How can you tell if you have a hole in your eardrum?

[liberato]

Generally, you will know when you have a perforation. Acute pain followed by relief and usually subsequent discharge and inability to pressurize that ear. But you need to actually see the tympanic membrane while you perform a Valsalva so if any of the above conditions were true you should get it diagnosed by your regular physician. Treatment is simple and most heal without invasive procedures. No need to see an expensive specialist unless referred due to complications. But frankly, your description does not sound like a perforated eardrum (the crackling sound is coming from your Eustachian tubes).

 

[molksmith]

Please GO TO THE DOCTOR...THIS IS DRIVING ME NUTS!!!

 

[BlueDolphin]

Ummmmm I hate doctors and hospitals? lol. Actually I would go if it lasted longer than 7 days or so.

Thanks all. I think that you are right about the ear infections. I heard from someone else that it has been goin around.

It is getting better day by day... so I am sure it is nothing to worry too much about.
I plan on diving this week, and was just gettin bummed at the prospect of not being able to go.

 

[BlueDolphin]

Lol... Dcrook.

 

[molksmith]

You may hate going to the doctor...hahaha
But trust me it stinks to go diving and find out you can't.
Often times with the worst inner ear problems you don't even feel pain.
Even if it's just to get antibiotics for an infection...YOU MUST GO....
Hate to sound like a broken record but ear stuff is really serious for diving.
But if you have fluid in your ear (sounds like it) it may take longer than a week to drain. I have just cleared up from fluid I had 6 weeks ago. You go diving on a bad ear you may get hung up from diving for a lot longer, 8-12 months.
As a diver seeing the doctor before you go on trips is critical.
Check out the thread on Barotrauma.
So this is my last attempt to persuade you to help yourself.
GO SEE AN EAR GUY. You can do serious damage to yourself and in some extreme cases kiss diving goodbye forever.

 

[BlueDolphin]

Will do.

I am going to stop in to see my doc on Monday. Thanks for the push.

 

[Swimmerette]

Hi. I've had five tympanoplasties (eardrum surgeries) and ear problems since I was a child. I agree that you should see a dr., but if you want protection p.d.q., you can, if you are in Mexico for instance, go to a pharmacia and get some Cypro or other antibiotic w/o seeing a dr. Mexican pharmacists have helped me with more problems over the years than I can recount.

 

[skeet]

My daughter said one night that her ear itched for a little while when she went to bed, the next day while sitting in class her classmate said " their is blood coming out of your ear ". Went to Doc,comfirmed rupture due to a tube clog ( used for recurring ear infections ) but she complained of no pain. Pain maybe only associated with sudden pressure differential as can happen within diving.

 

[liberato]

...go to a pharmacia and get some Cypro or other antibiotic w/o seeing a dr.

But of course, if he went to a doctor he would then know that CIPRO® HC Otic Suspension is contraindicated for eardrum perforations along with all his other symptoms.

 

[JasonH20]

Well about 2 weeks ago I was borrowing someone elses BC for a dive (I don't have my own yet). I checked everything out on the surface and everything seemed as I expected so off we went for our dive.

We swam out from shore on the surface and then started our descent when we were in 35 feet of water or so. I vented the BC and started to drop. Everything was going fine until I went to add some air to the BC and ended up fumbling around trying to press the inflator button. My right ear started have problems equalizing but since I was focused on trying to get air in my BC I neglected equalizing the ear. About 25 feet down the pressure and pain was relieved to a long wheeez sound. No vertigo, no pain, no problems. I finished the dive with no ill effects. After the dive, my ear seemed fine, so I did a second dive with no problems. Even that night I didn't notice any problems with the ear.

The next day it felt a bit muffled but again nothing that concerned me too much. But the following day my ear started to discharge clear fluid. eek. So I went to the doctor like a good boy, and yep, I had a small tear in my right ear drum. Doctor prescibed 10 days worth of antibiodics, and all is good now. I'm going on my first dive since the incedent this Sunday, so cross my fingers everything is OK.

So I guess the moral of the story is; a) Be familiar with your equipment! and b) go see a doctor!

Happy diving,
Jason