Crackle ears!

[cricket_]

So, I did 40 dives this past month. For the first, 30 or so my ears were totally fine. Around 30 at some point, I began experiencing a bit of crackling underwater and above water. No pain at all, and no problems equalizing. I also am experiencing an occasional sore throat.

I did have a bit of a cough/cold a few days but I didn't have any problems with equalization so I didn't really think anything of it.

when my ears first started doing this, I also had an eye infection, and the island doctor hooked me up with ear drops and eye drops. So I'm just finishing up the ear drops.. I don't think i ever had an infection but I figured to be safe I might as well use them.

So, its about 4 days after I completed my last dive. I have no pain in my still, but I guess my ears feel a bit wet and like there is extra space in my head. I do have a bit of a head cold currently, but I got some decongestants to take so well see how that goes.

My question is, do I have barotrauma? Not at any point did I experience any sort of pain in my ears, or lack of equalization. I do just have this strange clicking when I swallow now... it almost sounds like a mini equalization with no major pop with each swallow.

will the clicking noise ever leave? it's not driving me crazy yet.

I was doing some research and was thinking it could be a case of otitis externa, (swimmers ear)
so I've made myself a solution of half alcohol half vinegar. to help dry out and kill any critters i have growing in there. I'm currently in Malaysia and for some reason couldnt find isopropyl alcohol anywhere, so I went with some gin. not sure if that's proper or not.
[h=2][/h]

 

[KathyV]

My husband and I both have experienced ear problems when diving and it doesn't sound like you have otitis media or outer ear infection.

It sounds like an early sinus infection and/or an early inner or middle ear infection. Crackling ears are the first symptom for me and next they start hurting and then I have trouble equalizing; but you really should see an otolaryngologist (Ear Nose and Throat specialist) for an informed medical opinion.

We take a daily antihistamine/decongestant (12 Hour Allegra-D, you have to get it from the pharmacist, don't get plain Allegra because you need the "D" for decongestant) and we use neti-pot washes to clean out the sinuses.

It may sound silly but that works for us and we take ear problems seriously because they have ruined some dive vacations for us. See the link below for more information and good luck.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ba...037-ear-problems-post7352534.html#post7352534

 

[DandyDon]

I think you have "a head cold currently" as you said. You're pushing your luck to dive with one.

Gin & vinegar will work for an ear rinse, to dry the ear and adjust the pH, but that rinse needs to be used before infection. It sounds like you may only have an inflammation.

Real decongestants might help, containing pseudoephedrine as KathyV suggested, but you may find it difficult to find that in Malaysia - and you do not want to risk breaking any drug laws there. Be careful.

 

[Aquavelvet]

Crackling ears is a sign of mild barotrauma. Your alcohol and vinegar solution will help the outer ear canal, but won't help drain the middle ear. I have used 400 mg Ibuprofen as an anti-inflammatory to help with both the outer and middle ear inflammation. It will also make equalization a bit easier.


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[spectrum]

Crackling ears is a sign of mild barotrauma. Your alcohol and vinegar solution will help the outer ear canal, but won't help drain the middle ear. I have used 400 mg Ibuprofen as an anti-inflammatory to help with both the outer and middle ear inflammation. It will also make equalization a bit easier.


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This agrees with my experience, guidance given to me and posts you will find if searching for crackle or variants of same except for the ibuprofen, that is more related to your situation. Some find that Flonase, Nasonex etc eases equalization but for most no OTC products are needed to facilitate equalization. Regular practice even while topside is your friend. Crackle usually means you failed to keep ahead on clearing your ears and some fluid was displaced. It usually normalizes in a week or so.

The alcohol and vinegar rinse will prevent swimmers ear when done correctly and is especially urged for after freshwater diving. More here. Failure to do so can lead to the need for antibiotics.

Pete

 

[Macstyle]

So, I did 40 dives this past month. For the first, 30 or so my ears were totally fine. Around 30 at some point, I began experiencing a bit of crackling underwater and above water. No pain at all, and no problems equalizing. I also am experiencing an occasional sore throat.

I did have a bit of a cough/cold a few days but I didn't have any problems with equalization so I didn't really think anything of it.

when my ears first started doing this, I also had an eye infection, and the island doctor hooked me up with ear drops and eye drops. So I'm just finishing up the ear drops.. I don't think i ever had an infection but I figured to be safe I might as well use them.

So, its about 4 days after I completed my last dive. I have no pain in my still, but I guess my ears feel a bit wet and like there is extra space in my head. I do have a bit of a head cold currently, but I got some decongestants to take so well see how that goes.

My question is, do I have barotrauma? Not at any point did I experience any sort of pain in my ears, or lack of equalization. I do just have this strange clicking when I swallow now... it almost sounds like a mini equalization with no major pop with each swallow.

will the clicking noise ever leave? it's not driving me crazy yet.

I was doing some research and was thinking it could be a case of otitis externa, (swimmers ear)
so I've made myself a solution of half alcohol half vinegar. to help dry out and kill any critters i have growing in there. I'm currently in Malaysia and for some reason couldnt find isopropyl alcohol anywhere, so I went with some gin. not sure if that's proper or not.
[h=2][/h]

I have crackling in my left ear after snorkelling. It happened in November 2020 - was fine until I came out of the sea and my ear started crackling. It has done it ever since - for almost 3 years every time I move my jaw. It doesn't stop me snorkelling or diving, I just cannot stop the sound. Any ideas before I go and see a doctor about it?

 

[Doctorfish]

OP, you probably have mild serous otitis media. i.e. fluid in the middle ear. This is not an infective process as long as not painful. IMO you don't need to do anything. It will reabsorb with time. 1-2 weeks.

To help outer ear dry after diving/snorkeling, gin would work just as well as isopropyl alcohol. Shame to waste it though.

 

[Duke Dive Medicine]

Concur with @Doctorfish above, and would add a recommendation that you not dive until this is resolved. Doing so would put you at risk for the barotrauma that you're asking about.

I guess that gin and vinegar could work as a prophylactic rinse for the external ear canal, though as @Aquavelvet said above, would likely not be of benefit for what you have going on and if used, would need a catchy name to differentiate it from 'ear beer'.

Best regards,
DDM

 

[Doctorfish]

I happen to be a physician, but not an ENT specialist.