RickH
Registered
I posted on this forum back in March(?) about having problems with my ears clearing/equalizing. I was doing a beach dive and the first dive was fine but after the surface interval I couldn't go back down, my left ear wouldn't clear and the pressure hurt like hell so I had to call it quits after completing just one dive.
Well I finally was able to get back to try to finish this weekend and almost didn't get certified. We went to Catalina for three boat dives.
The first dive I went down to 50 ft fine, but had to surface after 2 min. because some of the other students were having issues. The 2nd dive I didn't notice any problems, maybe just a hint of a delay with my right ear clearing, and it sounded like air was passing through my ear drum of my right ear, but no one saw any bubbles. The 3rd dive I think there was a little bit more of a delay with my right ear clearing, but nothing troubling. The instructor had me come up with him to do a surface interval for 10 mins so I could do a "4th dive" and complete my certification. After the 10 mins when we went to go back down my right ear wouldn't clear. I tried pinching my nose and blowing, just my left ear would clear. I tried and tried, tilted my head and tried, massaged behind my right ear. Eventually I felt it clear a little bit and was able to go a few feet more, but then had to do the whole thing agian. Most of the time I felt it clear just a little bit, and once I felt it clear all the way but after a few feet had to struggle with it. I finally made it down to 32 ft and was able to finish and get cert.
Has anyone else had this issue? Is there something I can do to help with this problem?
After the dive when I pinched my nose and blew (valsalva maneuver) my right ear drum was "crinkly". Right now if I do the Valsalva maneuver gradually I can feel my left ear clear and with more pressure my right ear drum will clear but it seems reluctant. I took Claritin-D 24Hr a few hours before the dive.
Sorry if this thread is long winded but wanted to be adequate in explaining the situation.
Well I finally was able to get back to try to finish this weekend and almost didn't get certified. We went to Catalina for three boat dives.
The first dive I went down to 50 ft fine, but had to surface after 2 min. because some of the other students were having issues. The 2nd dive I didn't notice any problems, maybe just a hint of a delay with my right ear clearing, and it sounded like air was passing through my ear drum of my right ear, but no one saw any bubbles. The 3rd dive I think there was a little bit more of a delay with my right ear clearing, but nothing troubling. The instructor had me come up with him to do a surface interval for 10 mins so I could do a "4th dive" and complete my certification. After the 10 mins when we went to go back down my right ear wouldn't clear. I tried pinching my nose and blowing, just my left ear would clear. I tried and tried, tilted my head and tried, massaged behind my right ear. Eventually I felt it clear a little bit and was able to go a few feet more, but then had to do the whole thing agian. Most of the time I felt it clear just a little bit, and once I felt it clear all the way but after a few feet had to struggle with it. I finally made it down to 32 ft and was able to finish and get cert.
Has anyone else had this issue? Is there something I can do to help with this problem?
After the dive when I pinched my nose and blew (valsalva maneuver) my right ear drum was "crinkly". Right now if I do the Valsalva maneuver gradually I can feel my left ear clear and with more pressure my right ear drum will clear but it seems reluctant. I took Claritin-D 24Hr a few hours before the dive.
Sorry if this thread is long winded but wanted to be adequate in explaining the situation.