Ear problem, Tinnitus & Buzzing - Never Diving Again

[Angelo Farina]

Sorry of your new problems. Give time to the infection and inflammation to fade out.
Did you take time and effort for learning proper equalization techniques, instead of the deprecated Valsalva?
In my experience as an instructor, i have seen hundredths of cases of equalization problems, and often of related medical outcomes.
These never happened to people mastering proper efficient equalization techniques, such as BTV, Frenzel or Marcante-Odaglia. All problems I have seen were always associated with the Valsalva manouvre. That is the reason for which I insist so much on the topic of learning a proper equalization technique...
And of course to avoid diving when there is some obstruction, due to mucus, a cold, inflammation, seasonal allergy, etc.

 

[Oezkan]

Sorry of your new problems. Give time to the infection and inflammation to fade out.
Did you take time and effort for learning proper equalization techniques, instead of the deprecated Valsalva?
In my experience as an instructor, i have seen hundredths of cases of equalization problems, and often of related medical outcomes.
These never happened to people mastering proper efficient equalization techniques, such as BTV, Frenzel or Marcante-Odaglia. All problems I have seen were always associated with the Valsalva manouvre. That is the reason for which I insist so much on the topic of learning a proper equalization technique...
And of course to avoid diving when there is some obstruction, due to mucus, a cold, inflammation, seasonal allergy, etc.

Hey thanks for your answer. I actually was thinking the same a lot the recent weeks. I think with another equalization method I would have less or no problems. But I must can't use another. The instructor cannot either so he couldn't help. And if I read about frenzel I don't understand it. Pinching nose and swallow pops my ears out of water but as soon as I try I'm the water it doesn't work either. And the biggest issue and fear I got with my history is the testing. If I try a new method while diving and it doesn't work it could lead to new problems or barotrauma.

Any advice on which method I can use and a good and easy explanation how to do so?

 

[tursiops]

Any advice on which method I can use and a good and easy explanation how to do so?

Beat the Squeeze: Equalize Like a Pro - Divers Alert Network

 

[happy-diver]

Have you been informed that diving within the second atmosphere of depth, 10m range
is where the greatest pressure differential exists, and wreaks havoc with everyones ears


http://www.ehs.ucsb.edu/files/docs/ds/physics.pdf

 

[DanBMW]

Just an FYI-Never try to push through the pain.... It's not the fate of the free world....When you feel discomfort, stop at that depth and go through all of your different methods of equalizing, maybe go up a little, but never push through it. Sometimes there are reasons why you body is telling you to not go deeper. Listen to the signals.

 

[Oezkan]

OK guys. Infection is fine and even the tinnitus in the right ear. So gp was right, an infection can cause temporarily tinnitus too.

Anywas I finally learned the frenzel equalization after trying and learning it for like 3 hours every day in the last week. So far it works good and even easy. Sometimes even handsfree.

But the pressure in my ear from frenzel feels way stronger than from val salva! Is that not bad as over-pressering or retiring it is more likely?

I only tried the frenzel dry so far and tomorrow I gonna try it in the water. Hope it works with regulator on mouth.

My concern also is that when I do it I hold my breath for a second because the glottis needs to be closed. So I'd break the most important scuba rule..

 

[scubaozy]

My concern also is that when I do it I hold my breath for a second because the glottis needs to be closed. So I'd break the most important scuba rule

Normally you are descending when equalizing, so this is not a problem if you close your glottis momentarily.

But the pressure in my ear from frenzel feels way stronger than from val salva! Is that not bad as over-pressering or retiring it is more likely?

You need to throttle it if you feel it is too strong. But generally there is an inherent limit how much air you can push with your tongue vs your abdominal muscles. Additionally with Frenzel usually muscles will tense the eustachian tubes open, so it is more effective and even small push might feel more than valsalva.

 

[Oezkan]

Normally you are descending when equalizing, so this is not a problem if you close your glottis momentarily.



You need to throttle it if you feel it is too strong. But generally there is an inherent limit how much air you can push with your tongue vs your abdominal muscles. Additionally with Frenzel usually muscles will tense the eustachian tubes open, so it is more effective and even small push might feel more than valsalva.

OK amazing that's for the information. Not sure how I throttle it though but il try. I also can the toynbee now with a little air in nose. I think that's way more healthy but I don't think I can collect spit while diving or it takes ages

 

[Scuba Client]

Hi guys, I'm new here and hope I post correctly and maybe find some help in my very sad situation.

I am not sure if im here in the correct address but I gonna try. I started to scuba dive November 2020 and I fell in love straight away. Since November I've been diving 22 times, did all courses until rescue diver and bought almost all my gear. I never loved anything like it. I am 30 years old in Australia. Now I even had to change my visa to a student visa and decided to study diving. In gold coast they offer a study for 1-2 years to become an instructor with many dives and detailed teaching. So I already paid visa and the school and quit my flat and job here in Sydney to go to Gold Coast. The course starts on the 15th march.

But now I'm very sad and scared because something happened to my ear. Around 2 weeks ago I was diving again. It was a 2 days dive holiday including 5 dives. The first day was good like always - 3 dives. The second day - 1st dive was the problem. I couldn't equalize and my left ear startet to pain. I might have waited too long (1 minute) before I ascended again a few meters until the equalizing worked which it did. We finished the dive (19 meters) after 55 minutes. The second Dive was OK and no problems. But then like 1 hour after the dive the pain came back, but on the surface. and my ear was buzzing a lot. I also had a pressure feeling in my ear. Those symptoms stayed for around 3 days. The pain and pressure feeling was gone. The buzzing too but a tinnitus (peeping this time) was left and I still have it 2 weeks later. A very little pressure feeling is left too.

I visited an ENT. She checked my ear very carefully, pumped air in my ear and also made a pressure test and hearing test. She said everything with my ear is alright. No rupture, no hole, inner ear looks OK and hearing too. I told her sometimes when I equalize I can hear a pfff tone in my ear like air coming out. But she said i def. Don't have a hole. She said after 2 weeks I can go diving again.

And I did. 15 days later (1 week ago from now) I went diving (2 times in a row) . This time I was very careful (descending slow and equalizing often and early). And everything went well. I had maybe 2 times in those 2 dives that I couldn't equalize but I acended 1 meter straight away and equalizing worked. The dive felt good. No pain no pressure feeling nothing. But again, even tho nothing happened and during diving I had no symptoms - 1 or 2 hours after the dive (when I was in my quite room) I could hear a buzzing in my left ear / head again. This time even Worse then 2 weeks ago. A very little pressure feeling came on the next day too. This was 2 days ago both. But I had no pain this time only the buzzing and pressure feeling. Both symptoms are gone again after around 40 hours after the dives. Now only the tinnitus (peeping) is left again. Maybe a little bit worse then 2 weeks ago not sure. Also when I swallow I can always hear a cracking in both ears.

I am depressed and scared I can never go diving again and don't start my diving study in gold coast. I love it too much but also this is now my study and life.

I went to the same ENT again. She said I can not dive again ever. I asked what's wrong with my ears and why I cannot dive again. She said my ear looks great. There is still no hole or rupture, or fluid or infection etc etc. So asked again what causes the problems then and why can I not go diving. But she doesn't answer it and says the tinnitus can get worse and I can lose my hearing.

Do you have any idea, advice or something for me? Maybe some hope? Does anyone have the same symptoms here like loud buzzing in the ear for 1-2 days after the dive? Or pressure feeling for 1-2 days? Does anyone dive with a tinnitus? I'm not sure if I should dive again as I love it so much I don't wanna stop it. And not sure what I will do with my studied now.

Sorry to write such a long text! But I hope to hear from you soon.

Many Grettings

Oezkan

I've had buzzing in my ears after multiple dives for days on end. I use swimmers ear drops after the dive and that seems to get results for me.

 

[Duke Dive Medicine]

I've had buzzing in my ears after multiple dives for days on end. I use swimmers ear drops after the dive and that seems to get results for me.

Glad this works for you, and might be reasonable to try if there's water in the ear and that's what is producing the noise. Buzzing could be categorized as tinnitus, and for the general readership, inner ear barotrauma and inner ear DCS can also produce tinnitus, so your mileage may vary.

Best regards,
DDM