Ears after diving -- Sticky the day after?

[jephre]

Hi there-
Just curious about something--
During my tortuous certification process, I endured a couple rounds of medial barotrauma.

Now that I've got about 15 dives under my weightbelt, I think I've got the problem clearing my ears (usually just my right one, for some reason) manageable by using a battery of ALL of the following:

-sudafed
-flonase
-afrin
-clear-ease tablets (not sure these do a darn thing)
-doc's pro-plugs
and this weekend i added post-dive ear drops to dry them out

nowadays i don't think i feel barotrauma-- my ears aren't "full" like they were when my ENT checked me out and pronounced me injured-- but sometimes in the days after a dive-- usually 1-2 days afterwards, they feel a bit "sticky"-- gummy. I can valsalva them clear, but the right one takes more effort.

just wondering if this is common? i feel like i'm making MAJOR progress in as much as i'm not freaked out about barotrauma every time i dive, but because my first dives were so injurious i'm nervous and not clear about what is "normal" for divers.

thanks one and all for your input and advice-- look forward to your responses.

jeffrey in Los Angeles

 

[Fun Diver]

yikes, doesn't sound like you should be diving until you have your ears/sinus examined by your doctor.. this isn't common at all.

 

[srownin]

I agree. Go see your doctor again. Definitely get the stickiness checked. A little congestion the days after a dive is my norm, but I have never had anything sticky accumulate in my ear. You may have done some repeat damage trying to get things to work. You should probably stay above water for a bit too.

 

[srownin]

I agree. Go see your doctor again. Definitely get the stickiness checked. A little congestion the day or two after a dive is my norm, but I have never had anything sticky accumulate in my ear. You may have done some repeat damage trying to get things to work. You should probably stay above water for a bit too. At least your doc gives you a green light.

 

[Damselfish]

It may still be partly technique (and there's lots of advice on this board about that.) But with this much of a problem I would definitely get checked out by an ENT, preferably one who knows something about diving.

I use Sudafed sometimes as it helps when my ears are being a little sluggish after a few days of diving. I tried Pro-plugs recently and I think that may eliminate any need I have for Sudafed. Nothing wrong with the post dive drops, a good idea that's mostly solving a different problem. But as much as I love diving if I truely needed that many drugs at once so I could clear my ears (and still not feel right a couple days later) I don't think I'd be doing it - I'm sort of partial to hearing as well...