breezyj1972
New
Hi all,
I just completed my OW certification in Mexico last weekend. We did two days of diving -- 1 day practicing skills and diving in a calm cenote, and 1 day in the open water (2 dives each day). I thought I was equalizing properly, but apparently not. The day after we were done diving, I noticed a persistent feeling of water and fullness in my L ear. I've since seen a doctor at home and have fluid behind my L ear drum. My right ear drum was a bit red too. So it looks like I developed at least 1, if not 2, middle ear barotraumas.
Now that I know my symptoms are really indicative of a diving injury, I want to learn all I can to avoid such problems in the future. I may have been more prone to ear problems b/c I had a serious case of influenza about 2 wks. before I went diving, and still had sinus problems just a few days before. But with Sudafed and sinus rinses, my sinus pressure had cleared and I thought I was good to dive. (Probably mistake #1, eh?) How does one know when one it's safe to dive again after a sinus or upper respiratory problem?
During my dives, I would attempt to equalize using the Valsalva manuever (pinch and blow). I'd do it before I felt discomfort and when I felt a bit of ear pressure/discomfort. Was that wrong? If I feel any pressure or discomfort at all, should I ascend and THEN try to equalize, rather than trying to equalize where I am when I feel the pain? A couple of times, I had to blow really hard to get my ears to pop/to relieve the pain. Is that wrong? Did that set me up for problems?
After day 1 of diving, I had a lot of continued popping/clicking my ears. I noticed it while at dinner, etc. Should that have been an alarm bell of some sort for me? As a new diver, I thought it was normal.
The second day of diving, when I came up after my first dive, I had bloody mucus in my mask, from my nose. Was that another alarm signal?
From what I've read, flying isn't advised until after a barotrauma has healed. But 1) I didn't realize that at the time, and 2) I had to go home; staying in Mexico for a few additional weeks wasn't an option. Did I potentially make things worse by flying?
Right now, on my doctor's advice, I'm taking Sudafed and a nasal steroid spray. There's been no noticeable improvement in my symptoms, but it sounds like it could take awhile. Sometimes I do notice my ears popping, esp. on the R (the side that's not so bad) when I swallow or blow my nose. Is that a sign of progress? My plan is to schedule an appt. with an ENT doc if I've been home a week without noticing any improvement. Good plan?
Any other advice you can share with me re avoiding/treating barotraumas is welcome as well!
I just completed my OW certification in Mexico last weekend. We did two days of diving -- 1 day practicing skills and diving in a calm cenote, and 1 day in the open water (2 dives each day). I thought I was equalizing properly, but apparently not. The day after we were done diving, I noticed a persistent feeling of water and fullness in my L ear. I've since seen a doctor at home and have fluid behind my L ear drum. My right ear drum was a bit red too. So it looks like I developed at least 1, if not 2, middle ear barotraumas.
Now that I know my symptoms are really indicative of a diving injury, I want to learn all I can to avoid such problems in the future. I may have been more prone to ear problems b/c I had a serious case of influenza about 2 wks. before I went diving, and still had sinus problems just a few days before. But with Sudafed and sinus rinses, my sinus pressure had cleared and I thought I was good to dive. (Probably mistake #1, eh?) How does one know when one it's safe to dive again after a sinus or upper respiratory problem?
During my dives, I would attempt to equalize using the Valsalva manuever (pinch and blow). I'd do it before I felt discomfort and when I felt a bit of ear pressure/discomfort. Was that wrong? If I feel any pressure or discomfort at all, should I ascend and THEN try to equalize, rather than trying to equalize where I am when I feel the pain? A couple of times, I had to blow really hard to get my ears to pop/to relieve the pain. Is that wrong? Did that set me up for problems?
After day 1 of diving, I had a lot of continued popping/clicking my ears. I noticed it while at dinner, etc. Should that have been an alarm bell of some sort for me? As a new diver, I thought it was normal.
The second day of diving, when I came up after my first dive, I had bloody mucus in my mask, from my nose. Was that another alarm signal?
From what I've read, flying isn't advised until after a barotrauma has healed. But 1) I didn't realize that at the time, and 2) I had to go home; staying in Mexico for a few additional weeks wasn't an option. Did I potentially make things worse by flying?
Right now, on my doctor's advice, I'm taking Sudafed and a nasal steroid spray. There's been no noticeable improvement in my symptoms, but it sounds like it could take awhile. Sometimes I do notice my ears popping, esp. on the R (the side that's not so bad) when I swallow or blow my nose. Is that a sign of progress? My plan is to schedule an appt. with an ENT doc if I've been home a week without noticing any improvement. Good plan?
Any other advice you can share with me re avoiding/treating barotraumas is welcome as well!
