Jeblis
Contributor
I had the same problem about a year ago.
I was diving in warm water (lake Travis, Austin TX). Visibility was really bad. At about 50 Feet. I started feeling like I was tumbling and spinning. I grabbed the only person I could see spinning by (turns out it was my dive buddy) and signaled that I wanted to go up. We made a controlled ascent and at about 30-35 feet the spinning cleared up. He did a great job of controlling the ascent, since I couldn't focus my depth guage. After the dive I felt fine. About five hours later I had an pain in my ear and went to the ER. Turns out I had an ear infection and didn't even know it.
After doing a lot of research and seeing a diving ENT and a Audiologist, I found out that I probably experienced Alternobaric vertigo. Brought on by unequal pressure in my middle ears due to the infection.
Luckily I have no lasting damage.
Also I've heard stories of hoods causing damage or unequal pressure. So I either periodically pull the open around my ears to allow ambient pressure inside the hood or make some small holes in the hood (nail trick) at the ears to allow the water to flow easily around the ear canal.
This isn't medical advice, but I'm told many people use Swim Ear or a 50/50 mix of vinegar and rubbing alchohol to dry their ears after diving. This helps prevent infection. It won't help if you've already got one. The vinegar/rubbing alchohol mix may be better since it keeps the ear slightly acidic to ward off bacteria. The alchohol is the drying agent. Also I've heard that many divers regulary take decongestants.
None of this is in any way medical advice. Just my experience.
Jeb
I was diving in warm water (lake Travis, Austin TX). Visibility was really bad. At about 50 Feet. I started feeling like I was tumbling and spinning. I grabbed the only person I could see spinning by (turns out it was my dive buddy) and signaled that I wanted to go up. We made a controlled ascent and at about 30-35 feet the spinning cleared up. He did a great job of controlling the ascent, since I couldn't focus my depth guage. After the dive I felt fine. About five hours later I had an pain in my ear and went to the ER. Turns out I had an ear infection and didn't even know it.
After doing a lot of research and seeing a diving ENT and a Audiologist, I found out that I probably experienced Alternobaric vertigo. Brought on by unequal pressure in my middle ears due to the infection.
Luckily I have no lasting damage.
Also I've heard stories of hoods causing damage or unequal pressure. So I either periodically pull the open around my ears to allow ambient pressure inside the hood or make some small holes in the hood (nail trick) at the ears to allow the water to flow easily around the ear canal.
This isn't medical advice, but I'm told many people use Swim Ear or a 50/50 mix of vinegar and rubbing alchohol to dry their ears after diving. This helps prevent infection. It won't help if you've already got one. The vinegar/rubbing alchohol mix may be better since it keeps the ear slightly acidic to ward off bacteria. The alchohol is the drying agent. Also I've heard that many divers regulary take decongestants.
None of this is in any way medical advice. Just my experience.
Jeb
