vertigo?

[billt4sf]

Can diving or water in the outer ear cause symptoms associated with vertigo?

I am 66 and been having vertigo-type symptoms for years. Recently they have been increasing in frequency. I am consulting my physician, but I also thought I would ask around among divers. My main complaint is that, even after the true positional vertigo is gone, I seem to have near-constant dizziness. Some of the symptoms are definitely BPPV. My PT mentioned a viral infection in the ear.

I plan to call DAN as well.

Thanks for posting if you have any experience along these lines.

Bill

 

[uncfnp]

Sorry to hear that Bill. Water, especially cold water in the external auditory canal can indeed cause vertigo but the symptoms should resolve shortly after the stimulus is removed.

Your doc was probably referring to labrynthitis or vestibular neuritis when s/he mentioned "viral infection."

Vestibular Neuritis: Symptoms & Treatment | Cleveland Clinic

Unfortunately dizziness/vertigo is increasingly more common as we age.

 

[billt4sf]

STOP! Don't use that word!

 

[CatsEye]

Are you doing any treatments for your BPPV? The Epley and Foster maneuvers have helped me.

 

[billt4sf]

Are you doing any treatments for your BPPV? The Epley and Foster maneuvers have helped me.

Yes, and they didn't help, that's kind of why I am asking.

- Bill

 

[Akimbo]

Can diving or water in the outer ear cause symptoms associated with vertigo?

This story sticks with me after 55 years. My first Scuba instructor must have been one of the poster-divers for those pages in diving text books of the day stating to never to use ear plugs. He was snorkeling (freediving) and suddenly his left ear felt bad and the world went weird. Bubbles were going sideways. So he swam perpendicular to the bubbles for a while and stated to think "hmmm, I'm starting to run out of air (parlance at the time) and maybe the bubbles really do know which way is up". He was an mechanical engineer so fortunately the mental debate didn't last long enough for him to black out.

So yes, water in the inner ear can cause orientation issues.

 

[DanielRJones]

I have had vertigo on 2 ascents. First one on a free ascent from 26m everything was on a 45degree angle and spinning. I knew my eyes must be lying to me as why would everyone be circling around me.
I stopped ascent and after 4or 5 mins it stopped and was able to get to surface with no issues.
Yesterday the same happened on a 30m dive coming up the line with the wife and the world went into a wild spin again. I had done alot of reading about it and knew what it was that was happening so stopped waited to equalise and went up again. At 20m it happened again so carried on ascending slowly knowing that bubbles go up and line goes up.
From the wifes point of view I was just ascending slowly and head was rocking a little bit but was holding trim and orientation.

Went home cleaned ears out relaxed done the same dive again today and had no issues and fine descent and ascent

 

[TMHeimer]

Occasionally I get a bit of vertigo ascending from my usual depths of 20-30'. Some have said it's because one ear equalises before the other. It clears up immediately at the surface, and usually occurs not far below it. Doubt that helps you. Good that you are seeking medical advice other than on scubaboard.

 

[DanielRJones]

Occasionally I get a bit of vertigo ascending from my usual depths of 20-30'. Some have said it's because one ear equalises before the other. It clears up immediately at the surface, and usually occurs not far below it. Doubt that helps you. Good that you are seeking medical advice other than on scubaboard.

This is what I get. A bit scary first time but when you know about it and how to deal with it it is ok

 

[TMHeimer]

This is what I get. A bit scary first time but when you know about it and how to deal with it it is ok

Exactly.