ear troubles!!! need good advice

[createsounds]

hello friends,

let me start by apologizing for something thats obviously been posted a thousand times.
-----
so i went diving, taking my c-card class, with PADI, I felt good,

after OW dive 1 my ear felt like it have water in it so i shook it out a bit,(my descent was slow and a bit painful but tolerable and i did the up and down thing in the water to move back to a pressure where EQing was easier, everything went well

OW dive 2 the descent was much smoother, much less pain, i was more comfortable EQing. after ascending, i had a horribly stuffed left ear.

took a day off, tried a few types of drops, nothing help

the next day OW dives 3 and 4 i felt i could EQ fine so i went in..
i felt much better after the dive..

NOW 3 weeks later, I still have 1/2 muffled hearing, a constant tinnitus, and some on & off pain,
i was taking a ear drop (oflaxacin) they didnt help, and after a day or two of extended use, i started to burn my ear.. so i stopped using it.

now im in the same place...

any advice.. ENT is real $$$, I thinkin to go to the ER tomorrow


THNKS
newbie diver CREATESOUNDS

 

[heavierthanlead]

ENT, not ER issue...

 

[warmwaterturner]

I would also give DAN a call and ask for a referral that is local to you. When I had this issue they pointed me to a "dive experienced" ENT.

 

[Dhboner]

Sounds like minor middle ear barotrauma (I'm no doctor but your sysmptoms are very similar to something I experienced and had subsequently diagnosed).

Go see an ENT (preferably one who dives or has divers as patients).

In my case it resolved itself in a week or so. After that I got into the habit of equalizing on the way to the dive site, on the boat and then at the surface. My main problem was decending too fast so I worked hard on controlling my rate of decent (once I got my buoyancy and trim dialled in it stopped being an issue).

Hope this helps!

Bob

 

[TSandM]

This definitely sounds like barotrauma, compounded by the fact that you dove again before it had resolved. But persistent muffled hearing for three weeks is concerning -- most mild cases of barotrauma resolve faster than that. The tinnitus is worrisome, too -- although tinnitus can be a side effect of diminished external auditory stimuli (occurring because your middle ear is full of fluid, and can't transduce sound properly) it can also be a marker of damage to the inner ear (as can the persistent hearing deficit). Although acute barotrauma doesn't necessarily need evaluation by a specialist, persistent symptoms like this I think definitely do, despite the expense.

It is a VERY common thing to confuse external with middle ear problems in divers. HERE is an essay I wrote a while back, trying to help people understand the difference. Dr. Kay's video is a much longer and more thorough discussion of the issue.

 

[Beowulf]

I get that everytime I dive. Thought about seeing an ENT but there are none with dive experience around me according to DAN.

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[TSandM]

Beowulf, if you are having symptoms that persist for three weeks after every dive, you have some serious equalization problems. Either you need to learn more effective techniques, or equalize far earlier and more often, or you should be evaluated by an ENT (if no diving-savvy one is available, a regular one would have to do) to see if you have some anatomic issue that is precluding equalization. This should not be taken lightly; severe barotrauma can result in permanent hearing loss or worse, permanent vertigo.

 

[Beowulf]

Thank you TS& M. Not always 3 weeks but I just made an appointment for an ENT. Sorry I don't like going to the doc but I greatly value your advice and contributions.

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[createsounds]

THANKS EVERYBODY FOR ALL THE RESPONSES AND HELPFUL ADVICE!!!

"heavierthanlead
ENT, not ER issue.."--- thanks, I thought the same thing, but the only way to get into a ENT clinic in NYC that is for the less fortunate to put it nicely is unfortunately, or to not have a 2 month wait is to first make an ER trip...

"Dhboner" thanks bob, thats what i was assuming as well, i had a similar pressure change issue on my first ever flight, It cleared up in about a week as well, I think my descent was a little fast, but after up and down i felt ok. and the next few dive of going at my own pace and not letting the dive coach push me to move faster down the line, the EQing went smoother and was more comfortable.

"warmwaterturner" called DAN today actually they directed to to a ENT that asked for 350$ just to sit down and talk to him, then another 100$ just to use a scoop and the price list went on & up... I'm not livin in EU and I dont even have a job right know... HARDER TIMES...

"TSandM" thanks for the links and the advice, according to the general medicine DR i seen, I'm a one in million case to have allergic reaction or no improvement from the antibiotic ear drop.


I WILL KEEP THIS POST UPDATE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS WITH WHAT THE DR'S SAY,
THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE!!!!!!

 

[createsounds]

status.

ENT. visit--- after explaining i was roughly 20+ days deep in ear pain, loss of hearing except tinnitus, and really hurting for $ because i have no insurance and an apt is really expensive. the ENT DR. says come back in two weeks...

one week to go.
although i really enjoyed diving and have many chance to dive again... im getting discourage about the whole thing...

SSxL