Reverse Block / Burst eardrum

[Meddler]

I recently had a reverse block coming up from a 10m dive. I didnt go back down quick enough and there was a loud pop, which led to a small hole in my eardrum.

The doc put me on antibiotics and told me not to dive or swim, and its all pretty much recovered now. I saw a doctor yesterday and he says that the hole has healed over and that I should be fit to dive.

However I think it would be prudent to get my eustachian tube checked out by an ENT Doctor, because it does seem to have a blockage that acts as a valve. For instance I just did a valsalva now, and it took about a minute for my left ear to return to normal pressure my right ear equalises immediately.

I dont have any problem going down, but coming back up it blocks and gets painful.

I wouldnt worry about this too much because normally I should be able to slow or reverse my ascent to let the reverse block work its way out.

The trouble is that I was half way through my openwater course when I had the puncture. I still have my CESA to do and I think I would be almost guarenteed to have problems doing a CESA unless I can take over 1 minute to ascend. If I do go on to finish my openwater, then I will get a proear mask to keep my ear dry in the event that it pops again, but I would prefer not to burst my eardrum again.

So I have a few questions to ask the board.

Can anyone recommend a Doctor in the UK/London who would be able to investigate this for me.

Has anyone else here had this problem and if so what course of action would you recommend.

TIA

 

[DivingGal]

Although I'm sure someone local should be able to come up with a name, talking to Diver's Alert Network might be able to help too. Here's the link to get a Physican Referral

 

[DocVikingo]

I suggest that you search this very handy & recent site listing UKSDMC medical referees:

http://www.uksdmc.co.uk/main/Medical referees.htm

Best regards.

DocVikingo

 

[Meddler]

Thanks, Dan sent me a referal to a Harley Street doctor, so Ill be back there on Tuesday.

The almost total lack of information about reverse blocks on the net isn't very comforting. The Doc said it didnt sound good when I talked about it on the phone.

 

[Meddler]

Well, Ive seen the doctor, and he tells me I have an agravated nose. The membrane is inflamed and thicker than it should be and this is probably causing my eustation tube to block when im surfacing.

He is putting me on steroids to see if it will get the membrane back to normal and allow me to equalise properly on ascent.

I also have a crooked septum from an old nose injury which may also be a factor. If the steroids dont work then I will need to see and ENT and possibly have surgery.

If I cant get it fixed then I wont be able to carry on because I will almost certainly damage my eardrum if I have to do a CESA and I have to do one to finish my OW cert.

One thing I hadnt appreciated was that damage to balance or hearing could be caused by the pressure change damaging my ears and not just through infection, so keeping my ears dry and risking a blowout certainly isnt an option.

Its hard to be happy that there is a chance it might be sorted out, when there is also a chance that I may have to stop diving. I should know if the treatment is working in six weeks time.

 

[DocVikingo]

Probably no need to become pessimistic about scuba in your future.

You well may get good benefit from steroid & other possible drug approaches.

If your deviated septum does require surgical attention, there is likely much improvement that can be obtained through procedures that typically are not particularly traumatic.

Be patient and explore all treatment avenues. My guess is that you eventually will be able to return to diving.

Best of luck.

DocVikingo