Doc says i have negative ear drum pressure - what does this mean?

[t-mac]

Thanks chaps, all i know is that i've done 30 - 40 dives in 9 years and every one has been a struggle. I kept meaning to see an ENT specialist at home but never got round to it seeing how infrequently i dived. Now i'm on a years trip visiting some awesome dive destinations i'm regretting that decision. I really hope i'm not going to have to give up diving as it's one of the experiences i really would like to take back home with me at the end of he trip.Bloody ears!!!

Sounds like you have a structural issue and/or chronic congestion. Hopefully you can find a specialist on your travels. Sounds like an awesome trip -- I'm jealous. Have fun and dive safely. Cheers. Tom

 

[DocVikingo]

He prescribe, Phenylpropanol HCI, Cerfuroxime Axetil and Loratadine Betamethasone, one is to stop middle ear infection, one a decongestant and i'm unsure about the third.

Hey MM,

- phenylpropanolamine is a decongestant.

- Cerfuroxime Axetil is a broad-spectrum antibiotic.

-the betamethasone-loratadine combination is a corticosteroid+antihistamine intended to reduce inflammatory/allergic response in mucus membrane.

This is a relatively aggressive regimen and one would expect at least some benefit given time to work over your intended break in SCUBA.

Regards,

DocVikingo

This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual, and should not be construed as such.

---------- Post added May 8th, 2012 at 08:21 AM ----------

all i know is that i've done 30 - 40 dives in 9 years and every one has been a struggle.

Hi MM,

You may want to watch this video whilst you're waiting for your meds to gain traction -->

"The Diver's Ear - Under Pressure"
Doc's Diving Medicine Home Page

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[Muzzman]

DocVikingo, thanks so much for that video!!! I think i may have had a Eureka moment, i think that perhaps a lot of my problems have been down to technique, i've tried the holding my nose, inflating the fleshy part of my nose, jutting out jaw and bobing adams apple as in the video. Now what happens if it feels like my tubes fill with air and pop and crackle which i take it is what we're trying to achieve here.

What i've been doing is blowing against my closed nose but not hard enough to balloon the fleshy part, also the sensation i've been getting is almost like i'm getting air blow through my ear not the sensation above.

It may come to nothing but i'm more confident about my dive on Friday than i have been for years after watching the video.

I've asked so many different DM's and Instructors to help me understand what sensation i'm trying to achieve and they've all just looked at me blankly before.

 

[Davemohio]

MM,

Yeah, I love that blank face look you get when you mention ear issues. Gotta love it.
And you get no sympathy or empathy either.

One of my strong suits as a DM is that I work well with new OW students who have ear issues.
I understand what they are going thru. Tell em about MY ear issues.

Ear issues are very common in the dive community. As I have posted prior, when I had a barotrauma in Cozumel, the doc I saw said he saw 5-6 of these cases a DAY.

Good luck.

 

[DocVikingo]

As I have posted prior, when I had a barotrauma in Cozumel, the doc I saw said he saw 5-6 of these cases a DAY.Good luck.

Hey Dave,

My old friend Dr. Pascual Piccolo?

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[Muzzman]

Bit of a mixed bag yesterday, the first 30m dive went really well, the best i've had. I tried to use the bobbing the adams apple technique but didn't work so i went back to blowing and holding the nose with jaw jutting out, and head up and it worked really well. A great dive.

The second 22m dive was not quite as bad as usual but i still had the old problems and my left ear was really bad again, it took me an age to get down and got a bit of vertigo on the way back up, really disappointed!

Going on another two dives tomorrow so we'll see how they go.

I've got a feeling as mentioned earlier it may be the fact that i'm always congested, but then i can't rely on medication every time i dive so it could be a catch 22 situation.

I was speaking to someone that reckons the more you dive the easier it becomes to equalise so hopefully that will be the case!

 

[Davemohio]

Hey Dave,

My old friend Dr. Pascual Piccolo?

Regards,

DocVikingo

Doc,

I don't remember!

I would have to dig up his old prescription. I gave a copy to my ENT here in Columbus. This doc was a good guy. He met me immediately at the Iberostar.

I was glad for that. The pain was "challenging" and I was very worried.

Dave.

 

[dapex]

I know this is an old thread but would love to hear an update

Bit of a mixed bag yesterday, the first 30m dive went really well, the best i've had. I tried to use the bobbing the adams apple technique but didn't work so i went back to blowing and holding the nose with jaw jutting out, and head up and it worked really well. A great dive.

The second 22m dive was not quite as bad as usual but i still had the old problems and my left ear was really bad again, it took me an age to get down and got a bit of vertigo on the way back up, really disappointed!

Going on another two dives tomorrow so we'll see how they go.

I've got a feeling as mentioned earlier it may be the fact that i'm always congested, but then i can't rely on medication every time i dive so it could be a catch 22 situation.

I was speaking to someone that reckons the more you dive the easier it becomes to equalise so hopefully that will be the case!