Diver Dad:
Same here. I had this going on for a couple weeks but then it went away. No idea why, because its been a while since I last dove. I figured it was some rogue wax and the problem just took care of itself.. *shrug*
Ruptured Eardrum???
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Same here. I had this going on for a couple weeks but then it went away. No idea why, because its been a while since I last dove. I figured it was some rogue wax and the problem just took care of itself.. *shrug*
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Well, I'm going to add to this thread since it seems very related. If i've no responses though, i'll start a new one later....
I was on a 11-dive trip. On dive 10, i got a bit carried away & obviously wasn't paying attention to my ears....While descending from about 8meter to 18meters....& forgetting to equalize, my left ear suddenly popped, squeaked & started fizzeling by itself for a few seconds....fizzeling i think would be the best description i can come up with. Furthermore, as i asscended, the fizzling was automatic & not matching in the right ear - normally, i get just light single pops of released air.
I could still physically proceed to equalize manually, but all the sounds from my left ear were not the normal sounds that I would anticipate from my over 2000+ dives. Now, as I asceded, there were more squeaking & fizzling noise when i tried equalizing. However, I descended a meter or 2 here & there to test & aside from the different noises, all seemed to function normally & my right ear still equalized (after the left) but seemingly independantly. I really couldn't tell if there was seawater in my ear though.
As soon as this happened, i slowly ascended from my 18meter (where it happened) to my safetly stop & then to the surface. Once on land, i washed the left ear with slight equalizing just to keep the pressure enough to avoid (maybe) water getting into the inner ear. Still, the odd noises continued...& did so for almost 24 hours. At hour 2 after diving, taking the advice of the boat diving staff, I took 5mg of Serratio Peptidase. At hour 10, i took another 5mg of SP. Googling SP, it seems it is just to stop inflamations from any damages.
Now carefully testing equalizing on land after 24 hours, the normal operation & noises are present only, but this is without testing equalizing at depth. Slight headaches are present & the left ear still doesn't feel 100%, but about 90% vss 60-70% right after the incident. Blowing my noise still moves the left ear drum, but not the right one.
Of course, i skipped dive-11!!
I'm guessing that i punctured or ruptured my left ear drum, but it doesn't feel that serious. The boat dive staff said after the SP, i could dive after 24 hours....
I don't want any risk of not diving because of ear problems, which i've fortunately never had....Does anyone here have any advice or opinions on
- what happened to my left ear drum?
- How long i should wait before diving again?
- If i need to see a Dr?
Much appreciated!!!
I was on a 11-dive trip. On dive 10, i got a bit carried away & obviously wasn't paying attention to my ears....While descending from about 8meter to 18meters....& forgetting to equalize, my left ear suddenly popped, squeaked & started fizzeling by itself for a few seconds....fizzeling i think would be the best description i can come up with. Furthermore, as i asscended, the fizzling was automatic & not matching in the right ear - normally, i get just light single pops of released air.
I could still physically proceed to equalize manually, but all the sounds from my left ear were not the normal sounds that I would anticipate from my over 2000+ dives. Now, as I asceded, there were more squeaking & fizzling noise when i tried equalizing. However, I descended a meter or 2 here & there to test & aside from the different noises, all seemed to function normally & my right ear still equalized (after the left) but seemingly independantly. I really couldn't tell if there was seawater in my ear though.
As soon as this happened, i slowly ascended from my 18meter (where it happened) to my safetly stop & then to the surface. Once on land, i washed the left ear with slight equalizing just to keep the pressure enough to avoid (maybe) water getting into the inner ear. Still, the odd noises continued...& did so for almost 24 hours. At hour 2 after diving, taking the advice of the boat diving staff, I took 5mg of Serratio Peptidase. At hour 10, i took another 5mg of SP. Googling SP, it seems it is just to stop inflamations from any damages.
Now carefully testing equalizing on land after 24 hours, the normal operation & noises are present only, but this is without testing equalizing at depth. Slight headaches are present & the left ear still doesn't feel 100%, but about 90% vss 60-70% right after the incident. Blowing my noise still moves the left ear drum, but not the right one.
Of course, i skipped dive-11!!
I'm guessing that i punctured or ruptured my left ear drum, but it doesn't feel that serious. The boat dive staff said after the SP, i could dive after 24 hours....
I don't want any risk of not diving because of ear problems, which i've fortunately never had....Does anyone here have any advice or opinions on
- what happened to my left ear drum?
- How long i should wait before diving again?
- If i need to see a Dr?
Much appreciated!!!
I'm really sorry, lanwu, but there is no way to distinguish simple barotrauma from tympanic membrane perforation over the internet. If you have any persistent abnormality in hearing, abnormal sounds, or drainage from the ear, that would really mandate consultation with a physician.
DPP Santa Cruz
Registered
see a Ear Nose and Throat specialist. Better to be safe than sorry.
"DIVING WITH A RUPTURED EARDRUM OR VENTILATION TUBES
Do not dive is the best advice.
Learn what it sounds like when you have a hole in the eardrum.
Squeeze your nose and blow air gently into the ears as when equalizing.
When one tries to equalize on dry land there will be a thud with a normal intact eardrum.
If there is a big hole, the sound will be like a "whoof".
If the hole is tiny, the sound will be a squeak or squeal.
Do not check the amount of healing by equalizing more than once a day in listening for the different sounds. You may create enough pressure to blow the healing cells apart preventing the formation of a new membrane.
So be very careful.
I advise that you do not take chances. It is best to not dive."
-Dr. Robert Scott
"DIVING WITH A RUPTURED EARDRUM OR VENTILATION TUBES
Do not dive is the best advice.
Learn what it sounds like when you have a hole in the eardrum.
Squeeze your nose and blow air gently into the ears as when equalizing.
When one tries to equalize on dry land there will be a thud with a normal intact eardrum.
If there is a big hole, the sound will be like a "whoof".
If the hole is tiny, the sound will be a squeak or squeal.
Do not check the amount of healing by equalizing more than once a day in listening for the different sounds. You may create enough pressure to blow the healing cells apart preventing the formation of a new membrane.
So be very careful.
I advise that you do not take chances. It is best to not dive."
-Dr. Robert Scott
AbyssalPlains
Contributor
I had something very similar to what you describe. It turned out to be a big wax plug in my outer ear canal, blocking the eardrum and preventing water from draining from the space between wax plug and eardrum. Have someone look into your ears and flush them out, that should do it. Unless it's fluid in the middle ear, of course (which I am experiencing currently). That, too, results in crackling and muffled hearing, but since it is behind the eardrum, the only way to drain it is by opening the Eustachian tubes with decongestants (e.g. Guaifenesine, Phenylephrine) and Afrin nasal spray.
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