k4sdi
Contributor
Help! Im trying to get back into diving and Im having an ear problem for a couple of years now that I cant seem to figure out! Ive searched the forums and other internet sites with no luck.
The Short Version
When I start a dive (or just swimming for that matter) when I tilt my head to the side to allow the air to bubble out of my ears, my right ear is fine, but when the air bubbles out of my left ear and the water rushes in, I feel a horrid debilitating stabbing pain and vertigo. After I come to the surface, it takes a minute or two for the pain to decrease to a tolerable level. After 15 or 20 min, everything is back to normal.
The Long Version
Ive been diving for around 10 years now. Two years ago after what seemed like a long winter, I went swimming in a friends pool, swam down to the bottom (3 or so) and felt this stabbing pain as mentioned above. I thought that maybe I had ruptured an eardrum, but instead of going to the doctor I simply stayed out of the water for a couple of months to let it heal. Four or five months later, I decided to try it again, but as soon as water entered my ear, the same stabbing pain occurred. This time I went to see an ENT. She performed a Tympanometry which she said looked fine. She put me on antibiotics saying that the eardrum looked a little red. Seven months go by before I am brave enough to get in the water, hoping that whatever it was has healed up. However, as soon as water enters my ear canal, that familiar sudden sharp pain and vertigo returns. This time I stay out of the water for over a year.
This winter, my son decides that he wants to dive, sounds to me like its time to try this ear thing again. Joining him at a pool session, I take it nice and slow, but again, as soon as water entered my ear canal, the pain hits. The next day I visited a different ENT doctor, who also did a tympanometry with normal results, and said everything looked fine visually. He told me that more than likely it was a squeeze and recommended trying Sudafed and nose spray. (I really don't think its a squeeze) Even though I dont like the sound of that, I decided to try it that night in the pool. I took it nice and slow, and descended down to the bottom, equalizing constantly, then laid there for over 20 min without any trouble. However, I had been very careful not to tilt my head to let water in my ear canal. Towards the end of my sons class, I decided to have a little fun with him and do a barrel roll, and as soon as I felt the bubbles go out of my ear, that sudden pain returned. I tried the Docs Pro Plugs next, the X-large seemed to fit but when I got in the pool to try it, blub blub blub, water in my ear and pain. The XX-large wont fit in my ear without forcing it, so Im a bit afraid to try that.
Just yesterday, while standing in 3 foot of water, I ducked my head under to get my hair wet, and I must have gotten water in my ear, because it happened again! Argh!!!!
Random thoughts and info
I've NEVER had trouble equalizing in my 10 years diving. I've always been that annoying guy that can flex the roof of my mouth and clear my ears easily.
The pain (possibly less intense?) is not always accompanied by vertigo.
The only thing I can think of next is finding an ENT that specializes in dive medicine, however this would mean some travel. Anyone have any ideas whats going on with my left ear?
The Short Version
When I start a dive (or just swimming for that matter) when I tilt my head to the side to allow the air to bubble out of my ears, my right ear is fine, but when the air bubbles out of my left ear and the water rushes in, I feel a horrid debilitating stabbing pain and vertigo. After I come to the surface, it takes a minute or two for the pain to decrease to a tolerable level. After 15 or 20 min, everything is back to normal.
The Long Version
Ive been diving for around 10 years now. Two years ago after what seemed like a long winter, I went swimming in a friends pool, swam down to the bottom (3 or so) and felt this stabbing pain as mentioned above. I thought that maybe I had ruptured an eardrum, but instead of going to the doctor I simply stayed out of the water for a couple of months to let it heal. Four or five months later, I decided to try it again, but as soon as water entered my ear, the same stabbing pain occurred. This time I went to see an ENT. She performed a Tympanometry which she said looked fine. She put me on antibiotics saying that the eardrum looked a little red. Seven months go by before I am brave enough to get in the water, hoping that whatever it was has healed up. However, as soon as water enters my ear canal, that familiar sudden sharp pain and vertigo returns. This time I stay out of the water for over a year.
This winter, my son decides that he wants to dive, sounds to me like its time to try this ear thing again. Joining him at a pool session, I take it nice and slow, but again, as soon as water entered my ear canal, the pain hits. The next day I visited a different ENT doctor, who also did a tympanometry with normal results, and said everything looked fine visually. He told me that more than likely it was a squeeze and recommended trying Sudafed and nose spray. (I really don't think its a squeeze) Even though I dont like the sound of that, I decided to try it that night in the pool. I took it nice and slow, and descended down to the bottom, equalizing constantly, then laid there for over 20 min without any trouble. However, I had been very careful not to tilt my head to let water in my ear canal. Towards the end of my sons class, I decided to have a little fun with him and do a barrel roll, and as soon as I felt the bubbles go out of my ear, that sudden pain returned. I tried the Docs Pro Plugs next, the X-large seemed to fit but when I got in the pool to try it, blub blub blub, water in my ear and pain. The XX-large wont fit in my ear without forcing it, so Im a bit afraid to try that.
Just yesterday, while standing in 3 foot of water, I ducked my head under to get my hair wet, and I must have gotten water in my ear, because it happened again! Argh!!!!
Random thoughts and info
I've NEVER had trouble equalizing in my 10 years diving. I've always been that annoying guy that can flex the roof of my mouth and clear my ears easily.
The pain (possibly less intense?) is not always accompanied by vertigo.
The only thing I can think of next is finding an ENT that specializes in dive medicine, however this would mean some travel. Anyone have any ideas whats going on with my left ear?