Hi folks, thanks for letting me ask this.
I'm a 46 yr male who's been (free)diving for over 30 yrs with only only issue ever (reverse tooth squeeze, 29 yrs ago). I'm in excellent condition.
I traveled to the USVI to snorkel/freedive last week. On day 1,I snorkeled 3 hrs and dove no deeper than 20 ft. No pain, no issues equalizing. When I left the water I tilted my head left and right as always to drain my outer ear. Oddly, the left ear remained muffled. Maybe 20-30% hearing loss. I assumed sone earwax was pushed against my eardrum which I've had it once before.
Next day I again snorkeled to max 20 ft. Left ear was almost back to normal after so I assumed the wax had flushed out.
However, waking up the next morning, my left ear was about 75% deaf. I wear ear plugs so assumed it was still earwax and went to a local Dr. He said my outer ear is completely clear and prescribed Zyrtec D, a decongestant. But I'm not congested and can equalize just fine still... He didn't have any other suggestions.
Now, 2d later, it's even worse and I probably only hear 5% with that ear. I have a constant ringing sound as well and the ear feels "full."
What could this be? Water in the middle ear? Barotrauma? If so how could that happen when my eardrum is intact (I think) and I equalized with no issues? Right now, on land, I can still pop my ears both with positive and negative pressure in both directions using val salva. How could there be water (assuming it's water in the middle ear)? How would that even have gotten there? Through the ear drum or eustachian tubes? I don't understand.
I'm scared it's sudden hearing loss which is apparently a medical emery requiring steroids ASAP or you could lose your hearing for good. But logic says it's related to my snorkeling and descents. But then I don't understand why it got progressively worse especially overnight just sleeping. I have no pain, just almost total deafness and ringing in left ear.
My flight back isn't until 3d from now and nothing earlier is available. There's no ENT Dr here who can see me and I'm paranoid about why I'm suddenly deaf in one ear with no pain or apparent equalization issue during my dives or now on land. Can I still snorkel? The local Dr said yes but I don't know if you should if you already have water in the middle ear.
Thanks!
I'm a 46 yr male who's been (free)diving for over 30 yrs with only only issue ever (reverse tooth squeeze, 29 yrs ago). I'm in excellent condition.
I traveled to the USVI to snorkel/freedive last week. On day 1,I snorkeled 3 hrs and dove no deeper than 20 ft. No pain, no issues equalizing. When I left the water I tilted my head left and right as always to drain my outer ear. Oddly, the left ear remained muffled. Maybe 20-30% hearing loss. I assumed sone earwax was pushed against my eardrum which I've had it once before.
Next day I again snorkeled to max 20 ft. Left ear was almost back to normal after so I assumed the wax had flushed out.
However, waking up the next morning, my left ear was about 75% deaf. I wear ear plugs so assumed it was still earwax and went to a local Dr. He said my outer ear is completely clear and prescribed Zyrtec D, a decongestant. But I'm not congested and can equalize just fine still... He didn't have any other suggestions.
Now, 2d later, it's even worse and I probably only hear 5% with that ear. I have a constant ringing sound as well and the ear feels "full."
What could this be? Water in the middle ear? Barotrauma? If so how could that happen when my eardrum is intact (I think) and I equalized with no issues? Right now, on land, I can still pop my ears both with positive and negative pressure in both directions using val salva. How could there be water (assuming it's water in the middle ear)? How would that even have gotten there? Through the ear drum or eustachian tubes? I don't understand.
I'm scared it's sudden hearing loss which is apparently a medical emery requiring steroids ASAP or you could lose your hearing for good. But logic says it's related to my snorkeling and descents. But then I don't understand why it got progressively worse especially overnight just sleeping. I have no pain, just almost total deafness and ringing in left ear.
My flight back isn't until 3d from now and nothing earlier is available. There's no ENT Dr here who can see me and I'm paranoid about why I'm suddenly deaf in one ear with no pain or apparent equalization issue during my dives or now on land. Can I still snorkel? The local Dr said yes but I don't know if you should if you already have water in the middle ear.
Thanks!