Ringing in the ears aarrrrghhh!!!

[Louie]

I hope someone can advise on this problem.

I did quite a few dives a few weeks back and since then, have had this irritating swishing sensation in my ears, especially when I yawned (they always got worse after swimming when the ears got waterlogged).

Well, I enquired at the friendly local pharmacy and they suggested I clean out the wax in my ears and sold me this remedy called Otex (active ingredient - hydrogen peroxide).

So now, after a few shots of this treatment, my ears won't stop ringing.

Should I be concerned or just leave it and hope it disappears?

 

[Laurence Stein DDS]

Louie,

Leave the peroxide out of the ears for now. You tried it and it didn't work so professional treatment is next.

Ear wax impinging on the eardrum can cause tinnitus but so can a ruptured round or oval window. Usually, there is vertigo with these types of events. Fluid in the middle ear also can cause a plugged feeling and deminished hearing.

Leave the diagnosis to an ENT...just in case. Ear wax or dead skin can build up in concentric layers like onion skin in the external ear canals. If it is skin, when it gets wet, it expands, and plugs the canal, trapping moisture.

Q-tips make it worse--they can impact the material against the eardrum.

Out of curiousity, were you swimming in fresh or salt water? The reason why I ask is that whenever I dive in fresh water, my ears plug much more easily and may last several days. In salt water, they rarely plug and are clear by the next day.

My question to the Docs is why does fresh water seem to cause me more problems? Hypotonicity?

Remember, I'm just the dentist...let some of the RD's (real docs) finish this. However, a "swishing sensation" and then ringing in the ears after trying to wash the ear canals means you shouldn't "help" yourself anymore...just common sense.

Good luck,

Larry Stein

 

[Louie]

I dived in salt water (when the initial troubles started) but what made things go down hill is when I went swimming at the local swimming pool (chlorinated water).

Perhaps I should stay out of water all together.

 

[moxie]

Before you do any more self-medication, or make any decision regarding your ears, go to an actual ear doctor (ENT) and get a professional evaluation. Don't ever take chances with your ears.
Hope you join us underwater. Moxie

 

[clive francis]

i had this after a dive trip to the red sea, i went to the docs and she checked my ears and said they were fine, probably due to the excessive and deep (40m) diving i did while away.

she said to take some sudafed, never did and it has cleared up like she said.

 

[Laurence Stein DDS]

Clive,

Most likely, Louie's problem IS benign. However, persistent ringing in the ears should be looked into. Putting more earwax removal solution into an ear with a potential perforation, middle or internal ear problem can make things worse or put off definative treatment until it's too late.

I think it's safe to say nearly all of us have had stuffed ears or ringing at one time or another and it went away. From my "take" of Louie's statement, the condition has persisted. It's better to err on the side of safety in this case. Waiting, is simply a form of denial and may be counterproductive.

IMHO it's safer to have the problem checked out by an MD...so it cost a few bucks...that's better than losing your hearing. Besides, we all would blow that amount of money on some dive goodie in the future so treat yourself now.

Regards,

Larry Stein

 

[Louie]

The one good thing about living in Britain (to compensate for the lack of tropical dives) is the good old National Health Service. To see my General Practitioner, it won't cost me a penny. However, I'm going to see a dive specialist about the ears next week in the hope of getting a more enlightened opinion (it's still cheaper than anything I'll find at the local dive shop).

Thanks for the advice.

 

[clive francis]

i wasn'y suggesting he should leave it, just i had the same/similar problem, and my doc said it was ok

 

[Laurence Stein DDS]

Clive, I wasn't picking on you. I understand what you were saying. I didn't know if Louie would take it as a reason to put off an exam. I seems he understands too. So all is well in the world. Except weapons of mass destruction.

To be continued

Larry Stein

 

[The Iceni]

Laurence Stein DDS once bubbled...
Louie,. . . so can a ruptured round or oval window. Usually, there is vertigo with these types of events. . .

Leave the diagnosis to an ENT...just in case.

My question to the Docs is why does fresh water seem to cause me more problems? Hypotonicity?

Remember, I'm just the dentist...let some of the RD's (real docs

Firstly I am a physician. I do not have a PhD (or a British DM) so many could argue that I am not a real doctor!!

NHS!! Louie you are naive

Inner ear barotrauma is very high on my list of differential diagnoses. (A common injury in freedivers.)

See also http://www.scubaboard.com/t15896/s.html

Larry, as for your question about fresh water, it may be partly due to osmosis (sea water is three times the concentration of body fluids which are, of course, infinitely more concentrated than fresh water.)

Fresh water may also contain more pathogenic bacteria.

However is there any real evidence that there is a difference in incidence between the two?