Barotrauma... ugh.

[swinchen]

Hi All,

I feel really stupid even talking about this, but here it goes.

Thursday (6/19/08) I was snorkeling in a pool... well I went down to 13 feet (equalizing all the way down... although I could feel some pain in my forehead) and when I got to the bottom I turned over to practice blowing bubble rings. All of a sudden I got a HUGE sense of vertigo (it looked like the pool flipped upside down) and really dizzy. I went to the surface was dizzy/nauseated... the dizziness and nausea lasted for about an hour and is completely gone now, but I am left with a mostly deaf ear, and a tinnitus... I can deal with the deafness but the tinnitus is driving me mad.

I went to the health center on campus and the doctor I saw said I had barotrauma and to take mucinex-D and it could take a couple weeks to clear up.

I called DAN to get a second opinion and they agreed with treatment.

My big question is...Does this sound middle ear or inner ear barotrauma? Is it likely I will get my hearing back and get rid of the tinnitus?

After reading some threads I think I will also start taking ibuprofen. It has been 4 days now with basically no improvement in the symptoms even though my ears feel like the are able to equalize.

Thanks for the help,

- A very annoyed Sam

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi Sam,

If it's otic barotrauma of any sort, don't expect miracles from Mucinex-D.

Given a report of basically unimproved hearing loss and tinnitus 4 days post-trauma, questions remain as to whether either or both will ever completely resolve. Only time will tell.

In any event, a campus health center doctor is very unlikely to be expert in matters of the ear, and even more unlikely in matters relating to diving injuries of the ear.

Seeing a bona fide ENT would be a prudent next step.

Helpful?

Regards,

DocVikingo

This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice.

 

[swinchen]

Helpful, but not good news I wonder if DAN will cover an ENT exam.

Ok, I am heading back over to the health clinic to see if I can get refered to an ENT.

 

[swinchen]

Wow... the ENT doesn't even want to see me for 6 weeks. Seeing that tympanic membrane wasn't ruptured...

That doesn't make any sense to me... I would feel much more comfortable seeing an ENT now, butI guess they know more about this stuff than I do.

 

[DocVikingo]

Hey Sam,

Continuing unimproved hearing loss and tinnitus with onset accompanied by transient but intense vertigo, and the absence of ongoing pain or impaired ability to equalize the middle ear space, combine to suggest otic barotrauma.

Understandably this is worrisome. However, as both DAN and an ENT have recommended waiting for a bit to see if there is improvement, it makes sense to follow this suggestion. If it is in fact barotrauma, there is little reason at this point to expect it to worsen.

If the symptoms do intensify, or pain or other symptoms or signs of infection develop, the ENT should quickly be informed of the changes.

BTW, if you are coverd by a DAN dive accident policy they indeed should pay for all related expenses not covered by your primary health care arrangements.

Helpful?

Regards,

DocVikingo

This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice.

 

[swinchen]

I am pretty much convinced based on the symptoms that somehow I ruptured the round window in my left ear. blech

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi Sam,

Given the information reported thus far, rupture of the round window most certainly is on the short list of rule out diagnoses.

However, evaluation by an ENT will be required before any definitive diagnosis is arrived at.

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[swinchen]

Thanks Doc, I called my Doctor and basically was going to demand to see an ENT sooner... but I didn't have to, he recommended it. So good... hopefully today or tomorrow I will be going to see one.

 

[ScubaCatgirl]

Do you guys mind if I jump in here? I seem to have the same problem with getting treatment. Although I know for sure that I do have middle baratroma & have seen an ENT. He prescribed water pills for me, as the tympanic membrane nor the ear drum have been ruptered. The water pills worked great. Unfortunately they caused horrible, painful headaches. I only stayed on this water pill for a week & I couldn't take it anymore, thus returned to my normal doctor. Once again they gave me a different water pill to try, told me to continue the oral decogestants & nasal steriod spray. Migranes again & I'm still suffering from the Bartarama. I've been back from vacation for 6-7 weeks now & am now on my 3rd script for a different water pill. Am I in the wait & see category? Does my regular doc really know what to do or should I insist that they send me to another ENT? Or am I just being impatient? Btw, I'm still swimming laps in the pool, would this affect it or is it just my imagination that it is? The ENT says it wouldn't but my ear sure hurts more significately after the laps than before.

 

[Papa_Bear]

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