at the effects of repeated dives on the middle ear. Their conclusion was that repeated diving within the same day resulted in barotrauma which was not seen when surface intervals exceeded 11 hours. Travel Med Infect Dis. 2005 Feb;3(1):19-25. Clinical and tympanometric findings in repeated recreational scuba diving. Ramos CC, Rapoport PB, Brito Neto RV.

 

[sytech]

I was taking oxymetazoline spray followed by a little bit of saline spray. The latter being to help with the throat irritation I sometimes get from the former. No pills.

The Doc said I had "fluid" in there but no trauma. My hearing is "clouded" if you know what I mean. Waiting to hear a "pop" to clear out but so far after almost a week on Cleocin (antibiotic) and Prednisone there has been no improvement. Status quo. Have to go back to see her on the 27th., but am considering giving her a ring inasmuch as meds have given me no relief to date.

What nasal spray were you taking? Using a decongestant nasal spray for two weeks solid would put you at risk for a rebound effect. This is where you can so irritate your sinuses with the spray that they start to become inflamed. Dry tank air doesn't help matters.

The fluid your doctor saw was probably due to inflamation. She did not tell you there was any trauma to your eardrums, correct? Also your hearing is mostly normal, right?

The way I deal with sinus congestion (and this is not medical advice) is to prevent it by using saline nasal spray, it hydrates and flushes out my sinuses. I will use Afrin if I feel clogged up, but sparingly. For a more chronic congestion problem I would use Sudafed (4-6 hr formula). This however can have some other effects on one's metabolism, especially if hypertension is an issue.

 

[gert7to3]

Some of these inflamations in places like your eyes or ears can take a surprisingly long time to resolve. That's probably why your followup appointment was made for two weeks.

A quick consultation with your doctor would be a reasonable course of action.