What should I do?

[akakinder]

Hi guys,

I've posted here before but very briefly -after equalising with a bit of a snuffle, I found myself to have eustachian tube dysfunction. Never had ear problems before that in my life. I stopped diving for over 6 months and then saw an ENT specialist on the NHS. The moment I mentioned diving, she told me to give it up and that I suddenly can't deal with any pressure and risk going deaf if I expose my ears to any.
Of course, this broke my heart! I decided to enlist one of the UK's best, most credible dive doctors. I told him what had happened, he looked in my ears, did a few tests and deemed me fit to dive. He told me that he could see me equalising and that pressure was fine, pain wasn't. He explained that losing my hearing would be incredibly hard and rare in a swimming pool (and would come back anyway). He said to take it easy, slowly and keep equalising, but ultimately he doesn't see any problems and has seen far worse!

So you're probably wondering why I'm posting... Basically, to be honest, I am terrified of losing my hearing. Even with the dive doctor's clearance, I'm still quite scared and just wanted to see if anyone could give me any further tips? Should I give it a go? My instructor is aware of the situation and beyond understanding and considerate, I'm very lucky.

Thank you for reading

 

[dumpsterpurrs]

So as a disabled and chronically ill person, I can tell you that doctors don't always agree. In fact, they don't tend to agree, esp if they don't share the same specialties. I don't know if I should be considered undiagnosed or diagnosed with many different things... In general, I'd trust doctors with more relevant experience, medical or otherwise, but I'd also get several extra opinions. Talk to more doctors. No one here can give you medical advice, and neither should you trust us to give you medical advice.

 

[Valyngar]

Doc here. It is usual that we disagree. 1st doctor prob had general knowledge, but not special knowledge about diving medicine and that's why went side of caution. I would trust your 2nd docs opinions much more because he was specialist for diving.

 

[Duke Dive Medicine]

Hi guys,

I've posted here before but very briefly -after equalising with a bit of a snuffle, I found myself to have eustachian tube dysfunction. Never had ear problems before that in my life. I stopped diving for over 6 months and then saw an ENT specialist on the NHS. The moment I mentioned diving, she told me to give it up and that I suddenly can't deal with any pressure and risk going deaf if I expose my ears to any.
Of course, this broke my heart! I decided to enlist one of the UK's best, most credible dive doctors. I told him what had happened, he looked in my ears, did a few tests and deemed me fit to dive. He told me that he could see me equalising and that pressure was fine, pain wasn't. He explained that losing my hearing would be incredibly hard and rare in a swimming pool (and would come back anyway). He said to take it easy, slowly and keep equalising, but ultimately he doesn't see any problems and has seen far worse!

So you're probably wondering why I'm posting... Basically, to be honest, I am terrified of losing my hearing. Even with the dive doctor's clearance, I'm still quite scared and just wanted to see if anyone could give me any further tips? Should I give it a go? My instructor is aware of the situation and beyond understanding and considerate, I'm very lucky.

Thank you for reading

Amy,

Doctors do disagree, but these two seem diametrically opposed. What was the ENT physician's rationale for telling you that you could lose your hearing? If a diving physician looked in your ears, visualized your tympanic membranes moving when you performed a Valsalva, cleared you to dive, AND you have no residual damage from your last episode, it seems reasonable to try, but the ENT physician's opinion is worth exploring as well.



Best regards,
DDM

 

[iamrushman]

try practicing your clearing techniques on dry land several times a day until you get the hang of it.....

 

[akakinder]

Hi DDM,

She seemed interested until I mentioned scuba diving. From then on, she told me there was nothing there but that I couldn't deal with pressure now, at all. She would say I couldn't know that in the shallow end (which is wrong of course) and I wasn't able to fly or go on the Eurotunnel (I'm in the UK) etc. She said I'd be diving at my own risk.
The dive doctor on the other hand, extremely credible - told me that she didn't know what she was talking about, he watched me equalise using a thing to look through my ear, asked me lots of questions and concluded without hesitation, I was fit to dive. I asked many questions and he told me he's seen people who have a lot worse. That maybe I have residue from ETD (in that it just feels a little awkward) but he sees no reason why I can't dive. He signed me off there and then. So, very much polar opposites.

Hope this helps?
Amy

 

[Duke Dive Medicine]

Hi DDM,

She seemed interested until I mentioned scuba diving. From then on, she told me there was nothing there but that I couldn't deal with pressure now, at all. She would say I couldn't know that in the shallow end (which is wrong of course) and I wasn't able to fly or go on the Eurotunnel (I'm in the UK) etc. She said I'd be diving at my own risk.
The dive doctor on the other hand, extremely credible - told me that she didn't know what she was talking about, he watched me equalise using a thing to look through my ear, asked me lots of questions and concluded without hesitation, I was fit to dive. I asked many questions and he told me he's seen people who have a lot worse. That maybe I have residue from ETD (in that it just feels a little awkward) but he sees no reason why I can't dive. He signed me off there and then. So, very much polar opposites.

Hope this helps?
Amy

Hi Amy,

Interesting. In the first incident of ETD that you mentioned, were there any symptoms aside from middle ear barotrauma? Did you have any vertigo, tinnitus or hearing loss?

Best regards,
DDM