Ears

[fish_bowl]

Hey Guys,

I noticed when I did my open water course in the pool, that even when I did equalize, I had a lot of problems with my ears afterwards. Now I have always had problems with ear infections and such. Has anyone else experienced this problem? Will it get better? Am I doomed to remain on land for the rest of my life?

Fish

[ScubaScott]

Have you gone to get your infections checked out by a doctor? This summer was the first time I had an ear infection. The doctor called it in laymans terms "swimmers ear" - basically a little bit of water or even just moisture that doesn't dry up quickly and has bacteria in it (all water has some form of it), and leads to infections. I was diving often, playing and swimming in the lake and having 2 or more showers a day between home and the gym. My ears were always wet. A simple solution is hydrogen peroxide on a Q-tip after every dive, or you can buy drops at any drug store (the brand name escapes me right now) in the eyes and ear section of the store.

However, if your having problems with your sinuses and clearing, there could be many issues at play here. Is it the outer ear or inner? Any other specifics you can give about the "problems" your having?

SS

[Butch103]

Go to the Dr and get any infectio cleared up. Second, go to the medical section of the board and do a search on "Swimmers Ear". There are many concoctions advised to put in your ears. I got my first ear infection after som e pool work last year and I had to sit for two weeks. Not fun !!!!!:(
After that I put in drops (Brand name is Swimmers Ear) before (don't know if this helps) and after my dives and I haven't had any problem since. Also DON"T use any Q_TIPS in your ears. This is very bad for them.

I also have a sinus problem. It doesn't stop me from diving or equalizing, but does bother my ears after. Takes about a week for them to "feel right" after the dives, so I use a decongestant, this keeps my eustachian tubes clear, and I find that the ears don't feel funny after the dives. But undersand this, I can equalize if I use the decongestant or not. Don't dive using the decongestant if you need it to equalize.!!!!!

You might find you have to equalize more often than some others. Not a problem. Also get used to equalizing even if you are not diving. Sitting and driving you can feel the pressure in your ears..equalize. It thus becomes a habit and helps later in your diving.

Just MHO folks. :D

[fish_bowl]

thanks for the advice. I have never had any sinus infections but equalizing during the day sounds great. I find sometimes when I work out my ears will get a little foggy. I'm just happy to know I can keep diving. After buying a wet suit and fins and stuff I didn't want to just let it hang in the closet. In our course our instructor told us not to use decongestant but I think he was refering to when you are sick. Which of course I would not dive if I was sick but I think I will try this if this proble persists.

Fish

[sparky30]

The "Swimmers Ear" stuff works great. My LDS carries, so I don't even have to go to the pharmacy :)
I never had ear problems before but on a recent live aboard trip to the Bahamas me right ear started acting up..It was tender and sounded abit foggy.. a few drops on the Swimmers Ear stuff cleared it all up within hours.. After I put the drops in you can feel things starting to heat up. Feels kinda funny, but it did the trick. Never even missed a dive.. I probably screwed it up in the first place by using q-tips.. I stopped using them :)

[mddolson]

The home made handy man special.

Mix
1/3 table vinegar
1/3 isopropyl alcohol (70%)
1/3 tap water

in ear/ nose drop bottle

instill into ear after coming out of water.
works for pools, lakes, rivers, oceans etc

KILLS BUGS DEAD!

works for me.


Mike D

[pufferfish]

This stuff works for me especially after the Niagara River dives where I always seem to have problems.

I will give mddolson's treament a try next summer as it looks like a winner. Any particular city's tap water you recommend? Gas line antifreeze probably would work too :wacko:

Buro Sol (http://www.stiefel.ca/en/our_products/misc.html)

[fish_bowl]

Hmm.. putting gas line anitfreeze into your ears sounds suspicious.

I am definately going to get some swimmers ears.. I'm sure it will do the trick. Yeah I get to dive.

but when will the cold ever go away. :(

[Groundhog246]

fish_bowl once bubbled...
In our course our instructor told us not to use decongestant but I think he was refering to when you are sick. Which of course I would not dive if I was sick but I think I will try this if this problem persists. Fish

No, he meant anytime. There's a danger it may lose it effectiveness at depth (some drugs are adversly affected by increased pressure, higher blood gas levels of nitrogen and oxygen, etc, in some cases having stronger effects, in some cases less). In such a situation you could suffer a reverse squeeze and rupture an eardrum on ascent (and ascend you must). Be very very careful here.
Can you better describe your problems afterwards? Did you discuss with your instructor? If you get behind the curve on equalizing, you will suffer minor barotrauma (big word and I'm NOT a doctor, but have consulted one as my ears are slow to equalize) which repeated over time is not good. In my case I need to descend very slowly for the first 10 to 15 feet (area of a fastest rate of change), equalizing almost every foot and preferably in a feet down, as if standing, orientation. Once past the 15 foot point, changing to horiz, it becomes much easier. The better news, is the more I dove, the easier it becomes. A couple of other tips, lots and lots of water (which will help thin any mucus) and try avoiding milk on the day you're diving and maybe the day before, in many people, milk (and milk products) will increase mucus production.
You could also ask your family doc for a referall to an Ears, Nose and Throat specialist.
The "swimmers ear" of which was spoke is the outer ear canal, and is an infection caused my bacteria present in the water your diving in remaining in the outer ear canal. A drop of peroxide in each ear after diving is an excellent preventative, but don't overdue it. Special drops to prevent swimmers ear are available at most pharmacies. Many help get rid of that nagging feeling of water still being in your ear by breaking it's surface tension and allowing it to drain.

[taz22]

fish_bowl once bubbled...
In our course our instructor told us not to use decongestant but I think he was refering to when you are sick.


Your instructor was right about not using decongestants and he meant not using them while diving. if they wear out while diving you could have some serious problems!


I would check with your instructor and seek his advice vis-a-via your ear problem. Is this still a problem? If so, you should see a doctor to get some drugs to help clear up the infection asap.


I use to be prone to ear infections and have a simple solution. I wear a small neoprene cap that just covers the top of my head and comes down over my ears to keep crap from getting into my ears. Now, a new solution is a set of ear plugs that are especially designed for scuba divers that have small pin holes that still allow you to equalize. I saw these ear plugs at DEMA as was sceptical at first but after my first dive with them, they are the greatest thing going now! I believe if you check with your LDS you will find these on sale.

Never ever use regular ear plugs since you would not be able to equalize using them, you have to make sure you get the special ones made for scuba divers.

Hope this helps fish!

Cheers, Taz

[mddolson]

Puffer fish bubbled:
-----------------------------------------------------
quote"Any particular city's tap water you recommend?"
------------------------------------------------------

Any drinking water will do.
The alcohol terilizes and helps dry the ear canal by increasing evaporation rate.
The high PH of the vinegar kills any thing the alcohol missed.
Most tap waters are relativley free of bacterial and work just fine.
The water is to dilute the vinegar and alcohol so they aren't too harsh on the ear canal and ear drum.

If you're in a tropical location and need to mix up a batch, use bottled water if you're concerned about the local drinking water.

Personaly I have found the tap water at the resorts on the south shore of Cuba (near Playa Jerome) to be the best.

Although the tap water in Charlotte Almile (St Thomas US V.I.) works equally well.

best regards

Mike D

[fish_bowl]

So much information. I didn't think it was a good idea to use decongestant. I must not be taken over to the dark side of diving since I have yet to get my open water dives in.

My symptoms were the following. Although I equalized and felt fine underwater, it was when I resurfaced I had a lot of pain in my ears. This persisted for about a week. This is why I thought diving may not be right for me.

Thanks Taz for you advice. I didn't know you wore a cap while diving. Haven't seen or heard of you doing that yet :D but I'll be sure to look next time I see ya out diving.

as for putting peroxide in ears, hmmm.. I have had a lot of ear problems and my doctor has never said to do that. I was told to put warm vegetable oil in once and it worked well (my doctor told me to). As for the other contractions you guys are talking about. I just think you are brave. :out:

Fish

[fish_bowl]

Hey guys,

I recently talked to a vetran commercial diver of 22 years who told me that it was probably better if I did not get my commercial diving certification because he has found that he has lost the hearing in one of his ears because of it. Has anyone else experieced this?

I think this is very wise information and I am glad to have heard it before I lose my hearing. I think instead I will just get my advanced diving and eventually become a master diver. Not a dive master. I'm not sure if that is the route I want to take as of yet.

Fish

:Fishy: :Fishy:

[Groundhog246]

I suspect the problem with being a commercial (professional) diver, is the need for the work to be done. If a ship needs an inspection, or maybe new anodes welded on, it's probably on a schedule and they're not going to wait even a day or two if you've a head cold, they're going to find another diver. Therefore, you're more likely to be diving with the aid of decongestants, etc, when the sprot diver has the choice to stay home. A lot like commercial anything.

Kent

[fish_bowl]

Well that makes a lot of sense. I originally thought it was because they would be diving so often and in such deep areas.

I don't really think I would want to make money from diving. With me where it would come in handy is in doing scientific work underwater. I would hope in situations like that one would not be pushed to work when they are not feeling well. Experience in the field has led me to understand that there is a great deal of pushing though in the natural resources to get things done because the field season is so short. I could still see some problems. I am wondering if I could just do recreational diving with some research and not worry about doing it for anyone.

Fish

[Groundhog246]

If you mean research diving, I wouldn't think that would have the pressure to produce that commercial diving (salvage, UW welding, inspection, etc) would have. Therefore, not likely to be so detrimental to your health. It's a rare commercial diver who has not been bent.
Personally speaking, I've wanted to dive since I was a teenager. Wasn't till a couple of years ago (my early 40's) that I finally took the plunge ;) I've enjoyed it as much as I thought I would. I do have an ulterior motive too. We're also into sailing, plan is to retire to a sailboat and go cruising (target date to go is 2012). Being able to get under your boat for repair or maintenance (check prop, replace zincs, clean th ebottom, etc) is a real plus. It also offers some opportunity to pick up a few $$ doing chores for other sailors.

[fish_bowl]

Ah Retirement!!

Yes I also plan to retire in the near future but Super 7 is not cooporating with me. If that doesn't work out then I guess I will have to retire in 2040. Wow that's a long time away. Hopefully I'll win soon. I can see how being able to repair your own boat would be quite beneficial. That would be an awsome life sailing the seas. I once met a couple from Russia that were sailing around the world in an old fashion sailboat. They were quite interesting people and form the stories they told seemed to have found themselves in trouble a few times in their journey. I wish you good luck on yours.

Fish

[taz22]

Hey Fish,

It all depends on how safe a diver you want to be.

I know a person that I use to work with ( very recently ) a sometimes people that dive often for work do things that they probably should not do. Such as using decongestants which is a big no no in my book.

They can be recreation divers that have rec'd an occupation diver designation, but they exceed the depths of recreational diving and/or their training and that is when trouble can start.

Diving can be a great sport, don't let people scare you. But you need to keep in mind that you always must think safety first.

Cheers, Taz.